Kingdom of Losers

Trinity Vineyard Sunday Morning

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

- Mark 9:30-37

What is the Kingdom like? Who gets in? Who gets a blessing?
Well the kingdom belongs to those who can pass through a small door. Greatness in the Kingdom requires a reversal of values—being “last” rather than seeking personal fulfilment. The smallest children - those without value and prestige - represent the great, even God himself.
It also belongs to those who can get over a low bar. When the disciple John reports stopping someone casting out demons in Jesus' name, Jesus rebukes him. Those acting in Jesus name, for the sake of the little ones of Jesus, are on the Kingdom's side. The requirement for belonging is simple: not exclusivity or high qualifications, but solidarity with Jesus and his followers.
Finally, it belongs to those with deep wounds. Jesus advises the disciples that they must not cause themselves to stumble. It is better to take radical action against those parts of us that lead away from the Kingdom. If we don't cut them off they will lead to spiritual ruin.
For these disciples, who argued about who is the greatest and had got into a habit of ordering people to turn away from Kingdom mission, there was work to do.