Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem
Mark 8:31–10:52
Preparation
First Prediction of Death and Resurrection (8:31).
The Kingdom is Near (1:15; 9:1)
Final Events in Galilee (8:31–9:50).
Call for Commitment (8:31–9:1).
Transfiguration (9:2-8).
Elijah’s Coming (9:9-13).
Healing an Epileptic (9:14-29).
Second Prediction of Death and Resurrection (9:31)
Kingdom Has Small Beginnings (4:3-32; 10:29-31)
Second Prediction (9:30-32),
Humility and Service (9:33-37).
Unknown Worker and Hell (9:38-50).John’s concern (9:38).
What follows here is one of the most-maligned sections in Scripture to promote ecumenism—the idea that we’re all okay, it doesn’t matter what denomination you belong to. We’ll see what Jesus is really teaching.
First, this man that John is talking about had the ability to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. I do not know how he got that ability, but it’s there nonetheless.
It showed this man had this divine capability, and since he was doing this in Jesus’ name, then it lends credence to his mission.
John did not receive him or welcome him, so he may be showing concern about this and what Jesus just said about that and receiving Him and the Father.
We have two counter-examples in the book of Acts: Apollos and the sons of Sceva. How do they compare?
Apollos was a powerful preacher but was not teaching things accurately, particularly on the doctrine of baptism (Acts 18:24-25).
The sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons in Jesus’ name, but failed miserably (Acts 19:13-16).
Forbid him not (9:39-41).
Jesus instructs John and the disciples not to forbid such a one from doing good works in Jesus’ name.
His reasoning is that such a person would not soon speak evil of Him.
This individual was not working against Jesus, therefore he must be for Him. He may not have been following them directly, but he must have been following God in some manner. Otherwise he would not have been able to perform such miracles.
In any event, the name of Christ was getting out there even more because of this person. This goes to the nature of the work. It’s not all about us (this congregation), it’s about all of us (the Lord’s church) working toward the same goal of getting the gospel out there!
That does not mean anyone can go out there, preach, and be accepted by God. Recall that Apollos had to be taught the way more accurately (Acts 18:26). He did not follow Paul, but he was after the truth. When he was taught it, he proclaimed it! (Acts 18:27-28). He became such a great minister, particularly in Corinth, that Paul mentioned him several times in his first letter to Corinth (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4-6, 22; 4:6; 16:12).
The sons of Sceva, on the other hand, were charlatans, but Paul didn’t stop them, nor did any other Christian. God stopped them by allowing the demons to overtake them (cf. Matt. 15:13-14). It is not our job to stop workers of false miracles, though we can expose them if they have no desire to repent as Apollos did (Eph. 5:11).
This individual that John and the other disciples forbade was not a charlatan and was not teaching falsely, but was doing the work of God.
Dale Jenkins: “Should it shock us to know that of the multitudes who followed Jesus He empowered more than just the Twelve or the Seventy?”
What John was trying to do would be like saying that because the church in Marion or Forest City isn’t attending with us, then they and their work should be stopped. No! If they teach truth, let them do good works in Jesus’ name.
This does not apply to the good works of the false teachers/churches down the street. For them, we can either treat them like Apollos (teach them more accurately), the sons of Sceva (let God handle it), or expose them (after they have had a chance to repent).
Even small acts of kindness by the faithful, like a cup of water, does not go unnoticed in the sight of our Lord.
What a wonderful testimony to our work in the church, that we don’t have to do something great or mighty for our Lord to reward us.
Cause to stumble (9:42).
When Jesus refers to “little ones who believe in Me,” He is not referring to infants, but to immature Christians (those who are new Christians or who have simply not matured yet).
This is evident because infants cannot believe in anything or have any understanding of the faith for it to be effective and sincere.
Right after a person is converted, they are in a very formative time in their Christian life and can easily be influenced, particularly by people they trust.
We must be very careful around such people, because we do not want to say or do anything to diminish or destroy their faith that we don’t have to.
There are plenty of passages that talk about how to deal with weaker brethren (Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 8; 10:23-32).
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify (1 Cor. 10:23).
That word, “stumble,” is also translated as “offend” in other places, and Jesus is said to have offended others. Who did Jesus offend?
In all the gospel accounts, this word is used most in Matthew—the gospel whose primary audience was the Jews.
Many Jews did not believe because preaching “Christ crucified [was] to the Jews a stumbling block” (1 Cor. 1:23). The whole nature of the gospel was offensive to them and still is. Such things cannot be helped.
He also couldn’t help being from somewhere, for those in His hometown were offended at Him simply because His family was there (Mark 6:2-3).
Who did He intentionally offend, though? The Pharisees (Matt. 15:12). Jesus had called them out because of their traditions (parallel Mark 7). But these were not weak brethren or “little ones,” but the religious leaders of their day who should have known better.
A few weeks ago Sam talked about sharing certain things on social media—some things can put a stumbling block in front of others and cause them to turn away from the faith. That’s one reason why I think a lot of young people are leaving the church and why our churches are still often separated along racial lines. We are lacking in communication, in understanding, in love. Will we be judged for putting such stumbling blocks before people? What can we do to communicate better, to understand better, to love better? As Sam said be silent, don’t argue. Instead let us listen and empathize.
There are many aspects of the gospel truth that could be considered stumbling blocks—let us not add to it our own missteps and foibles.
If we do, it would be better to drown with no hope of escape or rescue.
