[Propertalk] Gospel - Quotes for 9/20, Mark 9:30-37, Part 3

[Joe Parrish]

v. 35   The phrasing of this dominical saying is comparable to that of the teaching about discipleship following the first passion-prediction, 8:34ff. Here too is sharp eschatological antithesis between exalted status in the age-to-come and humiliation in this present world-age. Discipleship must involve servanthood, being the one who waits upon everyone.
v. 36  While the tradition regarding the child and Jesus' utterance regarding the child may originally have been independent of the Marcan context, it is clear that Mark intends the reader to discern in the unassuming guilelessness of the child the stance appropriate to a disciple-the stance that he himself assumes and that his followers ought also to assume: the child's openness to God is exactly the stance expected of a disciple as it is the stance exemplified by Jesus.

http://artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/Mark/mk8notes.html#anchor888141

Carl W. Conrad
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v33: supplies a hint that Jesus had a house in Capernaum, although it may also be Peter's house (1:29) 

v34: Once again, the writer depicts the disciples as self-aggrandizing, callous, and ignorant, for they react to Jesus' prediction of his coming death by discussing amongst themselves which one is the greatest.

http://www.michaelturton.com/Mark/GMark09.html#9.p.30.37

Michael A. Turton
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Harry B. Adams asks "how often we would be silent if Jesus were to confront us and ask us what we have been talking and fretting about." Even more, we "would fall silent if we were asked to explain how what we are doing and saying accords with the way of life that Jesus sets before us." Talk about a lesson in humility! We do well, then, to heed Richard Swanson's caution as we read this story about the disciples: "This is not an exercise in attacking their flawed notions of discipleship and contrasting them with our own potentially more adequate notions and practice." We could find ourselves distracted by measuring our own righteousness against that of the disciples, and somehow judging ourselves greater, more aware, more faithful.

http://i.ucc.org/StretchYourMind/OpeningtheBible/WeeklySeeds/tabid/81/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/232/First-in-Caring-Sep-1420.aspx

Kate Huey
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In today's lesson, the disciples (9:30-37) each want to be the greatest. They want the disciple of the month plaque and the parking spot. 
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I remember sitting in the pew on Good Friday, surrounded by multi-taskers. A woman with her compact out, was touching up her lipstick. Another woman was checking her email on her iphone. A man was sending a text. A couple teenagers were flirting. Several people were snoozing. Self-righteous little me was busy watching them and feeling superior. 
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Unless we take as our example those characters we mentioned earlier in the Gospel of Mark, whose desire is aligned with Jesus' desire. Whose desire is for the good of someone beyond themselves. Then, we'll be doing all you can to help a suffering friend (paralytic's friends 2:1-5). We'll be telling everyone you know about what Jesus has done for you (Gerasene demoniac 5:18-20). We'll be following Jesus on the way to Jerusalem (Bartimaeus 10:51ff). We'll be checking out our priorities with Jesus' to make sure we're on the right track (scribe 12:32-34). We'll be surrounding Jesus with all the love and loyalty we can muster to comfort him when others betray him (woman with ointment 14:3-9). We'll be keeping a vigil by his cross (women disciples at crucifixion 15:40-41). We'll be honoring his body (Joseph of Arimathea 15:43-46).
Or we can argue with one another about who is the greatest. 

http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=12

Alyce M. McKenzie
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One might think that the blessing of seeing how to welcome both Jesus and one who sent him would make our churches full of joyful open arms and welcoming hospitality every time a child or someone new was met. We'd be eager to transform non-persons into honoured guests.

http://www.holytextures.com/2009/09/mark-9-30-37-year-b-pentecost-20-25-sermon.html

David Ewart, 2009
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Within the context of 21st century America, children have music, popular culture, technology, violence and sexuality sewn into the fabric of their lives in ways that to date are unparalleled.  From perpetual text messaging, Nintendo Wiis, X-boxes, CDs or cellular innovations, it appears that children are inextricably bound to many aspects of popular culture and its values. In many ways, the marriage between children and 21st century culture places children in precarious, fragile, and dangerous places. More than ever, children are abused, snatched, hastily given Ritalin, latch-keyed, under-fed and recipients of inadequate health care. 

http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=74

Imani Jones, 2009
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