We are the Salt
Mark 9:38-50
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
-- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- IMP: What God says to us here is critical application for living for Him
- Continuing in our study, we see Jesus performing more miracles/healings
-- His approach is direct, but sometimes the “why” is hidden from us
-- Let’s explore these passages and see if we can discover the “why” for ourselves
- Today we continue to see something very unique to Mark’s Gospel
-- The glory of God is revealed; as is the Christian’s glory in Him
-- In our service to God is where we SEE His glory revealed
- This is actually Jesus’ final ministry in Galilee, and His work is critical
-- From here He continues His journey to places outside Galilee; additional areas
-- Going forth, setting the example of Acts 1:8 (be my witnesses in Jerusalem …)
- Tonight’s lesson is a great encouragement of living fully for Christ
-- We see two things: one, there is communion and fellowship in Jesus
-- And two, it would be better have Jesus than anything else we could imagine
- Read Mark 9:38-50
∆ Point 1 – Is it Us versus Them? (38-41)
- What John seeks to do here is what we’ve done to ourselves quite effectively
-- If you get nothing else tonight … get this right here (v38)
-- John is seeking to divide those on Earth from who he considers saved
-- His view is so worldly that it actually gives us hope for today, 2014
- However, God’s word provides us an opportunity to reconcile itself
-- TURN to Matthew 7 (remember, Matthew was there and saw this personally)
-- Matt 7:22, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?”
- On the surface, it would seem that the bible just contradicted itself, right?
- But if you read the very next verse you see the answer to this:
-- Matt 7:23, “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
-- APP: Do you see who answers them? JESUS!
- What is Jesus saying here for us to learn?
- If someone is using my name let me be the judge if they are right or not
-- Let me be the judge on whether they should be condemned
- We are commanded to leave judgment to Jesus!
-- APP: Just because you don’t know them, doesn’t mean they are wrong!
- Let’s just simmer on that for a minute … (pause)
-- There is a bond formed between those who believe in Jesus Christ
-- However, what we do is seek to tear one another down because of theology
-- Most times, it’s over practices and doctrine than anything else
-- EX: KJV is the only way; hymns are God’s true songs to be sung; etc.
- Biblically, the bond is provided ONLY by the Holy Spirit who testifies
-- Romans 8:16, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.”
- What Jesus does in effect is tell John to take a chill pill and relax a bit
-- (v41) In the desert offering a beverage was an incredible act of kindness
-- It meant that you were friends; that you were considered “OK” to them
-- HUGE APP: When you do something in His name, you will be rewarded!
- Earlier tie in: We need to stop trying to do things that lead others to ourselves
-- EX: Do we lead people to worship us … or to worship Christ?
-- Society is not the enemy, but the mission to field to work with others for Him
- TRANS: Jesus then continues on this same train of thought for us (deeper)
∆ Point 2 – To maim … or not to main (42-50)
- On the contrary (Jesus continues) anyone who is a roadblock is in sin
-- Ouch … I mean ouch! If someone is working for Christ and you stop them …
-- This is where we’ve got the challenge for the night (v42)
- Jesus calls all those who are being led to the kingdom little ones
-- This would include the humble, the weak, those less fortunate, those in need
- What we say we are, means WAY LESS than how we act in our lives
-- It’s a “proof is in the pudding” kind of event here that Jesus leans towards
-- APP: If you say you are His, then work for Him and not for yourself
- Jesus says (v42) it would be better for those stumbling blocks to be drowned
-- APP: If there is ever a warning for us today about unity … it is right here
- IMP: However, if folks are preaching heresy we must stand against it
-- We cannot get crazy thinking b/c someone mentions Jesus they are doing right
-- Galatians 3:1-6, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- So, if this is you (v43-47) it would be better if you removed the offensive part
-- It is NOT an encouragement to go out and cut off limbs now because you sin
-- Jesus says it would be better to sacrifice yourself than to sin; death is the result
-- It is an exaggeration of the point here; so serious that even life is worth losing
- Understand this though: sin is our nature, it is EXACTLY who we are
-- Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
- It is the epitome of why we need Jesus as our Lord and Savior
-- We do not need to main ourselves to get into Heaven, but accept Him
-- Jesus’ application here is simple: We gain life because we trust in Him (v47)
- Jesus uses the words “salt” and “fire” in opposition to one another
-- The fire is the condemnation of hell … it is the result of living sinfully
-- IMP: It is result of not only living sinfully, but judging inappropriately (see v39)
- Salt, in its most natural state, is a preservative (it purifies things)
-- Leviticus 2:13, “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.”
- However, we are also considered the salt of the Earth
-- Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
- This means (v50) our living together for Him is a command!
-- “Be at peace with one another” is literally the result of living opposite to v38
TRANS: Jesus’ teaching here is just for the Disciples; it is for US!
∆ Big Ideas
The two big ideas we’ve seen tonight are simple:
1) If we live for Jesus the Holy Spirit will testify to that
-- If the Spirit isn’t testifying, there is something wrong with the fellowship
2) If we live for Jesus we will have peace among one another
-- We will live righteously and demonstrate Christ to those we encounter
- Pray
