Leaving the Decapolis, with his disciples Jesus went first to Galilee.
Mark observes that Jesus was careful not to allow his presence in Galilee to become widely known (Mark 9:30) partly because of his desire to concentrate on the training of the twelve; partly because of Herod's growing antipathy; and partly because of the increasing bitterness of the scribes and Pharisees toward him.
It would seem that Mark is attempting to summarize Jesus's central message to the disciples during this particular period, as he writes because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise" (Mark 9:30). Over and over again Jesus spoke to his disciples of his death and resurrection.
It is quite evident that, while the disciples believed that Jesus was, indeed, the promised Deliverer, they continued to envision a victorious Messiah who would destroy his enemies and set up a temporal (earthly) kingdom. Jesus sought to rectify this misconception. This accounts for his apparent bluntness in referring to his coming death, They will kill him. Surely he could not put it more clearly than that. He was not at this time going to destroy his enemies with a vast show of power. On the contrary, they were gonig to seek to destroy him. The disciples understood his words but they did not understand the meaning of those words.
In this connection, Jesus used a title which he applied to himself quite often, The Son of Man. This title occurs fourteen times in Mark's Gospel. This can be seen as a reference to the humanity of Jesus, emphasizing the fact that, although he was the Son of God, he was also the Son of man, and, as a mere man, he would be subjected by his enemies to all manner of human suffering and even to death.
This title also seems to be an acknowledgment of Jesus's messiahship. The term was used by the prophet Daniel to describe one who would descend from heaven to preside over the last judgment and the new age (Daniel 7:13), which has Jesus looking beyond his death and resurrection to his coming again in clouds of glory.
Certainly, the disciples did not grasp any such implication as this. Perhaps they had at last come to realize that, in some way or another, dark days lay ahead, but they did not hold any assurance of the Lord's resurrection. It was a concept which, at the moment, was far too great for them to understand or perceive.
The fact that the twelve did not grasp the real significance of Jesus's messianic mission, that they did not understand that His Kingdom was a spiritual kingdom and not a temporal one, is borne out by their conversation on the way to Capernaum. They had been arguing one with another as to which of them would hold the highest rank in the coming kingdom. It is quite possible that Peter, James, and John, remembering that they had been singled out by Jesus to go with him on the Mount of Transfiguration, felt that they stood in line for the chief honors.
It should, however, be said in defense of the disciples that, while they argued about places of greatness in the kingdom, they were not willing for Jesus to know about it. When he questioned them about their conversation, they were too ashamed to answer him. Evidently they knew in their hearts that self-seeking and selfish ambition did not fit in at all with what Jesus had said to them from time to time.
Jesus assumed the typical posture of a teacher of that day as he sat down in their midst and called the twelve around him. He gave them a faith lesson on the true nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God. It was a difficult lesson for them to learn, even as it is a difficult lesson for us. The teaching of Jesus stands out in sharp contrast with the standards of the world.
The worldly standard declares: Work diligently to climb the ladder of success. Never be satisfied until you are first and famous in your field.
Jesus taught: If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. (Mark 9:35)
It should be clearly understood that Jesus did not decry ambition. He did not say that a man should not seek to be great. What he did say was that, if a man desired greatness, he should seek to reach his goal not by serving his own interests, but by rendering service to others. In a way, the world at large has acknowledged the validity of this principle. The men and women of almost every generation who have been most highly esteemed have been those who have done much for the sake of others. It is incumbent on every Christian, then, to constantly ask himself, What good may I do for others?
To enforce his teaching, Jesus called for a little child who was in the home where they were staying and, taking the child in his arms, he said to the disciples, Whoever welcomes one of the little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. (Mark 9:37)
Jesus was illustrating the timeless truth to his disciples. He was not simply saying that they should be kind to children, though that is involved. He was saying that his followers must be willing to render service to any individual, even though there is little possibility that such an individual can in any way repay that kindness. We manifest kindness to a little child, not with thought of reward, but because we instinctively love little children and wish to be of help to them. This is the attitude that the servant of Christ should have to all who are weak, or helpless, or in need. When we habitually take such an attitude towards the world because of our relationship to Jesus Christ (in Jesus's name) we render service to Jesus Christ and to God.
The idea of being helpful in Jesus's name recalled a recent incident to John's mind. He and his fellow disciples had seen an unknown man casting out demons in Jesus's name. Instead of being helpful to the man, they had spoken quite roughly to him. John was, therefore, saying in effect to Jesus, Do you mean that we did wrong in rebuking that man?
Jesus replied, Do not stop him... no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us (Mark 9:39-40)
The lesson learned on tolerance was a difficult one for the twelve to learn. It is no less difficult for us. All of us, surely, believe in freedom of thought and freedom of expression. But how hard it is to feel friendly towards those who differ from us in cultural tradition or political viewpoint or even religious conviction! This teaching does not mean that we are, under any circumstance, to compromise our convictions. It does mean, however, that we must accord to every man the right to think for himself and to speak for himself, but according to the principles of Scripture.
A philosopher said to those who violently opposed him, I do not agree with a word that you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it. That is tolerance.
Jesus pointed out that the man who was casting out demons was actually rendering service to mankind, in spite of the fact that he was not a member of the group of their immediate followers. This circumstance led Jesus to declare that any service that is rendered in his name will be rewarded, even to the giving of a cup of cold water, little as that may be. By the same token, any disservice we render our fellow man will earn God's disapproval. For a disciple of Christ to be a hindrance to anyone, no matter how insignificant that individual may be, is a sin - so grave a sin that it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. (Mark 9:42)
Having warned his disciples about being a hindrance to others, Jesus spoke about dealing with hindrances in their own lives. Just as it is necessary, at times, for a man to have a hand, or a foot, or an eye amputated to prevent infection from spreading througout the entire body, so it is necessary, always, to get rid of anything on one's heart or mind that prevents complete devotion to God. Anything in the life of a disciple that is unseemly or improper must be eliminated.
How sobering the words of Jesus! It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell... where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:45-58). Surely, when someone sins, he earns what sin pays: death (Romans 6:23)
As the disciples listened to Jesus, they were possibly saying within themselves, How hard it is to enter into the kingdom!
Jesus consented to their thoughts as he further said that to be a faithful follower of his meant to exercise rigorous self-discipline. He had just mentioned the judgment of sin in no uncertain terms. He spoke next of purification from sins as he said, Everyone will be salted with fire (Mark 9:49). Purification of thought and purpose and motive is essential if the servants of Christ would, in turn, have a wholesome and redemptive effect on the world around them. Unless the Christian is purged from sin, he is like salt without savor; that is, his life is ineffective.
This passage in Mark's Gospel recalls the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). To fulfull our ministry as Christ's agents of redemption in the world, we must be completely devoted to the Lord. Jesus concluded his discourse concerning true greatness by saying that the disciples could not be the salt of the earth unless harmony prevailed in the fellowship - Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other (Mark 9:50)