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
John chooses the funnel; it is oh, so natural. “Someone” is not part of the group of disciples, but that “someone” is healing in the name of Jesus. John (and others) try to stop him, as if to say, “Jesus is for us alone!”
Jesus turns John’s funnel into a megaphone. Jesus is for all, and the Holy Spirit is not our genie but is God’s to give. Let Jesus’ name be used; let his name go out. Jesus is bigger than my boundaries. Christ’s followers are not a special in-group favored to suck up grace. We are for the world. You are for the world.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being bigger than me. May your Spirit go out and enliven this world, heal this world, even through me. Even through me, I pray in your name. Amen.