Summary: We want to be big, but Jesus makes Himself small. We, too, must make ourselves small, like Jesus.

BECOMING SMALL

Mark 9:30-37 (ESV)

What is wrong?—We want to be big.

What is true?—Jesus makes Himself small.

What to do—We must make ourselves small.

How?—By…

I Observing What Jesus Does for Us (Mark 9:30-32)

1. While Jesus Is Great, He Became Small (9:30-31a)

‘…He was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him”’ (v. 31a).

2. While Jesus Became Small, He Is Great (9:31b-32)

‘And when he is killed, after three days he will rise’ (v. 31b).

II Observing What Jesus Says to Us (Mark 9:33-35)

1. What Jesus Says Exposes Our Pride (9:33-34)

‘…He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest’ (vv. 33, 34).

2. What Jesus Says Encourages Our Humility (9:35)

‘And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all”’ (v. 35).

III Observing What Jesus Shows to Us (Mark 9:36-37)

1. Jesus Shows Us What Is Small in Our Eyes (9:36a)

‘And he took a child and put him in the midst of them…’ (v. 36).

2. Jesus Shows Us What Is Great about What Is Small in Our Eyes (9:36b-37)

‘…and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me”’ (vv. 36b-37).