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  MARK 9:33-37. CHRIST TEACHES HUMILITY BY THE EXAMPLE OF A CHILD.
  by Favell Lee Mortimer
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Summary: Favell Lee Mortimer's sermon emphasizes the importance of
humility through Christ's teachings and the example of a child.

Topics: "Christian Humility", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 18:2, Matthew 18:5, Mark 9:33

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DESCRIPTION
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Favell Lee Mortimer reflects on the private conversations of Jesus with
his disciples, highlighting the depth of wisdom and patience displayed
in those moments. Despite the disciples' worldly desires for greatness,
Jesus patiently reproves them and teaches them about humility using a
child as an example. He emphasizes the importance of being like a humble
child in spirit, free from the desire for earthly distinctions, and
shows affection and care for those who are contrite and penitent,
likening them to children who are dear to Him.

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CONTENT
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It is interesting to hear what the Lord Jesus said to the multitude in
his public discourses; but it is still more interesting to hear what he
said to his disciples in his private conversations. In these retired
scenes we behold, and admire, not only his wisdom, but also his
patience.

How displeasing it must have been to the Lord, while he was talking of
his sufferings, to know that his disciples, who were accompanying him on
the road, were disputing who should be the greatest! Yet he patiently
waited for a seasonable opportunity of reproving them.

When he was come into the house he asked them, "What was it that you
disputed among yourselves by the way?" Their own consciences told them
that they had acted wrong, and they were ashamed to acknowledge their
fault to their Master. What a dignity the Lord preserved among his most
familiar friends! Though gentle and condescending, he made them feel
ashamed of sin.

Seated among his disciples, as a father among his children, he began to
explain to them their error. What was it he disapproved? It was the
feeling whence the dispute arose. It was the desire to be first. Eve ate
the fruit with a desire to be as God. We, her children, inherit this
wicked desire. The grace of God alone can root it out of our hearts.

In order to make a stronger impression upon the disciples' minds, the
Lord took a little child, and set him in the midst of them, as an
example of humility. A very little child has not understanding enough to
desire to be first; the thought never enters into its mind. It follows
its mother from place to place, caring not whether she be a queen or a
peasant. It never looks for admiration, and shrinks from the notice of
all, but its beloved parents and nurses. The Christian, also, ought to
be indifferent to earthly distinctions. He is, in fact, a pardoned
criminal, and should be too deeply penitent for his transgressions
against his Lord, to wish for honor among his fellows.

Observe what affection Christ showed to the young child. He took him in
his arms, and while he still held the little creature in his embrace,
thus spoke to his disciples--"Whoever shall receive one of such children
in my name, receives me." The humble, the contrite, and the penitent,
are such children. If we wish to please our Lord, we shall show great
tenderness to his humble disciples. Whatever crimes they may have
committed in past times, we shall forget them, because the blood of
Christ has blotted them out. It is not those who have committed the
fewest open sins that God loves best; but those who are the least in
their own eyes; these are his dearest children. It is our honor to be
allowed to comfort them.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/favell-lee-mortimer/mark-933-37-christ-teaches-humility-by-the-example-of-a-child/
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