30 Jesus and his disciples went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it. 31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.”

32 But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”

34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.

35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” 36 He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

Mark 9:30-37 - World English Bible

In these verses from Mark 9, Jesus taught the true measure of Christian leadership. For him, being a leader in the community meant service, even to the point of death. He would show the way by going to Jerusalem, dying and rising from the dead. He went on to correct the disciples' petty ambitions with the presence of a child, the lowest member of ancient society. Whoever offers hospitality to the child (or child-like missionary) received the Lord and, so, his Father in heaven.

How have you led others lately? Have you shown kindness to the child-like?