Mark 9:35, commentary and pictures

To desire to be first is to be called to become last of all and servant of all, for true greatness is found not in rising above others but in taking the lowest place in humble service to everyone. In God's order those who are small in their own eyes and humble themselves are counted great and will be exalted, while those who exalt themselves in selfish ambition for supremacy will be humbled and become least. Christ Himself is the great pattern of this greatness, ministering humbly to others and laboring in self-denial even to death rather than seeking rank for Himself. Pride, love of distinction, envy, and striving for control breed contention and unfit men for God's work, while humility before God brings meekness, wisdom, patience, and kindness. The call belongs to all followers to the close of time, that as brethren and servants they lay aside rivalry and self-seeking and move forward together in unity, kindness, and steady missionary service.

Setting and Occasion

The saying was spoken to correct the disciples when they disputed among themselves about who should be counted greatest. John took part in the dispute with several of the others. The strife was over rank and supremacy, and the answer given was that one who desires to be first must become last of all and servant of all.

They did not intend Jesus to hear their contention, but He read their hearts and knew their rivalry. What He saw was pride and ambition for the highest places in an imagined earthly kingdom and for greatness in authority in heaven's kingdom. He did not rebuke them at once in the heat of the dispute, but waited for a quiet hour to counsel and instruct them.

The lesson was given not only for the small group listening then but to be recorded for all followers to the close of time. John felt its force and was changed by it. The welcoming of a child set beside the saying showed that humble care for the vulnerable belongs to such service.

First Last Servant Meaning

If anyone desires to be first, he must become last of all and servant of all, for true greatness is not gained by seeking rank above others but by taking the lowest place in humble, devoted service to everyone. This was spoken to correct pride and ambition for the highest places in an imagined earthly kingdom and in a dispute over who should be greatest in authority in heaven's kingdom. Desire for rank with selfish control, unkind words, and harshness fosters strife, and each person will answer for such words and spirit, so the verse warns against envy for high positions and teaches humility and service rather than seeking authority over others. The desire for supremacy is thus rebuked, and followers must reject self-exaltation and take the lowly, serving position shown by His life, since supremacy has no place among them. The lesson applies to all followers, who are to show kindness and care even in ordinary duties.

Wanting the highest place for selfish reasons and striving for supremacy, status, and control over others leads to the opposite result, so that such a person will become last of all, least, and lowest. Those who seek the highest position and greatest status will be counted least in heaven, and eager ambition without meekness and humility leaves a person last in God's favor and sight. Following Him means seeking no honor above others, but self-pleasing and selfish ambition keep people from being used by God, while humble, self-denying service for God's glory puts Christ's work before self and values an indwelling Saviour above status. Pursuit of recognition from the world instead of relying on God's strength spoils influence and brings a person to the place of being last of all, as shown when pursuit of recognition from the world brought Dr. Caro to that place.

In God's order there is a reversal: those who have Christ's Spirit have no ambition to be above their brethren, and those who are small in their own eyes and humble themselves are counted great in God's sight and exalted and will be greatest in heaven's kingdom, while those who exalt themselves will be humbled. The teaching was given not only for the small group listening then but to be recorded for all followers to the close of time, and John felt its force and was changed by it. The only greatness recognized in God's kingdom is humility and devotion to serving others, and the way to be first in Christ's order is humility, not self-exaltation. The one who humbles himself and serves through self-denial and self-sacrifice is exalted, developing wisdom, patience, forbearance, kindness, and compassion. A humble spirit is necessary for honor and for entering the kingdom of heaven, and Christ's own humility and sacrificial service even to death set the example that should shame those who seek to be first, a principle that applies to physicians as well as other workers, since personal ambition prevents the work from being done for God's glory.

Christ's Servant Example

Greatness in Christ's kingdom is the opposite of worldly rank, and whoever desires to be first must give up self-exaltation and take the lowest place as servant of all. The saying rebukes the ambition for honor and position seen in the disciples' dispute over who should be greatest, calling instead for humble, faithful service in ministering to others. Christ Himself is the great example of this, for He was the servant of all and labored not for Himself. To follow Him is to lay aside the desire to lead or control others and to learn humility in His school.

His service was humility and devotion to others expressed through self-denial and self-sacrifice, even to death, and that sacrificial humility should shame all striving to be first. He did not seek distinction nor work for Himself, but willingly humbled and denied Himself to serve everyone. His labor was to comfort, help, and bring hope and strength to people in need, meeting their suffering with tenderness. Among His disciples striving for supremacy has no place, for all are brethren and servants, and the only greatness recognized is humility and devotion in serving others; the one who so humbles himself and serves is exalted, developing wisdom, patience, forbearance, kindness, and compassion.

