PrevMark 9:35Next

Mark 9

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

What does Mark 9:35 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:35 is a statement made by Jesus addressing His disciples' debate over who among them would be considered the greatest.

In this moment, he subverts their understanding of traditional power hierarchies and asserts that true greatness in the kingdom of God is not about ascendency, but rather humility and servitude.

Jesus suggests that those who wish to be first must be willing to place themselves last and serve others.

This paradoxical exhortation flips societal expectations and prompts followers to seek a life characterized not by self-promotion, but by self-denial and service to others.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Jewish society, much like the surrounding Roman culture, placed great value on social status and hierarchy.

Those higher in status expected service from those below them.

In this context, Jesus’ message was counter-cultural.

The disciples had grown up in a society where being considered the greatest was an honor that usually reflected power, wealth, or influence.

Jesus’ teaching here, as recorded by Mark, challenged the prevailing societal norm, urging His followers to adopt a radically different mindset – one based on humility and service.

Theological Insights

Various theological streams approach this verse from different angles:

Traditional Christianity views this verse as a core teaching of Jesus about the nature of discipleship and leadership within the Christian community.

It calls for a servant-leadership model.

Liberation Theology interprets this as a text that upholds the dignity of the marginalized, arguing that Jesus sides with the "last" and empowering them through service.
Feminist Theology might see in this verse a dismantling of patriarchal hierarchies, indicating that the kingdom of God challenges societal norms regarding power and gender roles.

Practical Applications

In daily life, the teachings of Mark 9:35 can be applied by:

Choosing to serve others in both small and significant ways, rather than seeking personal recognition or advancement.
Volunteering in community service and considering the needs of the less fortunate.
Practicing humility in workplaces and relationships, prioritizing the team or the community's success rather than individual achievement.

Cross-References

"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;" (Matthew 20:26).
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11).
"For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." (Luke 9:48).
"I am among you as he that serveth." (Luke 22:27).

Language Study

In the Greek text, the words for "first" (πρῶτος – prōtos) and "last" (ἔσχατος – eschatos) carry more than just a numerical value; they imply rank and importance.

The word for "servant" (διάκονος – diakonos) often refers to a waiter or an attendant, indicating one who attends to the needs of others. Analyzing these key words underscores the reversal Jesus is teaching about status and servitude in the kingdom of God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient myths, the heroes sought greatness through their strength, cunning, or divine lineage. The emphasis was often on personal glory.

In contrast, Jesus’ emphasis on servitude as the path to greatness stands apart as a unique and counter-cultural message.

In the religious sphere, some parallels can be drawn with Eastern philosophies, such as Buddhism's focus on dissolving the ego, but Jesus' message is distinctive in its communal and relational focus within the context of the worship of a monotheistic God.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific or sociological perspective, Jesus' teachings in Mark 9:35 might be viewed in terms of their impact on community cohesion and mental health.

Studies have shown that acts of service can increase an individual's well-being and can foster a sense of belonging and purpose within a community.

Such findings align with the practical implications of Jesus’ call to servitude and humility.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer various interpretations of Mark 9:35:

John Calvin suggests that Christ is teaching about the inversion of values in God's Kingdom, where the greatest honor is found in abasement.
William Barclay notes that for Jesus, the truly great person is the one who does not seek power or prestige but finds their highest joy in service.
**R.T.

France** emphasizes that Jesus' teaching made a sharp distinction between the kingdom's values and the self-seeking standards of secular society.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 9:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?