Mark 9:38-50 (NRSV)
Read Mark 9:38-50 on biblegateway.com
Verse 38John 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." Verse 39But Jesus said, "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. Verse 40Whoever is not against us is for us. Verse 41For 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.
Verse 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. Verse 43If 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. Verse 45And 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. Verse 47And 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, Verse 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
Verse 49"For everyone will be salted with fire. Verse 50Salt 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."
Devotion
The disciples had just been arguing with one another about who among them was the greatest. Jesus had told them that, in his way of being and doing, it was the least and the servant who would end up first. He took a child in his arms to underscore his words that whoever welcomes a child, welcomes Jesus and the One who sent him.
As if to help us see how hard it is to listen to Jesus, Mark tells us that John reports to Jesus that the disciples had tried to stop someone from doing ministry because “he was not following us.”
Jesus’ response goes beyond saying that the person was doing God’s work. He places the disciples (and us) in the position of being recipients of the kindness of others. When they serve us because we are followers of Jesus, they are rewarded. Our need becomes their blessing.
Prayer
God of all, open our eyes to your work that is being done by others outside our own narrow expectations and beyond our control. Help us to be gracious recipients of the generosity of others so that our need can become their blessing from you. Amen.