Starting at the back

On the way to Capernaum the disciples had been talking about their own standing: which of them was really the most important? Once indoors, Jesus sat down and called the twelve to him. That is what a Jewish teacher did when he was about to say something essential: seated, with his students around him.

With one sentence he overturned their ranking. Whoever wants to be first must go to the back and serve everyone. For servant, Mark uses the Greek word diakonos. That is where the word deacon comes from: in the church, someone who cares for people in need. That is what first place looks like with Jesus.