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Mark 9:35 and the Other Verses of Mark 9:30–37

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur.  The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  

While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2027, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2027 is during August, September, or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2027 is first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in February, March, or April.  On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset.  The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon.  The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon.  On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for November 5th is Mark 9:35.  The title of the book Mark is also known as “The Gospel According to Mark.”  The book Mark was written by the apostle Mark.  

For geographical context, below is a link to a map of Israel during the time of the Lord Jesus Christʼs First Advent (also known as the Incarnation).  The First Advent was during a time when the region where Jerusalem was located was an occupied province of the Roman Empire.  The name of that Roman province was Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh].  The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa.  The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e.  Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah.  The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights].  The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].  On that map, Judea is located in grid coordinates B6, C6, B7, and C7.  For reference, Jerusalem is located at grid coordinate C6.  Also, the region Galilee [GAL-uh-lee] is located in grid coordinate C3.  The inhabitants of Galilee can be referred to as Galileans [gal-uh-LEE-uhnz].  In addition, Caesarea [sess-uh-REE-uh or sez-uh-REE-uh or seez-uh-REE-uh] Philippi is located in grid coordinate D2, and Capernaum [kuh-PUHR-nee-uhm or kuh-PUHR-nay-uhm] is located in grid coordinates C3 and D3.  

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt1.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt1.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Mark 9:30–37.  The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.  

Note:  In Mark 9:30, the phrase From there refers to Caesarea Philippi.  

Mark 9:30

From there they went out and were passing through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know, 

Mark 9:31

for He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered/betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”

Note:  In Mark 9:31, the word delivered has a negative connotation, as in betrayed.  The Lord was talking about Himself being betrayed by Judas Iscariot, the Lord then being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, and the Lord then being resurrected three days later.  

Mark 9:32

However, they were not knowing this saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Note:  The disciples did not understand that the Lord was talking about Himself being betrayed by Judas Iscariot, the Lord then being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, and the Lord then being resurrected three days later.  

Mark 9:33

They came to Capernaum, and when He had come in the house, He was questioning them, “What were you discussing/disputing on the way?”

Note:  In Mark 9:33, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek verb translated as “discussing/disputing” is διελογίζεσθε [pronounced dee-eh-lah-GEE-dzehs-theh and transliterated as dielogizesthe].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word διαλογίζομαι [pronounced dee-ah-lah-GEE-dzah-migh and transliterated as dialogizomai].  The Koine Greek verb dialogizomai is derived from the Koine Greek preposition διά [pronounced dee-AH and transliterated as dia] and the Koine Greek verb λογίζομαι [pronounced lah-GEE-dzah-migh and transliterated as logizomai].  The Koine Greek verb logizomai is derived from the Koine Greek noun λόγος [pronounced LAH-gahs and transliterated as logos].  The Koine Greek noun logos is derived from the Koine Greek verb λέγω [pronounced LEH-goh and transliterated as legō].  Similarly, the English noun dialogue [also spelled dialog] is ultimately derived from the Greek preposition dia and the Greek verb λέγειν [pronounced LEH-gayn and transliterated as legein].  The Greek verb legein is the infinitive form of the Greek root word legō.  

Considering the etymology of the Koine Greek verb dialogizomai and the English noun dialogue, it is unsurprising that those words look similar.  In that regard, while the noun dialogue is a synonym of the noun discussion, the meaning of dialogizomai can have a connotation more than that of a dialogue/discussion because dialogizomai can refer to the type of dialogue/discussion that involves disputing.  In the context of Mark 9:33, the disciples were having a discussion that involved disputing.  The fact that, in Mark 9:33, the connotation of dialogizomai involves disputing is revealed by the content of Mark 9:34.  

Mark 9:34

However, they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed/argued/disputed with one another about who is greatest.

Note:  In Mark 9:34, the Koine Greek verb translated as “discussed/argued/disputed” is διελέχθησαν [pronounced dee-eh-LEHKH-thay-sahn and transliterated as dielechthēsan].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word διαλέγομαι [pronounced dee-ah-LEH-gah-migh and transliterated as dialegomai].  The Koine Greek verb dialegomai is derived from the Koine Greek preposition dia and the Koine Greek verb legō.  

Also, in Mark 9:34, the Koine Greek adjective translated as “greatest” is μείζων [pronounced MAY-dzohn and transliterated as meizōn].  That adjective is an inflected form of the root word μέγας [pronounced MEH-gahs and transliterated as megas].  In that regard, meizōn is a comparative form of megas.  The comparative form of an adjective involves the comparison of two things.  The superlative form involves the comparison of three or more things.  While the comparative form of megas is used in Mark 9:34, three or more people are being compared in that context; therefore, when translating Mark 9:34 into English, the word greatest, which is the superlative form of great, needs to be used instead of the word greater, which is the comparative form of great.  

