The sinful nature loves self, and pride is its native tongue.
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. They came to Capernaum.
When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me” (Mark 9:30-37).
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil. 2:3-4). This is the same as saying you should just “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” That’s what Paul means in these Philippians verses, and it sounds easy enough, right? If anyone had been able to see an example of this mindset and then replicate it, it would have been the disciples.
Jesus takes special care to ensure he has time alone with only the disciples. In Mark 9, he has just come from the Mount of Transfiguration, where he appeared in glory to Peter, James, and John. The teaching he wanted them to understand, however, was that he was going to Jerusalem to die. It would be the ultimate humiliation. Betrayed and arrested. Beaten and killed. But then, he would rise in well-earned glory. He had told them all this before. Once they arrive at Capernaum, he specifically instructs them on how glory and greatness in his kingdom come through selflessness and service.
Would all of this teaching improve their relationships? Would it generally make life better? More meaningful? More satisfying? Sure! But what do the disciples do here?
When Jesus tells them about what will happen in Jerusalem––again, not for the first time––they don’t understand. An attentive and humble student would ask for an explanation. But they remained silent, afraid to ask Jesus. As they travel along the way, do they ponder Jesus’ words? No, they argue back and forth about which of them is the most important, maybe sparked by those Jesus brought up the mountain with him. It’s all about who will serve them, not about whom they can serve. Their actions are a failure across the board and a failure of pride and arrogance.
The disciples’ failure was not because they didn’t have enough information. That’s not usually our problem, either. You know better than to be selfish and prideful. You know you should be humble and eager to serve. So why don’t you? You have a sinful nature, just like the disciples did. The sinful nature loves self, and pride is its native tongue. Like the disciples, you need Jesus to humble you before you can live in humility.
Jesus perfectly humbles himself. He submits to death and crucifixion. He does so to serve us so that we do not receive what our pride and selfishness deserve. He then connects us to his cross in Holy Baptism. Our baptism drowns the sinful nature. He will continue to check pride with words of law and threats of punishment. He allows challenges at times to make plain our own strength is not sufficient.
But Jesus only humbles so that he can lift up! He lifts your bowed head to show you his work for you: work which is complete. He lifts you up to see his empty tomb. He lifts you up to see your life as a child of God and heir of eternal life. He lifts you up to see your days in this world lined with chances to serve him as you love your neighbor.
