The Gospel according to Mark 9: 38-50

38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out
devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him,
because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall

do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my

name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall

not lose his reward.
42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe

in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his
neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to

enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into
the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to

enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into
the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to

enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes
to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall

be salted with salt.

50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will

ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with
another.
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise be to Christ our Savior.
Let us pray …

Dear God
I want to be like Ju-Ju plum …. sour.
I want to be like Saracy tea …. Bitter.
I want to be like Habanero Peppers & Listerine
Like horseradish & Garlic
Like Phaumatol & Cod liver oil … taste bad
Like a Salt Water Popsicle … Yuk!
Help me O God, in this world of conch salad and
chicken snack
To taste so strong
That the world will need a drink of water
When it gets a load of me.
Amen.

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my

heart, be acceptable in Thy sight. O’ Lord my strength
and redeemer. Amen.

A STUMBLER: BLOCKING YOURSELVES AND OTHERS?

The Gospel of Mark:

Written when the fledging Christian faith was experiencing a major
crisis during the Jewish war, Mark provides us with the first window on
how the life and teachings of Jesus were presented to a largely non-
Jewish audience.
According to Dr. Ben Witherington 3rd., the structure of Mark
demonstrates that this Gospel is biographically focused on the identity
of Jesus and the importance of knowing who he is—the Christ, the Son
of God. This finding reveals that Christology stood at the heart of the
earliest Christians’ faith. It also shows how important it was to these
earliest Christians to persuade others about the nature of Jesus, both as
a historical figure and as the Savior of the world.

Chapter 9 highlights the following:

• They Beheld His Majesty (9:1-9)
• Disciples Ask Questions (9:10-13)
• Jesus Heals A Deaf-Mute Boy (9:14-29)
• The Way To Greatness (9:33-37)
• Principles Of Discipleship (9:38-50)

Let us look at our assigned verses:

Verse 38: Why you doing that? That’s our job buddy! The disciples felt
that they had the exclusive right to exorcise demons in the name of
Jesus. Jesus’ name has power. Last week, Jesus talked about
welcoming a child in his name, but this week the disciples try stopping
the man exorcising demons because he is doing it in Jesus’ name.
Anyone know someone who always believe they alone have what it
takes to get the job done?

Verse 39: Is there enough Jesus to go around? Jesus tells them to leave
the man alone. As long as he is doing it in my name, don’t touch him. I
am here for any and every one who wish be my willing worker.

Verse 40: Lord! Let’s draw the line. It’s either us or him! Listen my
friends, “Whoever is not against us is for us”. Let’s get out of the line
drawing business. Whenever you want to draw lines in order to mark
who is outside the kingdom and who is inside, always remember: Jesus
is on the other side of the line! Jesus is always with the outsiders. You
forgetting something my brothers, I do not come here for the believers
in Christ. I came here for the unbelievers – to call them to repent of
their sins.

Verse 41: When have you experience the hospitality of Christ from one
who is not apart of your tribe, or your people? Perhaps related to the
previous scene, Jesus is suggesting that they put themselves in the
position of the one in need. Do hungry people care who provides them
food?

Perhaps by this kind action, the benefactor is showing the he/she I not
against us, which makes him/her for us and eligible for the Christian
reward.

Verses 42 – 50: Jesus teaches them about the temptations to sin.

In reading through this passage, I’ve discovered that Jesus gives both
promise and warning to those who wish to bear his name. the extreme
examples emphasize that whether we cause other to stumble or put
ourselves in jeopardy-participating in the life of the kingdom of God is a
matter of total commitment.
• Jesus shifts from them to you: Jesus is now talking about your
hand and your foot and your eye. He is no longer talking about
them as in the previous two sayings, but you (Singular).
• This teaching focuses on his disciples: causing any unbeliever
(little one) to stumble.
• How many people do you know have fled the Church because of
one claiming the name of Jesus causes them to stumble, or reject
the faith they see lived out?

Is Jesus too harsh? Jesus’ words indicate the seriousness of any little
sin. Whatever causes us to act contrary to God’s will needs to be dealt
with and dealt with harshly. Our relationship with God has to be more
important that our most important body parts.

The first thing he taught them is “Whoever is not against us is for us.”

The second thing Jesus taught them was : “cut it off”. After Jesus had
taught his disciples the seriousness of “influence”, he began to teach
them about the seriousness of “sin”, and “of causing others to sin”.

The result of causing one to stumble. The result of the “stumbling” is

that one is headed for hell (Gehenna). The “sin” that leads to hell is
unbelief or false beliefs. It is not just some little misdemeanor against
God. It’s separation from God.

Verse 49 – 50: Salt.

• 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall
be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will

ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with
another.
• Salt with fire indicates, trials and tribulations will come. Salt
preserves. Fire refines. The judgments, consequences, and
circumstances that come upon us are opportunities for faith to be
strengthened.

Salt has something to do with the concept of “influence”. One of the

most important aspects in your life is your influence. And your
influence has nothing to do with whether you are rich or poor, smart or
not, skillful or not so skillful. It has everything to do with how you
persuade sinners to believe in Jesus and repent. Yes! The kind of
method you use is very important.
Regardless of your situation or station in life, you will bear influence
one way or another, whether in a small way or a big way that might
even change another person’s life. So! Stop finding excuses. Stop
thinking its all about you. Let go and let God work through you. You be
the agent and Jesus creates the change. Its not about you or the
discipls.

And what determines your influence rests largely on how you think and
how you behave— what you say and what you do— your words and
actions— all these determine your influence.

You and I surely will influence others, but how is the question. For
example, Jesus says in Matthew 12:36: “But I tell you that men will
have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word
they have spoken.”

Why is that? Perhaps because by their words, they influence others—

their children, their friends, the neighbor, the stranger. And what words
they speak and what actions they take rest on what’s in their hearts—
What they believe— what they do not believe.

And they will act upon what they believe or don’t believe, and that will
influence their surroundings. Your and my “character” is eventually
molded by what’s in your heart— what you believe or accept and what
you don’t accept— which determines your sphere of influence in life.

Be at peace among yourselves: “Thus to share salt with someone is to

share fellowship or even have a covenant relationship with someone.
Thus the point of “have salt in yourselves” would be that the disciples
must stop disputing and have true covenant fellowship among
themselves” (Dr. Ben Witherington 3rd.). The disciples must stop
disputing their true covenant among themselves.

The question to us is, who are we stumbling? Is it ourselves or others?

How can we effect change in others? Is our concentration self-centered
or God-centered? Stop the disputes about who should do what. Stop
the bickering. Let’s all work for the common good to win as many souls
for Christ as possible.

Again, I ask the question, are you a stumbling block to others and
yourselves?

Let us pray …

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from
me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free
spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

And Lord! While you at it! Help me never to be a hindrance to myself

and others.

To the glory of God! Amen.