What are you arguing about?

 “What are you arguing about?”

That was Jesus question to his disciples. You can read It in Mark 9:30.

But it’s also the question he’s asking us today. Because it’s a question about power and position and pride.

We all suffer with pride. Because we all have trouble seeing life through any other point of view than our own. And because we suffer from pride, we have issues with grasping for power and clawing for position.

“What are you arguing about?”

What’s got into you? Why are you so upset? Why can’t you just get along? Where is this coming from?

That’s the line of questioning when we face Jesus’ question. That’s the repeated pleas when we realize our own pride is like a cancer, tearing away at our spirit and ruining our soul.

But that question is answered with a blank stare.

But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Mark 9:34

They kept quiet. I imagine a few of them couldn’t even look up. They turned their eyes to the ground, shuffled their feet and kicked a few rocks. Maybe a couple turned around in anger, accusing someone else of letting the argument get to that point. Or perhaps one brave soul looked up in repentance.

That last one is probably the least likely. Instead, I’m almost certain that they doubled down on their own pride.

Why do I think that? Because they remained silent. And their silence was their confession. It was an admission that something was wrong inside of them.

What did they do wrong? They combined ignorance and arrogance in a dangerous combination. They took these two ideas and mixed them in the cauldron of pride.

They were ignorant of what Jesus was trying to teach them. He had just explained that he was headed to Jerusalem to die. That the Son of Man was brought to earth to serve, not to be served. That his life was going to be a ransom for many. That only through sacrifice can salvation truly come.

And they totally whiffed on it. They missed the point altogether.

How often are we ignorant of what God has for us? We allow the pride within and the pull of the world contribute to the blindness in our heart. Instead of leaning into a sacrificial life, we crawl up on a platform and find our place on a pedestal.

But they weren’t just ignorant. They were also arrogant. They thought that no matter Jesus told them or planned, they could pull off a revolt and revolution. They had their eyes set on a seat next to the Messiah. But they were way off. Because Jesus was asking them to carry a cross. How many would be able to make that trip?

And what’s ironic is that they would get a seat next to the Messiah. Just not in the way they thought. Instead of an earthly kingdom, theirs was an eternal one. And the path to that glory was the same as for Jesus – a selfless walk to the cross. Death of our dreams so that others may live.

Our own silence is confession. When confronted with pride, what do we have to say? Nothing. Let’s sit in that silence for a moment. Let’s allow it to fulfill a change of heart. And let’s give in to God’s designs and plans for us. Instead of being quick to reply, let’s wait until we are ready to move forward in humility.