Gospel – Mark 9-10

Today we read about the time just before Jesus entered Jerusalem.

Bible Passage:  Mark 9-10

Whoever desires to be great in the kingdom of God shall aspire to be the smallest in human community and be like a child.

His disciples were probably very excited as they think that Jesus was going to become king soon, so they started to discuss who was the greatest among themselves and probably what positions they will be taking in His kingdom.

Indeed Jesus was going to become King of the Jews soon, but His kingdom was not of this world and His glory was a total contrast to what the world and His disciples imagined it would be. Jesus began to teach His disciples what does it mean to be great in His kingdom – to be a servant of all and be like a child.

Do you find that children nowadays do not really have a child-like image?

A child today does not behave like a child 20 years ago. A child who grew up in the city  behaves with a stark contrast to a child who grew up in the rural areas.

Children in the Singapore society (shall not speak for all since I am only more familiar with local kids) behave like they know a lot of things, but you can hardly trust them to be independent or responsible for a single task. Children in the rural areas may not look like they know a lot of things, but they are able to take on responsibilities and can even take care of a group of children just few years younger than they are!

So what kind of likeness of a child do you think that Jesus is referring to?

As we see through the ages, pride is the greatest growing problem with mankind. In the past we may think of the story of Adam and Eve like a children story, how they sinned by disobeying God and got thrown out of the garden. Some may even question why such a great punishment of condemning all of mankind because of one man’s sin that doesn’t seem a big deal. But the reality of Adam and Eve’s sin, is that they chose to decide good and evil for themselves. And today that has evolved to what we call “denial of God”.

We see that there are a lot of people in the world who do not need God to teach them to be good people. They just lead their lives as honest people and don’t cross the boundaries of the law and they look like the best people you know too. But is it really alright to not know God or acknowledge Him?

We understand proud people to be those who cannot level themselves with the people around them or think they are worth more than they really are. But without really understanding our position as the created of God, who had the breath of God breathed into us during creation, we cannot understand our position in the whole system of nature and it is quite impossible to not be cursed with the pride of life.

Man won’t lower himself than animals because he knows he is of a powerful mind who is able to manipulate the environment and the animals in it. Yet we know that man cannot control everything and certainly not life. On the other hand, who gave man this powerful mind and why does he have such a privilege over other living creatures? God created man and told him to take care of the garden of Eden, including taking charge of the plants and animals in it. But when man does not recognise his true Maker – God, he does not know the limits of raising himself, and when that is so, he becomes lost. He becomes lost in the purpose of life and the inevitables in life. He loses the right guide to treat people, animals, the environment and himself. The only thing that keeps him living is his sense of self-worth given by his family, friends, achievements, associates. And the world uses this own sense of self-worth to make man believe that money, status and human relationships are the most important things in life, and that he is the only law to himself, and beyond that nothing else restrains him. That is why human being sinks into immorality, especially against his own body. He wants to decide whether he is a man or woman, and he decides when he gives up his chastity. And we know that some people as young as a primary school kids have made that kind of decision!

I have been thinking about this for some time… that Christianity is not about preaching to man to behave themselves and not commit “sin”, but is really tackling the sin of denying God in one’s life. The truth is… the degradation of man and increase in all kinds of sins today, all comes from the source problem – denial of God. It is because man lacks the understanding of God in his life, that all purpose in life is created by his own thought process and self-created self-worth, influenced by the world and his environment.

The perception of greatness in the world is having pride in your work, your achievements, your beauty and your creativity. It is directly contrary to God’s teaching of greatness. So do you aspire to be great? It depends on which kind of greatness you pursue. Pursuing the greatness that God teaches is not being proud after all. It is pursuing the true essence of being like a child… and a servant, if you can relate the both of them.

Finally, I just thought of sharing two drawings by children, both of the same subject “man”, which display pretty different kinds of image.

M