Scripture
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first he must be the very last and the servant of all.”

Observation
Jesus takes the Twelve away from the crowds for some personal teaching.

He starts by telling them that he would be killed and then rise again. They did not understand what He was talking about.

He goes on to ask them what they were arguing about on the road. They are afraid to admit that it was about which of them was the greatest. So Jesus tells them that to be first you have to put yourself last and serve the others.

He follows this up by standing a child in front of them and saying, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children welcomes me.”

Application
God's kingdom transforms all of our values. Often the kingdom values can be so alien to us that we can't absorb the meaning of plain words.

Jesus here teaches us that:
– He is a king who reigns by dying.
– leaders lead by serving
– children are so valuable that they embody the presence of Jesus

These values are easy to state but far more difficult to absorb and live out. Yet this is what we are required to do.

Prayer
Father you are in the business of transforming hearts and lives. Please show me how to base my life on your values rather than my own. Amen.