Regarding what is described in Mark 9:34, the disciples were comparing themselves to one another for the purpose of being perceived as superior to the other disciples; therefore, the disciples had competitive attitudes.  A competitive attitude is a self-centered attitude.  A self-centered attitude is a mental-attitude sin.  

Sins can be categorized in various ways.  In that regard, there are three broad categories of sins:  mental-attitude sins, verbal sins, and overt sins.  Verbal sins can also be referred to as sins of the tongue.  They can also be referred to as communicative sins because that category also encompasses non-verbal communication that involves sinning.  Communicative sins can also involve physical means of communication such as facial expressions, other forms of body language, tone of voice, and demeanor.  In that regard, some people take on an air of supposed superiority and behave condescendingly toward those whom they deem inferior.  While the behavior of a person who behaves condescendingly toward others is easily recognized as sinful, it is important to remember that regardless of the means by which people communicate that they are comparing themselves to others for the purpose of being perceived as superior, comparing oneself to others for the purpose of being perceived as superior is sinful.  

The content of Mark 9:34 reveals that the disciples, in addition to committing mental-attitude sins, were committing verbal sins.  In that regard, those who try to indicate that they are superior to others by comparing themselves to others verbally or by some other means of communication are guilty of boasting about themselves.  Such calling attention to themselves is a manifestation of the form of arrogance known as approbation lust (a lust for approval or praise).  

Also, those who try to indicate that they are superior to others by comparing themselves to others verbally or by some other means of communication tempt others to feel bad about themselves.  In that regard, the people doing the comparing for the purpose of being perceived as superior try to build their happiness on the unhappiness of others.  Doing that is so tremendously selfish that it is callous.  

In addition to people trying to prove that they are superior to others by comparing themselves in their thoughts and in their communicating, people also try to indicate that they are superior to others by comparing themselves by means of their actions.  Doing so involves the third broad category of sinning:  overt sins.  In that regard, people commit overt sins of trying to prove that they are superior to others by comparing themselves to others by showing off and by participating in competitions.  Whenever a person tries to outdo others for the purpose of being perceived as superior—whether in a formal competition or informally—that person is committing an overt sin or overt sins.  

Formal competitions can take a variety of forms, including sports competitions, music competitions, and debates, to name a few.  In that regard, there are myriads of types of formal competitions that people dream up and in which people participate.  Regarding informally trying to outdo others for the purpose of being perceived as superior, this can involve something that a person plans or something impromptu.  Regardless of whether competing is formal or informal, planned or unplanned, when a person competes for the purpose of being perceived as superior, that person is trying to build his or her happiness on the unhappiness of others.  He or she cares little or not at all that those who lose the competition get humiliated.  As with the attempts to build happiness on the unhappiness of others by means of verbal sinning, the attempts to build happiness on the unhappiness of others by means of overt sinning is so tremendously selfish that it is callous.  

Regarding people trying to outdo others, listed below are some words similar to the verb outdo.  

outperform

surpass

outshine

overshadow

eclipse

outclass

get the better of

put in the shade

upstage

exceed

transcend

top

cap

beat

better

get ahead of

be a cut above

be head and shoulders above

run rings around

one up

It is worth noting that in refraining from trying to do any of the above for the purpose of being perceived as superior and any other act of comparing oneself to others for the purpose of being perceived as superior, one can still try to do as well as one can.  Oneʼs motivation or motivations for what one is doing need to be unselfish.  In that regard, one needs to be alert regarding oneʼs motivation or motivations.  

With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors.  The mindset color code describes states of awareness.  The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin.  Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN).  Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human.  The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature.  It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16.  The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies.  Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned.  All other human beings have been conceived.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature.  All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures.  Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.  Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.  

If one is motivated by selfishness, one is sinning.  Once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

Regarding the disciples, because they were focused on how great they were, it is apropos [ap-ruh-POH or AP-ruh-poh] that the content of Mark 9:34 includes the word meizōn, which is a comparative form of megas.  In that regard, the disciples, in their delusions of grandeur, were on a narcissistic path to megalomania.  People with an attitude like that of the disciples think that they are great in some way, shape, or form, but they fail to realize that what is great (as in immense) is their mania for themselves.  In that regard, if a person thinks that he or she is a “mega” man (a great man) or a “mega” woman (a great woman), that person is actually a megalomaniac.  

