Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 9:36

"And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them," — Mark 9:36 (ASV)

To illustrate the principle in v.35, Jesus took a child, perhaps one from the family in whose house he was teaching, and first stood him by his side. Then Jesus took him into his arms (cf. 10:16). While all were watching, he indicated that true greatness entails caring about people—seemingly insignificant people like children—because Jesus himself was concerned about them. When one cares about such people, one is really “receiving” Jesus and God himself.