What being servant of all means in practice is shown by His care for the sick, the hungry, the grieving, the afflicted, the distressed, children, and weary mothers. Following Jesus as the great example means showing kindness and tender care for others rather than self-love, envy, distrust, or bitterness. Such conduct sows its own harvest, for the seed of envy and bitterness brings a harvest of bitterness, while kindness and love receive kindness and love in return.

Pride Opposes Humility

Pride, love of distinction, desire for rank, selfish control, envy, unkind words and harshness foster rivalry, contention and strife instead of humble service. Desire for high positions and authority over others, and envy for such places, must give way to taking the lowest place and serving everyone. Contention over who is greatest weakens the work by taking strength, grace and power from those doing it, calling for change from selfish ambition and separation toward unity and love. Each person will answer for such words and spirit.

Self-pleasing, self-importance, self-sufficiency and eager ambition without meekness oppose the Lord's work and keep people from being used by God. Those who strive to be first become last and least in God's sight, ending up last of all and lowest. Seeking supremacy displays pride and self-importance rather than meekness and self-giving service, and makes a person unfit to be trusted with the Lord's work. Wanting the first place keeps Christ from trusting His professed followers. If self-important people receive success they take the glory for themselves.

Seeking supremacy for self is dangerous and contrary to Christ's lessons, for true greatness and nobility are shown by Christlike meekness. Jesus has no sympathy with this spirit and will leave those who pursue it, so His followers must walk humbly and give God all the glory. A person may seek first place without recognizing it, showing pride by overestimating his own abilities and diminishing others. A humble and contrite spirit is needed before taking on the responsibilities of a gospel minister.

Humility means dependence on God, Christlike meekness, and childlike simplicity and teachability. It means thinking little of self and exalting Jesus rather than displaying self-importance. The one who humbles himself and serves through self-denial and self-sacrifice is exalted, developing wisdom, patience, forbearance, kindness and compassion. All are brethren and servants, and the only greatness recognized in God's kingdom is humility and devotion to serving others.

Humility comes before honor and a humble spirit is necessary for honor and for entering the kingdom of heaven, while eager ambition without meekness and humility leaves a person last in God's favor. The most effective worker is the one who seeks not to exalt self but to serve and save others, relying on divine help. Humble, self-denying service for God's glory places Christ's work before self, and self-pleasing and selfish ambition keep people from being used by God. Being humble and willing to be taught makes followers a power for showing what truth does to character.

Living as Servant

The lesson belongs to every follower in the ordinary duties of life, calling each one to seek greatness through humility and to understand and follow the Lord's will. To follow Christ is to lay aside the desire to lead or control others and to learn humility in His school. That humility is shown in kindness and care toward others even in common tasks.

Supremacy has no place among His followers, for all are brethren and servants, and true greatness is humility and devoted service to others. Those who labor together are to serve one another rather than compete or undermine one another. Contention over who is greatest is to be put away in favor of Christlike childlike teachability. Plans and opinions are to be humbly considered with fellow workers rather than pursued in isolation or pressed in a bigoted way before careful and prayerful examination. The call is to turn from selfish ambition and separation to unity and love, since desire for recognition and supremacy takes strength and grace and power from the work.

Even those who are greatest are to be humble and willing to serve everyone when duty requires it, and no one is to regard his wisdom as beyond the possibility of error. To serve all is to show kindness and tender care rather than self-love, envy, distrust, or bitterness. Conduct of envy and bitterness sows seed that brings a harvest of bitterness, while kindness and love receive kindness and love in return. The verse calls for putting self aside and repenting, cultivating a humble and contrite spirit, walking humbly, and giving God all the glory. An indwelling Saviour is to be valued above status, and humble self-denying service puts God's work ahead of personal advancement so that self-seeking does not cut off God's connection with His servants as channels of light. Whoever seeks supremacy for self will be made last and servant of all, and that spirit of self-pleasing that makes self first will end last. A person may seek first place without recognizing it, by overestimating his own abilities and diminishing others.

Living this principle produces constant activity and steady progress in missionary work without exalting self, working in Christ's lines and being willing to be taught by Him. Such humility makes followers a power for showing what truth does to character, with labor never satisfied unless church is added to church. Those entrusted with responsibility show the same spirit by patiently training inexperienced workers, sharing knowledge, and helping others become as capable as themselves instead of keeping work and opportunity to themselves. The principle reaches physicians as well as other workers, gospel ministers, and those in the publishing work, warning that personal ambition keeps the work from being done for God's glory. Pursuit of worldly recognition instead of reliance on God's strength spoils influence and brings a person to the place of being last of all, as was seen when Dr. Caro's pursuit of recognition from the world spoiled his influence and brought him to that place.