Little Ones and Spooky Stuff --- Mark 9:38-50

 

Mark 9:38-50 NIV

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.

⁴² “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. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. ^[44]  45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ^[46]  47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Little Ones and Spooky Stuff

This passage of scripture, at first, to me, sounded harsh, creepy and spooky. But as the week sped along, I began to hear a message of charity and attitude towards others.  Others like my friends, neighbors, and fellow disciples of Jesus.

At first, I wanted to dwell on hell, and cutting things off and all the typical seasonal Halloween stuff you see in the neighbor’s yards. But that really isn’t what this passage came to finally speak to me. Let me explain…

The thought of the day, during this time with Jesus, was that the proof of discipleship could only be claimed if the disciple exorcised an evil spirit.  Some of that spooky, evil, Exorcism movie stuff, I guess. But that really missed the point.

This wasn’t about belonging to a club and having the correct handshake or wearing a funny furry hat or something. No, discipleship that competes for positions of power, like we heard and read about last week, causes people, that is the “Little Ones” to turn and run away from God. As disciples we need to put this “Who is the Greatest” stuff behind us. Stop it! Disciples who fight about power, or greatness; lose their “salt.” If you, as a disciple of Jesus are fighting for power, prestige and greatness, the “salt” of the message of the Grace of God is lost to your own selfish needs.

Even in this passage, we see how Jesus points away from Himself and towards His Father in heaven. As a disciple of Jesus; we too must point away from ourself and to God. As a disciple of Jesus, we don’t want to cause another to sin also, by pointing to our own inward pride of self.

Now, let’s consider, in this passage of Scripture, “Little Ones.” Little ones now here are those who believe in Jesus. And how we act and move and love has an impact on “Little Ones,” or others.

“Little Ones” are the humble, poor, the lowly and the uneducated. The “Little Ones,” here, have the Spirit of faith planted by God within them.

Jesus loves “Little Ones.”

Matthew 11:25 NIV

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

 

A disciple’s view of faith must be a view taken with a wide lens. We don’t want to see just some small detail. The Kingdom of God has infinite measurement. Refrain from trying to label or title something too fine. Don’t make the Kingdom of God too exclusive out of our own arrogance and pride. Look at how Jesus accepts “Little Ones” into His presence and gifts these “Little Ones” with grace, love, faith, forgiveness and salvation. So, don’t fall into the evil trap of excluding “Little Ones,” so that you, yourself can be more exclusive. Remember, “Point to Jesus” --- NOT yourself! Don’t set fake goals or limits on others, while following God’s love.

Little Ones are special to Jesus. If I see something often, like green grass, I need to be aware and understand that even the green grass is special. A lot goes into the “green” of the grass that is amazing. Likewise, a lot goes into a cup of water. For now, just keep this in mind.

The gift of the cup of water of service, love and kindness is a BIG thing to the one who is thirsty. The gift of a cup of water meets physical needs with the spiritual power of the love of God.

Matthew 25:35-36, 40 NIV

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Don’t lose sight of the point, for something less. Whatever gets in the way of entry into the Kingdom of God… well, get rid of it! Cut it out! Toss it away!

And finally, with this passage, many get hung up with the whole “Hell” thing. So, let me deal with this now.

Gehenna or some refer to as Eternal Hell or the Lake of Fire…

Revelation 19:20 NIV

²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

 

Revelation 20:10 NIV

¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

The second death stuff…

 

John 8:24 NIV

²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

 

Revelation 21:8 NIV

⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

 

All this eternal separation from God.  Don’t get confused or hung up here on this and miss Jesus’ point. We can get stuck on this stuff and miss the Gospel message.

 

Gehenna was a place in the valley of Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem, where human sacrifices were offered.

 

2 Chronicles 33:6 NIV

⁶ He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

 

Jeremiah 7:31 NIV

³¹ They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.

 

Later, Gehenna became a dump where the worm never died and the fire never went out. Sound familiar? Look back at Mark 9:48. This is a real place, in the time of Jesus, that no one wanted to go to, after all, it was the dump with a wicked history. But this was NOT Hades, or the place of the wicked before the judgment. So, don’t get confused or hung up on the idea of eternal punishment or torment. This is kind of like getting hung up on Halloween, and then, we miss All Saints Day. Well… sorta… kinda….

