Mark 9:30-41
30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
33Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
___________________________________
We are now only a little over 2 weeks from the Festival of Easter. Easter is the final answer to Christmas. A Savior was born….and now this Savior is crucified and will rise in glory. But wait! There is more to come.
Our passage today is the second announcement from the lips of Jesus that he will be killed, but will rise again. The first announcement is found in Mark 8 and the third in Mark 10. So pieced together, Mark is telling his readers not once, but three times that Resurrection (Easter) is the final answer to Christmas.
This announcement spoken long ago was first heard by the ears of the disciples and today those same words are being heard by us. Adults and children too, just like long ago. Remember, that children in Jesus day were considered to be weak and insignificant. Yet it is the children Jesus tells the disciples to bring to him. He blesses them, takes one into his arms and says, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me.”
In these days leading up to Easter, we are reminded again that the good news of Easter is for all people. It’s kind of a welcome. Yes, for you and me who hear the good news week after week at Peace Lutheran and for those who walk outside our doors and wonder what goes on there. Good news. Welcome. Jesus has defeated the final enemy of death. Once… for All! Praise God!
Prayer: Hear us Lord as we pray. Your coming has brought life to death. And because you live, we will live too. Eternally and forever. Amen.
—Mike Carlson