Mark 9:38-50

I'm trying to get my blogging done in the morning today, since the last two days have been late nights.  I only have hour though right now.  Any bets on if this will be posted by 11:30am?

South's SOAP of the Day
S-Mark 9:38-50.
O-The disciples worried about someone doing miracles because the person wasn’t part of their group.
A-Realize what is important and work together with all your fellow Christians.
P-Pray for unity among Christians.

Our passage today is a continuation of the teaching time Jesus started with his disciples in yesterday's reading.  John starts out this time, telling Jesus that he has told someone driving out demons in the name of Jesus to stop.  Was there a lull in the conversation right before John speaks?  Maybe the disciples are staring at Jesus and the kid he is holding.  They are processing what Jesus has told them.  Is there a tension in the air?  Does John feel the need to get Jesus back to praising them?  It could be.  As I read his statement, I hear a proud tone coming through.

Yet, if we think about it, we realize the irony here.  A few stories before, we see the disciples unable to cast out a demon.  John is present there, though he walks up on the scene with Jesus.  They did not have the power that they are now telling someone else not to use.  His statement of "we saw someone" means this is a collective squelching the power of someone else in Jesus name.  The capstone of what he says to me is, "because they were not following us."

My brain plays out the scene here a little.  If I had the ability to be Jesus, this is what I would have said:

Not following us?  Us?  You are following me.  You sometimes lack the faith in the power.  Yet, you argue along the road who is going to be the leader.  Who is giving you this authority?  Do you deserve it?  What right do you have?

The words of Jesus are nicer, yet still direct.  "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me"  After they do such a miracle, they will realize the power of the good news.  They will be in awe of it, and will not speak ill of me.  We are all on the same team.  This statement makes me wonder what Jesus would say to all the animosity and quarreling within the church.  Jesus is willing to take any help he can get in this quest of sharing the good news.  Even if the help is a simple cup of cold water, which is probably the easiest thing to give.

Jesus quickly returns the attention to the child he is holding.  He returns to the teaching he was giving about humility and serving.

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

Do you know how big a mill stone is?  Do you know what a mill stone is?  A mill stone was a large stone that was probably flat on one side.  It would have had grooves in it.  There would be a matching stone that sat on top of it.  The bottom stone was stationary.  The top stone was spun.  Anything in between the stones was ground and pulverized.  It was a way to take a hard seed, like wheat, and make it into flour.  We aren't talking a small stone here.  Not everyone had a mill.  There were probably a few grinders in each area.  They would have had to do decent volumes of grinding.   The stone would have had to be at least 3 feet across and thick enough to have enough weight to mill the product.  It easily could have been larger.

Allow your mind to paint the picture.  It is better for you to be drug to the bottom of the sea by a millstone than to cause the stumbling of ones who believe in Jesus.  That is a start, harsh reality.  Jesus doesn't stop there.

Jesus then turns to the personal life.  "If you hand causes you to stumble, cut it off." "If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off."  "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out."  All three statements are followed by solid reasoning.  It is better to enter the Kingdom of God maimed in some way rather than go the place where God is not, Hell.

One must be careful to not cause others to stumble.  One must be extra careful to live in a way that sin does not steal away the Kingdom of God.

Jesus closes out this time of teaching by telling his disciples they will be "salted by fire."  Scholars tell us that salt was used in the Old Testament to purify sacrifices.  The reference here is that fire, or persecution, will be the new purification to show that you are "on the way" and living as Jesus is challenging you to do.  That's why there is the followup statement, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?"  Salt is good to flavor things.  It makes things better.  You don't eat salt on its own.  It accompanies other food making it better.  If its not used for what its purposed for, then it it worthless.

Jesus final comment about salt is directed to the beginning of their conversation.  "Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."  Flavor one another that you are making one another better, not tearing one another down.  That is, don't be arguing about who will be first and who is the greatest.  Be humble and have peace among one another.  Have peace with those who are on the same journey for the Kingdom of God with you.

I don't know that we need to do much more reflection than that.  We are called to live right lives that are focused on serving everyone.  Now we must do.

Lord, let us hear your Son.  Let us see his life.  Let us live like him.