Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 2:19b "For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage." 2 Peter 2:19b"
Day 210 – Mark 9
“For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19b
A SHORT LIST OF DEFECTS
Jesus had decided that He must devote even more time to the training of His Disciples. There were many lessons that they had not yet mastered. The following is a short list of the things that Jesus knew His Disciples needed to work on.
1. Faith
a) The lack of great faith was obvious.
b) He could not hold them up as examples of great faith.
2. Knowledge
a) Their knowledge had increased considerably.
b) But their lack of fullness of knowledge was so obvious too.
3. Power
a) Some of the disciples had not been able to prevail.
b) There was an underlying problem for all he Disciples; they needed to know how to tap the power of God more effectively.
4. Suffering
a) The Disciples had obvious difficulty with the suffering of Jesus.
b) They needed to have a greater understanding of the subject of suffering; in particular, the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ!
GREATNESS REDEFINED
Jesus had to add one more item to this list. He had to open up their eyes to understand “greatness” from God’s standpoint.
“And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them,
‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all
and servant to all.”
MARK 9:35
What a profound statement! Jesus was re-defining true greatness. Two qualities are highlighted! The individual must be prepared to be “last of all”. He must also be prepared to be “servant to all”. What a contrast to secular definition of “greatness”.