Step 29

Mark 9:38-50 A Supporter or a Stumbler

About Mark: Like a previous example, the words of verses 44 and 46 of today's reading are omitted because they are absent from the earliest manuscripts. They exactly repeated verse 48, which is authentic.  

While hell has attracted all manner of false myths, it was in fact the garbage dump of Jerusalem. The Greek word is Ge-henna, meaning Valley of Hinnom, a place where the fire smouldered continuously and worms degraded whatever was cast out the Dung Gate in the city's southern wall. Every community has its refuse piles, and we should not allow vivid imaginations to rob heaven and hell of their primary biblical meanings; a place of safety with God, and a place of death and destruction. More than that should not be conjectured. Being cast overboard with a millstone (verse 42) obviously has a similar meaning. 

That aside, this section seems to anticipate the phenomenon throughout church history, of various groupings all claiming to serve Christ. Whoever we are, there will aways be others different from our own group who serve Christ, whom we ought to support and encourage.

Bible: Mark 9:38-50, Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no onewho does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Temptations to Sin
42 "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 46 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 49 "For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Comment: A SUPPORTER OR A STUMBLER?

THE APOSTLE JOHN REPORTED that the disciple group had discouraged someone from doing a deed (39) in Jesus' name. If the disciples had the wrong attitudes about themselves we saw in the previous section, they would also act wrongly towards others. And Jesus makes it clear they did. "Do not stop them ..." There is a poignancy in the final chapters of this Gospel. There, the "A team" of Apostles, are in disarray. Nevertheless, there are others who are "for Christ"; like Simon of Cyrene, Joseph of Arimathea, and most importantly of all, the women who are the witnesses of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

There will always be others acting for Christ in places where we cannot. We should welcome all who love the Lord. Some of them will be there when we have fled! God works through us, in spite of us, and beyond us. This is a case of those beyond.

In verses 38-41 Jesus speaks of those who support and help others in his name. But in verses 42-50 he refers to those who harm others by their attitudes and actions, who put impediments in the way of vulnerable people, the "little ones". They become stumbling-blocks to them, as did the disciples to the man they stopped.

The discussion says a lot about reward (41) and punishment (thrown into the sea, hell, unquenchable fire, etc). The way we relate to others who bear the name of Christ is very important to Jesus.

Discipleship today: To apply this lesson Jesus returns to the image of the little child in the circle (verse 37), now speaking of "little ones who believe in me" (42). We must not only treat those in our own group as we would a child, but those who are "for Christ" (40) who do not follow with us (38). And anything that causes others to stumble must be cut off. Christians should be salty, affecting others for good, not evil. This is a clear indication that Christianity can never be regarded as a private, personal, and individual matter. Although you must make your own decision about Christ, you would be mistaken to think you can have a private faith disconnected from other people, and other Christians. This section shouts stridently against such thinking. Like it or not you will find yourself either a supporter or a stumbler of others.