Mark 9:33-50
Poor disciples! While their Master has just been talking to them about His sufferings and His death, the only thing which interests them, to the point of provoking a quarrel amongst them, is to know which of them will be the greatest. By His question, the Lord sounds them out (v. 33); then with grace and patience, He teaches them what humility is.
This lesson is followed by another. The disciples had thought they ought to prevent someone performing miracles in the name of the Lord Jesus. "He followeth not us" is the excuse put forward by John. The Lord shows them that in this too they have been occupied with themselves and not with Him. Let us watch that we do not behave in a sectarian spirit. Many Christians, though not walking with us, follow the Lord very closely in the path of self-denial and of the cross (Mark 8:34).
We found in Matthew what corresponds to vv. 42-50 (see Matthew 5:29; Matthew 18:8). But, in general, we notice that in Mark’s gospel the teaching of the Lord takes up little space in comparison with His activities. For example, we do not have here the equivalent of the sermon on the mount. Few words, but much devotedness, such is indeed the character of the faithful Servant.