Whoever is Not Against Us is For Us! Mark 9:38-41
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Reflection:
This seems like a rather random story inserted in the ninth chapter of Mark. Nonetheless it has something to teach us in how the kingdom of God works. The disciples saw someone doing what Jesus had just done, driving out demons in His name. The disciples are concerned that because he had not been among them that they might need to intervene to stop his ministry. But rather than being concerned, Jesus says that anyone that does a miracle in his name should not be stopped. He goes even further to say that even those who will welcome them because they are Christians, will be rewarded.
It will be important to comment on what this is saying and what it is not saying. First what it is not saying:
1. By using Jesus name it gives you the right to do whatever you want.
2. Good works will justify us before God.
3. An apparent miracle that is done has to be of God.
What I think it is saying:
1. We shouldn't be so narrow minded as to think we are the only true believers in Jesus, in what ever group, tribe or denomination we associate with.
2. We need to be very careful as we judge what is from God and in His power and what is not. Some of what we think is from God might not be, and visa versa.
3. When someone is delivered from a demon in Jesus name there is no reason in itself to believe it is not from God. After all why would Satan try to defeat himself. Jesus uses this example in another parable when he says "a kingdom cannot be divided against itself".
4. If someone offers some help or hospitality to us because we are a believer there is a good chance they are from God.
The tendency in all of us is to think that God operates only under the paradigm in which we have experienced him, and we can tend to make this normative for others. The key principle is something done in Jesus name and that gives glory to God. Another way of saying this is God is bigger than the boxes we put Him in. It may surprise us someday to see the type of people God used to advance his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. After all he uses you and me!
Jesus we long to see your kingdom coming and people to be delivered from whatever demons that bind them. We pray for all who minister to deliver people in your name whether we know them or not. Amen.
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Reflection:
This seems like a rather random story inserted in the ninth chapter of Mark. Nonetheless it has something to teach us in how the kingdom of God works. The disciples saw someone doing what Jesus had just done, driving out demons in His name. The disciples are concerned that because he had not been among them that they might need to intervene to stop his ministry. But rather than being concerned, Jesus says that anyone that does a miracle in his name should not be stopped. He goes even further to say that even those who will welcome them because they are Christians, will be rewarded.
It will be important to comment on what this is saying and what it is not saying. First what it is not saying:
1. By using Jesus name it gives you the right to do whatever you want.
2. Good works will justify us before God.
3. An apparent miracle that is done has to be of God.
What I think it is saying:
1. We shouldn't be so narrow minded as to think we are the only true believers in Jesus, in what ever group, tribe or denomination we associate with.
2. We need to be very careful as we judge what is from God and in His power and what is not. Some of what we think is from God might not be, and visa versa.
3. When someone is delivered from a demon in Jesus name there is no reason in itself to believe it is not from God. After all why would Satan try to defeat himself. Jesus uses this example in another parable when he says "a kingdom cannot be divided against itself".
4. If someone offers some help or hospitality to us because we are a believer there is a good chance they are from God.
The tendency in all of us is to think that God operates only under the paradigm in which we have experienced him, and we can tend to make this normative for others. The key principle is something done in Jesus name and that gives glory to God. Another way of saying this is God is bigger than the boxes we put Him in. It may surprise us someday to see the type of people God used to advance his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. After all he uses you and me!
Jesus we long to see your kingdom coming and people to be delivered from whatever demons that bind them. We pray for all who minister to deliver people in your name whether we know them or not. Amen.
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