19th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Mark 9:38-50
Pastor Jean M. Hansen
It’s been a challenging few weeks for the hearers of and preacher of God’s word here at Faith Lutheran Church … and beyond...if their focus has been on the book of James and the 8th and 9th chapters of Mark, as has been the case for us.
The week before last the focus text was James 3 in which we all were reminded of the power and potential harm words can do. Remember … “the tongue is a fire … a restless evil full of dead poison.” (James 3:5, 8) What we say matters.
Then, last Sunday, we recalled the counter cultural ministry of Jesus and how, after the disciples argued about who was the greatest, Jesus proclaimed, “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” That was a bit difficult to grasp.
Today’s Gospel picks up where last Sunday ended. In yet another counter cultural move, Jesus took a child – someone without status or value - into his arms and made the startling statement that whoever welcomes such a person welcomes him, and whoever welcomes him welcomes the one who sent him.
Just then, before he could say more, John came to Jesus with a complaint about someone who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name, who the disciples tried to stop, since that person was not one of their group. Here’s the real issue; the disciples were just not getting it. Their focus continued to be on “what’s in it for me” rather than seeing the big picture. They were upset that this person they encountered, who was doing good in world, who was changing suffering people’s lives, was not one of them. This “other one” was not a real disciple and, therefore, should have deferred to them. Besides, why should this person be successful at exorcism when they’ve struggled to cast out demons? (Earlier in Chapter 9, a man brings his son to Jesus for healing; he had asked Jesus’ disciples to cast out the demon that tormented his son, but they could not do so. That causes Jesus to call them “a faithless generation” before he heals the boy). So…let’s just say the disciples were bit sensitive … and jealous.
As Jesus listened to this complaint he must have thought, “Will they ever get the point?” Commentator Scott Hozee writes that Jesus’ jaw must have dropped to the floor and then he might have sputtered, in exasperation, something like this: “Do not stop him, for pity’s sake! Anybody who believes in me enough to know that my name can deliver a knockout punch to demons is a friend of ours and of mine. He’s not taking my name in vain, he’s using my name to take it to the demons….” (1)
As the scripture notes, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Or, whoever helps another because that one bears the name of Christ, will be blessed; the unstated implication being even if he or she does not bear the name of Christ. Perhaps the disciples were surprised at this, and Jesus’ next responses indicated his frustration, which is the reason for the strong, exaggerated statements that follow.
First, there’s the little ones, like the child he may have still been holding. By the way, “little ones” in scripture indicates children, new believers, those viewed as being without value, the rejected and the weak. Be very careful, Jesus said, about mistreating, manipulating, leading astray, such beloved ones, which includes those who are seeking to find their way toward faith. In that case, consider how failures to live out one’s faith – by not loving, through too narrow understandings of the truth and quickness to pronounce judgement could cause them to stumble.
If such abuse or misleading occurs, “It would be better for you,” Jesus said, “if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea,” (Really, what the mafia referred to as swimming with the fishes in the Bible!) It’s as if Jesus is saying to his wayward disciples, “Listen! I really mean this! This is important! The consequences of not welcoming these little ones is great. Such ones demand special consideration, love and care.
Then, Jesus moved on to over-the-top images that he was sure would get his disciples’ attention and make a point. I really mean it, he’s saying again. He had already told them to stop competing, to stop grabbing for glory for themselves and to stop protecting their own turf. He made it clear that the ones who are considered least and last in the world’s eyes are the greatest and first in God’s eyes. Now, with disturbing words about cutting off hands and feet, and plucking out eyes that cause one to sin (I really mean it!) he told them they must get rid of anything that is keeping them from experiencing and sharing God’s grace. I really mean it, Jesus says, that’s how valuable the Kingdom of God is, it’s worth the sacrifice.
Did they get it? Do we? Of course, we know these words of Jesus are not to be taken literally; however, he uses such extreme images to convey the significance of what he’s saying. We need to hear the strength – and, yes, the love – behind them. Jesus is calling for commitment that has the power to change us and the world.
The passage ends with Jesus saying, “For everyone will be salted with fire.” Scholars have struggled with what this means and concluded that it refers to the Jewish practice of adding salt to a sacrifice at the altar. So, could it be the equivalent of the words in Romans 12, “…present your bodies as a living sacrifice, hold and acceptable to God….” Jesus also said, “have salt in yourselves”; to be salt is to be a preservative, holding back decay, keeping the world from becoming a garbage pit. To be salt also is flavoring the world with forgiveness and grace. (2)
There’s a lot in this text to ponder. Here are a few questions to take home with you: How am I showing consideration, love and care to the least and the last? What’s keeping me from experiencing and sharing God’s grace; what should I give up? How committed am I to being a living sacrifice, staving off decay and flavoring the world with forgiveness and grace?
Does it sound too overwhelming? That’s when to take a step at a time. Greet the person you are inclined to ignore. Give up social media that feeds negativity and is time-consuming; take a vacation from it and evaluate how much you miss it. Commit to serving another at least once a week, in ways that do not benefit you.
And, remember the words of Jesus: “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for sake of the gospel, will save it.” (Mark 8:35) For the followers of Jesus, both challenges and grace continue…because Jesus really means it. AMEN
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“Mark 9:38-50 Commentary” by Scott Hoezee, September 27, 2015, www.cepreaching.org
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“Mark 9:38-50 Commentary” by Leonard Vander Zee, September 30, 2018, www.cepreaching.org