ALL, FOR THE ONE
Text: Mark 9:38-50
“One of the highlights of the college freshman biology class was the monthly feeding of a caged rattlesnake kept in the laboratory. One time, the entire class gathered around the cage and, in complete silence, watched as the feeding took place. "I'm jealous of the snake," the instructor said. "I never get the class's undivided attention like this." A student answered matter-of-factly, "You would if you could swallow a mouse." (Steve May. The Story File. “Knowing How To Impress People ”. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 273). We hear this story and we find it humorous don’t we? Have you ever envied someone who could accomplish something you attempted to accomplish? Jesus’ disciples encountered an episode where they envied who was succeeding where they failed.
When Jesus' disciple John and the rest of the disciples saw a man driving out demons in Jesus' name, they told him to stop because he was not one of them---the twelve (Mark 9:38). It appears that perhaps they were envious of this man for his success where they had failed. Earlier in Mark 9:18 Jesus' twelve disciples had failed in exercising the demon that was in this boy. After Jesus exercised this demon out of the boy, his disciples had asked Jesus why they had failed in a private meeting (Mark 9:28). Jesus answered them and said that this kind can come out only by prayer (Mark 9:29) which is where they had failed. It appears that they had made the plea for the exorcism but lacked the necessary power because they did not pray in the authority of Jesus' name.
As someone has observed "In effect …" Jesus "… said to them "You don't live close enough to God". They had been equipped with power but needed prayer to maintain it". (William Barclay. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel Of Mark. Revised Edition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975, p. 219). Their effectiveness as Jesus' disciples would not happen by default. They would always have to work at it and pray about it. This exorcist in Mark 9:38 was successful because he had relied upon the Lord's authority to cast out demons as he seems to have prayed in Jesus' name.
NO ROOM FOR RIVALRY
The disciples wrestled with the issue of territoriality in Mark 9:38. The twelve were envious at the success of this one disciple who was not one of the twelve. It was as if they were saying to this disciple, "Stop what you are doing, because you are making us look bad". There are times when Christians of different denominations act the same way as the twelve disciples in Mark 9:38. Denominations are nothing more than a way of worshipping our Lord who gives us the gift of grace. We as Christians are called to be united despite our diversity in denominations, because our denominations will not get us into heaven! Without belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior, who is the way, the truth and the life we cannot get into heaven (John 14:6)! It is said that George Whitefield once made this same point. "George Whitefield, preaching from the Courthouse balcony in Philadelphia, lifting his eyes to heaven cried, "Father Abraham, have you any Episcopalians there?" Answer, "No." "Any Presbyterians?" "No." Any Methodists?" "No." "Who then?" "Only sinners cleansed by the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). (John Ritchie. 500 Gospel Illustrations. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1987, p. 484). When it comes to our purpose as Jesus' disciples, there is no room for rivalry!
Jesus used this opportunity to teach His disciples that there are other disciples besides just them, who are on their team. Henry Ford once said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success". It was here that that Jesus related to the twelve that they had people---disciples who were also team members: "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:39-40 RSV). This disciple was gathering and not scattering (Matthew 12:30) and was therefore fruitful. Everything that we do as Christian disciples is for our brothers and sisters and would-be brothers and sisters all in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I just recently read the story about one well-known pastor who was envious of another pastor who was well-known and perhaps more influential. "The famous Bible teacher F. B. Meyer often ministered at D. L. Moody's Northfield Bible Conference in Northfield Massachusetts, and he always drew great crowds. But when equally famous G. Campbell Morgan began preaching at Northfield, his stirring Bible studies attracted larger audiences. Meyer confessed to some of his close friends that he was tempted to feel envious of Morgan. "The only way I can conquer my feelings," Meyer said, "is to pray for him daily, which I do". (Robert J. Morgan. Nelson's Complete Book Of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, p. 272). I admire F. B. Meyer and his openness and honesty with both himself and his close friends.
Jesus also emphasized the importance of prayer. “Tommy Lasorda, former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was on the road with his team. They were in Cincinnati to play the Reds. As is his custom, Lasorda went to Sunday morning mass. Just as he took his seat he noticed John McNamara, manager of the Reds, sitting across the aisle from him. They nodded at each other politely but didn't speak. When the service was over, McNamara knelt to pray, then, on his way out, lit a votive candle. Lasorda, as he was leaving, blew the candle out.” (Steve May. The Story File. “Evening Things Up”. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 71). I am sure that God would want us to be humble in our prayer life like F. B. Meyer rather trying to make things even like John McNamara when he blew out the candle that Tommy Lasorda had lit.
NECESSARY ACCOUNTABILITY
One of the things that Jesus was and is pointing out is about the need to be accountable as one of His disciples. Examining ourselves it is when we examine ourselves and the thoughts of our hearts that we can discover impure motives that can lead to improper behavior. Consider what Jesus says "… what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander" (Matthew 15:18-19 RSV). "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil" (Matthew 12:34 RSV). "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21 RSV). It is in examining ourselves that we see what needs to be corrected and how.
If there is a sinful activity in our lives, then we need to correct it. As our church sign says at the corner of Highway 1 and Bowen Road, "Sin offers much and pays little". Jesus is telling us that it is definitely a bad thing when our sin causes one of the "little ones" to stumble and sin (Mark 9:42). When Jesus mentions the hand (Mark 9:44), foot (Mark 9:45-46) and the eye (Mark 9:47) and removing them because of their connection with sin, what Jesus is saying is figurative. Jesus is telling us that it is better to remove those things in our lives that cause us to stumble and sin than to leave them alone and cause another to stumble because of our neglect. Jesus drives the point home by helping us to see that it is possible that our actions can have eternal consequences that are negative (Mark 9:48) because in hell the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
LIVING SACRIFICES
When Jesus is saying that everyone will be salted with fire He was talking about purity in both heart and life. Purity of heart on the inside reflects a way of holy living on the outside. In Leviticus 2:13, the people were told to add salt to all of their offerings. Being salted with fire means that living the Christian life the way that God wants us to live it will be purifying and pleasing to God. Salt purifies and preserves food and makes it taste good. Fire purifies metal. Both salt and fire deal with purification in this context. What Jesus is saying here runs parallel to what Paul says in Romans 12:1-2: "I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (RSV). We as Christians therefore have a responsibility to be the salt of the earth as Jesus told us (Matthew 5:13).
In the old world, salt was used, it seems, as a form of currency. "In Greece slaves were bought with salt. In Rome, Caesar's soldiers were often paid in salt. Th Latin word for it was salaria. We derive our word salary from this. Hence, the saying, " A man is not worth his salt," originally meant that a Roman soldier had not earned his wages". (Billie Friel. Citizens Of The Kingdom. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992, p. 77). Jesus seems to be telling us that the way to maintain our saltiness is to remember who we are and whose we are as His disciples.
The love of Christ constrains (compels) us to live as we should (II Corinthians 5:14). "For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (II Corinthians 5:14-15 RSV). Everything that we as Christians do is all for the One---our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Everything we as Christians do is all for the One, who came to show us the way, where we had lost our way; to tell us the truth, where we had blinded by sin and to show us how to live life as God intended us to live it (John 14:6 paraphrased)! Jesus came to us to teach us so that we could enter God's kingdom here on earth until we take our places in heaven and our work on earth is done. That is why Jesus tells us to have salt in ourselves and to live at peace with each other (Mark 9:50) because His love compels us.
