Question: did Jesus strive to keep a low profile?

Answer: yes (Mark 9:30).

Question: why is Jesus always trying to keep a low profile?

Answer: because Jesus is determined to be crucified, and he knows that once he explicitly tells the crowds what he’s about, they will murder him (see John 6:60-61); and Jesus isn’t trying to avoid this, but he’s intent on this happening at a precise moment (see John 2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1).

Question: what does Jesus say to his leadership team while keeping a low profile?

Answer: “I’m going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill me.”

Question: do the apostles (a.k.a. the highest level of purely human church authority) understand what Jesus is saying?

Answer: no, they do not understand, and they are too afraid/proud to ask Jesus for clarification.

Question: what do the apostles do with all their confusion and insecurities?

Answer: they conceitedly compensate by arguing amongst themselves about which one of them is the greatest.

Question: how did Jesus respond to the apostle’s arrogance and immaturity?

Answer: he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Question: did the church leaders heed the words of Jesus?

Answer: no, immediately after this childlike command, the apostles bring charges against other ministers for not doing things “our way.”

Question: does Jesus entertain the charge being brought by the apostles?

Answer: no, he dismisses their charge, and says, “those who are not against us are for us.^“

Question: after Jesus dismisses the charge being brought by the apostles, what does he emphasize?

Answer: Children… little ones (see Mark 9:42; 10:15).