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<DIV><FONT size=4><SUP>v. 35</SUP> The phrasing of this dominical
saying is comparable to that of the teaching about discipleship following the
first passion-prediction, 8:34ff. Here too is sharp eschatological antithesis
between exalted status in the age-to-come and humiliation in this present
world-age. Discipleship must involve servanthood, being the one who waits upon
everyone.<BR></FONT><A name=anchor888389></A><FONT size=4><SUP>v. 36
</SUP>While the tradition regarding the child and Jesus' utterance regarding the
child may originally have been independent of the Marcan context, it is clear
that Mark intends the reader to discern in the unassuming guilelessness of the
child the stance appropriate to a disciple-the stance that he himself assumes
and that his followers ought also to assume: the child's openness to God is
exactly the stance expected of a disciple as it is the stance exemplified by
Jesus.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/Mark/mk8notes.html#anchor888141">http://artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/Mark/mk8notes.html#anchor888141</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Carl W. Conrad</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">v33</SPAN>: supplies a
hint that Jesus had a house in Capernaum, although it may also be Peter's house
(1:29) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">v34</SPAN>: Once again,
the writer depicts the disciples as self-aggrandizing, callous, and ignorant,
for they react to Jesus' prediction of his coming death by discussing amongst
themselves which one is the greatest.</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.michaelturton.com/Mark/GMark09.html#9.p.30.37">http://www.michaelturton.com/Mark/GMark09.html#9.p.30.37</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Michael A. Turton</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Harry B. Adams asks "how often we would be silent if Jesus
were to confront us and ask us what we have been talking and fretting about."
Even more, we "would fall silent if we were asked to explain how what we are
doing and saying accords with the way of life that Jesus sets before us." Talk
about a lesson in humility! We do well, then, to heed Richard Swanson's caution
as we read this story about the disciples: "This is not an exercise in attacking
their flawed notions of discipleship and contrasting them with our own
potentially more adequate notions and practice." We could find ourselves
distracted by measuring our own righteousness against that of the disciples, and
somehow judging ourselves greater, more aware, more faithful.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://i.ucc.org/StretchYourMind/OpeningtheBible/WeeklySeeds/tabid/81/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/232/First-in-Caring-Sep-1420.aspx">http://i.ucc.org/StretchYourMind/OpeningtheBible/WeeklySeeds/tabid/81/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/232/First-in-Caring-Sep-1420.aspx</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Kate Huey</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>In today’s lesson, the disciples (9:30-37) each want to be the
greatest. They want the disciple of the month plaque and the parking spot.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I remember sitting in the pew on Good Friday, surrounded by
multi-taskers. A woman with her compact out, was touching up her lipstick.
Another woman was checking her email on her iphone. A man was sending a text. A
couple teenagers were flirting. Several people were snoozing. Self-righteous
little me was busy watching them and feeling superior. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Unless we take as our example those characters we mentioned
earlier in the Gospel of Mark, whose desire is aligned with Jesus’ desire. Whose
desire is for the good of someone beyond themselves. Then, we’ll be doing all
you can to help a suffering friend (paralytic’s friends 2:1-5). We’ll be telling
everyone you know about what Jesus has done for you (Gerasene demoniac 5:18-20).
We’ll be following Jesus on the way to Jerusalem (Bartimaeus 10:51ff). We’ll be
checking out our priorities with Jesus’ to make sure we’re on the right track
(scribe 12:32-34). We’ll be surrounding Jesus with all the love and loyalty we
can muster to comfort him when others betray him (woman with ointment 14:3-9).
We’ll be keeping a vigil by his cross (women disciples at crucifixion 15:40-41).
We’ll be honoring his body (Joseph of Arimathea 15:43-46).<BR>Or we can argue
with one another about who is the greatest. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=12">http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=12</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Alyce M. McKenzie<BR>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>One might think that the blessing of seeing how to welcome
both Jesus and one who sent him would make our churches full of joyful open arms
and welcoming hospitality every time a child or someone new was met. We'd be
eager to transform non-persons into honoured guests.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.holytextures.com/2009/09/mark-9-30-37-year-b-pentecost-20-25-sermon.html">http://www.holytextures.com/2009/09/mark-9-30-37-year-b-pentecost-20-25-sermon.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>David Ewart, 2009</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Within the context of 21st century America, children have
music, popular culture, technology, violence and sexuality sewn into the fabric
of their lives in ways that to date are unparalleled. From perpetual text
messaging, Nintendo Wiis, X-boxes, CDs or cellular innovations, it appears that
children are inextricably bound to many aspects of popular culture and its
values. In many ways, the marriage between children and 21st century culture
places children in precarious, fragile, and dangerous places. More than ever,
children are abused, snatched, hastily given Ritalin, latch-keyed, under-fed and
recipients of inadequate health care. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=74"><FONT
size=4>http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=74</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Imani Jones, 2009</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>