But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else."

Then he put a little child among them.

Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 

"Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me."

Mark 9:34-37 NLT

This child must've belonged to the household that they were staying in (see v33). Why does Jesus use a child to make his point with his team?

Perhaps it's because they were talking about power, prestige, being "great", and this child gave none of that. 

A small child has nothing but needs to be met. 

He or she has no power, no prestige, can do nothing for them, and yet welcoming this small child, picking her up, giving protection, security, connection, is the  picture Jesus uses to invite his team to welcome Jesus in, to love Him.

By loving and caring for the powerless, we're loving Jesus, loving the Father, loving God.

That might mean putting down the way our society measures success and value, and following the invitation that Jesus gives here...

#gospelofMark #GoodNews 

#invitation 

#loveGodlovepeople