They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. 33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35 Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Jesus embarks on a journey through Galilee and the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, which will eventually lead to Jerusalem and his crucifixion. When Jesus made the first prediction of his passion Peter rebuked him (Mk. 8:32). The disciples could not accept what Jesus was saying to them because their expectations of the Messiah were of a conquering hero, not one who would endure suffering and death. They did not understand the meaning of what Jesus told them and were most likely afraid to ask because Jesus had previously sternly rebuked Peter for his lack of understanding (Mk. 8:33). They were probably also afraid because of what Jesus told them.
Capernaum served as a base for Jesus' ministry in Galilee (Mk. 2:1). It had a large, predominately Jewish population and was centrally located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, making it easy to reach various parts of Galilee and beyond. It was a thriving fishing village, and several of Jesus' key disciples, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were from Capernaum or nearby towns. Additionally, Capernaum offered a less hostile environment for Jesus than Jerusalem, where the opposition of the religious leaders was more intense and organized. It fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah’s ministry in Galilee (Mt. 4:13-16; Is. 8:23; Is.9:1-2). The house likely referred to Peter’s home, occasionally used by Jesus to privately teach his disciples (Mk. 1:29-31; 2:1-2; 9”33-34).
When they arrived at Capernaum, Jesus asked the disciples what they were arguing about. Their argument was about status and hierarchy within the group; who was the greatest disciple? They had not yet understood Jesus’ teachings about humility and service which is central to the Christian understanding of discipleship and community. Jesus instructed the disciples that humility and serving others are the true hallmarks of leadership in the kingdom. Jesus used a child as a living parable to illustrate his point about humility and service. In the ancient world, a child was an example of someone who is helpless, cannot give a reward for being helped, and was among the lowest in social status. Jesus was radically redefining greatness. The disciples are to welcome and serve the vulnerable and powerless in the same way they would serve Christ.
The greatest in the community should help those who cannot help themselves out of love for Christ. Whoever helps a child in the name of Jesus helps Jesus, and whoever helps Jesus helps God who sent Jesus. Leaders should be servants, as Jesus is, and not impose demands on others. Ambition and pride should have no place in the church.
Heavenly Father, grant us the humility to serve others selflessly, as Jesus taught us. Help us to embrace the least among us with love and compassion, recognizing Your presence in them. Free us from pride and ambition, so we may follow Christ's example of servanthood and faithfully carry out Your will. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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