Humility
Mark 9:30-50
30 Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it. 31 For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed[fn] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.” 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way? ” 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” 36 He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ — truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away — it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
30 Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it. 31 For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed[fn] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.” 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way? ” 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” 36 He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ — truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away — it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
GOING DEEPER
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 17:22-18:9; Luke 9:43-10:2
1. THE HUMILITY OF THE SERVANT KING
2. WHAT HUMILITY IS
3. WHAT HUMILITY LOOKS LIKE
4. WHAT HUMILITY SEEKS
5. WHY WE NEED HUMILITY
6. HOW WE GET HUMILITY
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 17:22-18:9; Luke 9:43-10:2
1. THE HUMILITY OF THE SERVANT KING
- Isaiah 53:3-7 - The suffering, rejected servant
- Psalm 22:14-18 - Foreshadowing suffering and death
- Luke 24:26 - The Messiah must suffer before glory
2. WHAT HUMILITY IS
- Matt. 23:11-12 - "Greatest among you shall be your servant"
- Luke 22:26-27 - "I am among you as one who serves"
3. WHAT HUMILITY LOOKS LIKE
- Matt. 25:40 - "Whatever you did for the least... you did for me"
- Prov. 22:2 - The Lord is maker of all, high and low alike
- James 2:1-5 - Warning against favoritism
4. WHAT HUMILITY SEEKS
- Phil. 1:15-18 - Rejoicing that Christ is preached
- Matt. 7:22-23 - "Did we not cast out demons in your name?"
- 1 Cor. 10:31 - Do all for the glory of God
5. WHY WE NEED HUMILITY
- In leading others - Ezekiel 34:2-6
- In dealing with sin - Matt. 5:27-30; Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5
- In enduring trials - 1 Peter 1:6-7, 5:6-7
- In preserving unity - Eph. 4:1-3; Rom. 12:16
6. HOW WE GET HUMILITY
- Phil. 2:5-8 - Christ's humility in the incarnation and cross
- 2 Cor. 8:9 - Though rich, He became poor
- James 4:6-10 - God gives grace to the humble
- 1 Peter 2:24 - Christ bore our sins
CONSIDER
1. Jesus redefines greatness as being "last" and a servant. How does this challenge the way our culture defines success and importance?
2. Why do you think the disciples struggled so much to understand Jesus's humble sacrifice, even after He clearly explained it? Where do you see that same struggle in yourself?
3. When you don't receive recognition or when someone else is praised instead of you, what does that reveal about what your heart is seeking?
4. Who are the "little ones" in your life; the people who are easy to overlook or who have little to offer you? How do you honestly feel about engaging with them?
5. What is one practical way you can "stoop down to lift others up" this week? Who is someone you can welcome, serve, or draw near to?
6. Jesus warns about dealing radically with the root of sin. Is there something in your life that you know needs decisive action?
7. How does seeing Jesus as the humble Servant King, especially in His death on the cross, change the way you view your own need for humility?
8. In your relationships (family, church, work), where is God calling you to pursue peace through humility? What would it look like to take the "lower place" in that situation?
1. Jesus redefines greatness as being "last" and a servant. How does this challenge the way our culture defines success and importance?
2. Why do you think the disciples struggled so much to understand Jesus's humble sacrifice, even after He clearly explained it? Where do you see that same struggle in yourself?
3. When you don't receive recognition or when someone else is praised instead of you, what does that reveal about what your heart is seeking?
4. Who are the "little ones" in your life; the people who are easy to overlook or who have little to offer you? How do you honestly feel about engaging with them?
5. What is one practical way you can "stoop down to lift others up" this week? Who is someone you can welcome, serve, or draw near to?
6. Jesus warns about dealing radically with the root of sin. Is there something in your life that you know needs decisive action?
7. How does seeing Jesus as the humble Servant King, especially in His death on the cross, change the way you view your own need for humility?
8. In your relationships (family, church, work), where is God calling you to pursue peace through humility? What would it look like to take the "lower place" in that situation?
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