MARK 9 (PART 3)
Read Mark 9:38-50
As Jesus started out on his way to Jerusalem and what awaited him there he continued to teach his disciples. On one occasion they complained to Jesus that that they saw a man driving out demons in Jesus’ name. And they told him to stop ‘because he was not one of us’ (v38). This simple phrase brings out all sorts of issues in the attitude of the disciples.
Perhaps the first thing to note is that in the previous section the disciples failed to drive out a demon. Is there perhaps a degree of jealousy in their reaction to this man who seems to be able to do what they cannot? Secondly, why are they against such a successful ministry? The man is not taking credit for driving out the demon; he is doing it in the name of Jesus. Surely that is a cause for rejoicing not criticism. The telling part of the disciples’ reaction is the phrase ‘he is not one of us’. Did they think that it was only the inner circle of disciple who were entitled to carry out such ministry? Were they trying to keep Jesus for themselves? This is something that the church has sometimes been guilty of. There are some churches in well-to-do places who have not been welcoming towards their poorer brothers and sisters. There have been some churches who have not been welcoming to fellow Christians who perhaps have a different style of worship or who use a different translation of the Bible or are different in some way. Christians have often been guilty through the ages of not accepting people who are ‘not one of us’. And we gave seen several times that Jesus has made it clear that he has come for all people and as the apostle Paul said, ‘in Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28). Finally, Jesus emphasised that whoever does something is his name, big or small, belongs to him, whether it be casting out a demon or giving someone a drink of water.
Jesus then concentrated the minds of the disciples a bit. Rather than complaining about someone who is doing good in Jesus’ name, they should be concerned about those causing others to sin, That’s the real problem. Jesus used the words. ‘these little ones who believe in me’ here. It may be that he is still thinking about the little children of v37 in the previous section and saying that it is a terrible thing to lead such young people astray. But the mention of belief (and remember how important the idea of belief was in the story of the healing of the mute boy with an evil spirit in vv14-29) may mean that Jesus is referring to those who are young in the faith rather than young in years. Either way, causing people to sin, whether they be young or old, is a dreadful matter that will lead to judgement.
Jesus here is teaching his disciples and he finished the session with them by encouraging them with salty metaphors. “Salt is good” he said – that’s the disciples, they are good. But if salt loses its saltiness it can’t be re-salted. Stay good is the message, don’t turn away from Jesus. And stay in a good relationship with one another, at peace with one another. Good advice for us all!