🙇‍♂️ Humility vs 🗣 Pride

Learning to Live Like Jesus from Mark 9:30–40

✍️ By Pastor Gary Boyd

Next Sunday is Easter—and I couldn’t be more excited! 🌅 It’s one of those times of year when hearts are more open to hearing the message of Jesus. But before we roll into Resurrection Sunday, I want to point something out:

The gospel isn’t just for the unsaved—it’s for us, too. 👈 Yes, those of us who already believe still need the message of the cross. Why? Because it teaches us how to live.

In Mark 9:30–40, Jesus gives His disciples a message that flips their thinking—and ours—completely upside down. Let’s take a look. 👀

✝️ Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Humility (vv. 30–32)

As they passed through Galilee, Jesus wanted a quiet moment with His disciples. He was preparing them for the most important moment in human history.

“The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him… and He shall rise the third day.” — Mark 9:31

This is one of the clearest gospel statements Jesus ever made. But the disciples didn’t get it. Why? Because they were still expecting a reigning king, not a suffering servant.

Even the title “Son of Man” didn’t click for them. But it speaks volumes to us today. Jesus—the Son of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords—chose to be the Son of Man. That’s humility. That’s selflessness.

He let Himself be betrayed, beaten, mocked, and crucified. Why? So that we might live. 🕊

“But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant…” — Philippians 2:7

😬 The Disciples: A Picture of Pride (vv. 33–37)

While Jesus was preparing to lay down His life, what were the disciples doing?

Arguing about who would be the greatest. 😑

They thought Jesus would set up an earthly kingdom and wanted to know who would have the corner office. Jesus didn’t rebuke them—He sat down and taught them:

“If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” — Mark 9:35

Then He took a child (yes, a child!) and placed him right in the middle of their man-talk. That was radical. 🧒

He said, “Receive this child in My name and you receive Me.” In other words, don’t chase importance. Chase opportunities to serve the least—the unnoticed, the unimportant, the overlooked.

🤔 Pride’s Sneaky Voice: “They’re Not With Us” (vv. 38–40)

Then John pipes up with something revealing:

“We saw someone casting out devils in Your name, but he doesn’t follow us, so we told him to stop.”

Did you catch that? He didn’t say the guy wasn’t following Jesus—just that he wasn’t in their group. 😬

Jesus responds:

“Forbid him not… he that is not against us is on our part.” — Mark 9:39-40

🔥 Jesus is building a kingdom—not a clique.

I had a funny moment like this recently. Someone on Facebook asked what time the “Baptist church” had service. A few of us local pastors responded with our own church times. And you know what? We all liked each other’s posts. Why? Because we’re not in competition. We’re on the same team! 🏈✝️

Let’s be careful not to confuse “not following me” with “not following Jesus.”

💡 What Does This Mean for Us?

As we prepare our hearts for Easter, here’s the challenge:

Look at the Cross 🔭

Let the cross teach you how to live.

Not as someone chasing position, but as someone who’s racing to the bottom in love and service.

“The life which I now live… I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20

We aren’t the Savior—Jesus is. 🙌

We aren’t building our kingdom—we’re serving in His.

We aren’t racing to the top—we’re learning to bend low.

🙏 Final Thought

This week, slow down and meditate on the cross. Let it shape the way you see others. Let it drive out pride and stir up compassion.

Ask yourself:

• Who can I serve that no one else is serving?
• Who have I overlooked that Jesus values?

Let’s be a church that reflects the humble heart of Jesus—and let’s start today.

💗✝️

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