The Last Will Be First
Arguing about greatness, holding a child instead
Back in Capernaum, Jesus asked the disciples what they'd been arguing about on the road — they were silent, embarrassed, because they'd been arguing about who was the GREATEST! Jesus said: 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.' He took a little child, had the child stand among them, and said: 'Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.' John told Jesus they'd seen someone driving out demons in Jesus' name and told him to stop, because he wasn't one of their group.
Jesus said: 'Do not stop him... whoever is not against us is for us.' Then Jesus gave a serious warning: if anyone causes a little one who believes to stumble, it would be better for them to have a huge millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea! And if your own hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, get rid of it — better to enter life maimed than to keep something that leads you away from God entirely. 'Salt is good,' Jesus said, 'but if it loses its saltiness... have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.'
✨ Memory verse
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”Mark 9:35 (NIV)
Tap the words in the right order:
🎉 You did it!
Type the verse from memory:
🎵 Sing along: A Song for The Last Will Be First
❓ Quiz time!
🖍️ Printables
👨👩👧 Parent & teacher guide
Big idea: true greatness in God's kingdom is measured by servanthood, not status — and protecting the faith of "little ones" (children, and the spiritually young or vulnerable) is treated with the utmost seriousness, alongside ruthless personal honesty about whatever causes one's own sin. Jesus' tolerance toward the unnamed exorcist ("whoever is not against us is for us") models grace toward genuine, even imperfectly-organized, gospel work.
Conversation starters: (1) Why might Jesus use a child specifically to teach about greatness and welcome? (2) Why does Jesus take such a strong stance against causing "little ones" to stumble? (3) What's something you might need to "get rid of" because it leads you toward sin?
Pray for hearts that genuinely serve rather than seek status, and for protection over the faith of children.