The content of Mark 9:34 is repeated below for reference.  

Mark 9:34

However, they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed/argued/disputed with one another about who is greatest.

Mark 9:35

Sitting down, He called the twelve and says* to them, “If anyone wants to be first in rank / first in honor / principal / foremost in order or importance, he shall be last of rank / lowest of all and servant of all.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Note:  The phrase the twelve in Mark 9:35 refers to the Lordʼs twelve disciples.  Gladly, the Lord gave the disciples an opportunity to change their attitudes.  In this verse, the Koine Greek adjective translated as “first in rank / first in honor / principal / foremost in order or importance” is πρῶτος [pronounced PROH-tahs and transliterated as prōtos].  That adjective is an inflected form of the root word πρῶτος [pronounced PROH-tahs and transliterated as prōtos].  The Koine Greek adjective translated as “last of rank / lowest of all” is ἔσχατος [pronounced EH-skhah-tahs and transliterated as eschatos].  That adjective is an inflected form of the root word ἔσχατος [pronounced EH-skhah-tahs and transliterated as eschatos].  The Lordʼs use of the adjective eschatos in this verse refers to having an attitude of humility.  In that regard, the Lord indicated that in order for a believer to be significant to God the Father, that believer needs to have an attitude of humility.  

In this verse, the Koine Greek noun translated as “servant” is διάκονος [pronounced dee-AH-kah-nahss and transliterated as diakonos].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word διάκονος [pronounced dee-AH-kah-nahss and transliterated as diakonos].  While the English word deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos, the context of this verse is such that diakonos in this verse refers to a person having an attitude of unselfishness.  Also, regarding having an attitude of unselfishness, rather than the phrase servant of all in this verse referring to a believer willingly making himself or herself a literal servant of others, that phrase refers to a believer being unselfish towards others.  In that regard, the Lord indicated that in order for a believer to be significant to God the Father, that believer needs to be unselfish towards others.  

Regarding being unselfish, God the Fatherʼs plan involves the blessing of humble, non-attention-getting, helping-others, servant-minded believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Such believers, while frequently unnoticed by much of the other people in the world, can be noticed by the angels, and such believers are certainly noticed by the Trinity.  Worth noticing about such believers is their contrast with the characteristics of Satan, who is arrogant, seeks approbation, cares nothing about others, and is self-serving.  It is possible that the blessing that unselfish believers will experience will occur only after they go to Heaven rather than before they go to Heaven.  That usage of the word Heaven refers to the location of the throne room of God the Father.  Below is a summary of the different usages for the word heaven.  

• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens):  the atmosphere of earth

• The second heaven (aka second heavens):  outer space

• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven):  the location of the throne room of God the Father

Mark 9:36

Taking a child, He set him in their midst, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

Mark 9:37

“Whoever receives one of such children like this in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me does not receive Me but Him Who sent Me.”

Note:  In the human viewpoint of the culture in which the Lord and the disciples lived during the First Advent of the Lord, children were considered insignificant.  The term human viewpoint refers to any viewpoint that deviates from the Word of God.  In contrast, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint of the Trinity.  All three Members of the Trinity have the same viewpoint.  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can learn divine viewpoint by learning the Word of God.  Therefore, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint that comes from a proper understanding of the Word of God.  With human-viewpoint thinking, a person has unrealistic expectations regarding life.  Such a person is divorced from reality.  

Because the Lord thought in terms of divine viewpoint, He knew that children are significant to God the Father.  In that regard, God the Father wants children to be presented the gospel—the good news that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity.  The Lordʼs disciples needed to be focused on presenting the gospel to people instead of being focused on what they self-centeredly had been thinking is their own significance.  

In order to help the disciples refrain from being focused on what they self-centeredly had been thinking is their own significance, the Lord called attention to the importance of treating those who seem insignificant as truly significant.  The Lord did so by means of a teaching illustration involving treating children as significant by welcoming them.  Regarding welcoming, both instances of the phrase receives Me in this verse refer to a believer having a welcoming attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ.  The phrase does not receive Me but Him Who sent Me refers to a believer not only having a welcoming attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ but also having a welcoming attitude towards God the Father.  

In calling attention to the significance of children, the Lord utilized children as a teaching illustration about people in general.  In that regard, the Lord taught His disciples that the disciples should treat all people as significant and to therefore have an attitude involving willingness to share the gospel with everyone.  Such an attitude contrasts with an attitude involving a self-centered focus on oneʼs own significance.  Regarding the foregoing, sharing the gospel with seemingly insignificant people is an act of unselfishness.  

Sincerely,

John