Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 9:35-37

"And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me." — Mark 9:35-37 (ASV)

Perhaps they were jealous of Peter; possibly they were even more jealous of James and John. So the Lord gently pacifies them. He does not impatiently say, "I cannot enter into your disputes; I cannot be worried with you." Oh, no! But he just sits down and talks with them.

I like that picture; it is almost as grand as the group of Christ and his disciples at the supper table in the upper room. He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

That is the way they come to be first, by being willing to be last of all, and the servant of all. This is the only way to get to the front of Christ's army; he who would be chief must always be aiming at the rear rank, willing to do the most humble service, and to be the lowest menial in his Master's service. Only in this way can we rise.

In Christ's kingdom, the way to go up is to go down. Sink self, and you shall surely rise.