 

No, here, in this passage, Jesus is teaching his disciples. Part of the teaching is how we deal with “Little Ones,” and another part is how we deal with ourselves… also “Little Ones.”

 

We deal with other “Little Ones” with charity, kindness, service and love.

 

We deal with ourselves as “Little Ones” with discipline, to follow Jesus. We can be strict on ourselves. We can look at the things that impact ourselves. If, in action or word, I spoil the message of God’s Grace and Love; I need some salt. I’ve lost my way as a disciple and am no longer, “Pointing to Jesus.”

 

So, to be salty once again, I repent of my selfishness, my exclusiveness, my need for power and greatness, and turn to God for forgiveness. And as I turn… God freely and willingly and lovingly salts me with His Grace and Love and wraps me in His arms and claims me as His “Little One.”

 

So, enough of the Spooky Stuff --- enjoy this season of life. Listen and “Point to Jesus.”

 

Yes, I too am God’s “Little One” … today, tomorrow, and forever. Thanks be to God!

 

Enjoy this fun YouTube music for the week…

 Jesus Loves the Little Ones

Get Over Yourself! --- Mark 9:30-37

 

Mark 9:30-37 NIV

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Get Over Yourself!

In this passage of Scripture, begins the final trip south, for Jesus and His disciples, to Jerusalem and the passion, suffering, death and the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has now told his disciples five times that He would be killed and rise from the dead. And the disciples don’t seem to get it. I think you and I, many times, fall into the same group of people that really don’t get it.

Why don’t the disciples get it? Why don’t we, at times, seem to get it? I think we all fall into the same trap that has been set since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden.

We don’t get it. We don’t get Jesus. Why? We are convicted by the Law here. We, and I’m making a call here to include all mankind, but can really only speak for myself; we think, way too much about upward prestige and power. We think, like the disciples, here, about the greatest. But, look at Jesus! As Jesus tells the disciples in the beginning of this passage, of his suffering, death and resurrection; Jesus gives Himself up to die and rise again. And that’s NOT the Jesus we want!

We look for a Jesus that is an inspiring example of worldly success. We attempt to avoid death on the cross and go around the entire suffering and death stuff, for Jesus, and for ourselves.

So, when we hear the words of Jesus that He will die, fear enters our thoughts. This death stuff is just a step too far. Yet, God calls us to accept the cross as part of life. Doesn’t seem to make much sense, does it? Laying down our life to sacrifice, we lay down our selfish desire of prestige and greatness, honor and glory. And add to that, we lay down our “greatness” FOR the “other!” How will this action satisfy our desire to be the greatest?

So, are we too afraid to ask Jesus what He really means about being delivered to the hands of men that will cause His own torture, suffering and death? Maybe so, but the resurrection part, by this fear, passes right in one side of my ears and out the other. I can’t even hear, let alone, fully understand this horrible prophecy of Jesus. Yes, I’m convicted of letting my selfishness, and my own sin, get in the way of Jesus message here.

It's easy to fall into confusion and fear, when an important message, that strikes just the opposite of what you expect is honestly told to you. Especially when your mind is occupied upon yourself.

The disciples, I think, were afraid to ask Jesus what He means of His suffering and death. After all, they had the political power of themselves on their mind at the time.

Who IS greatest? This is a BIG, yet tragic question for mankind and man individually throughout all time.

Hear these words of Jesus…

Matthew 6:25 NIV

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

 

Is our core concern for ourself? Are we all infected with selfishness?

 

Hear these words of Jesus…

 

Matthew 6:32 NIV

³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

 

What are we really talking to one another about in life? Is it ourselves and our own needs and desires?

 

Or maybe, we too, like the disciples, are talking about, which one of us is the greatest?

 

Pride is a huge sin. But Jesus teaches us that it’s humility that God wants for the fruit we are to bear in our life. Pride is the deformity of the devil. Pride is the gift the devil gave us in the Garden of Eden, and now throughout time.

 

Greatness?

 

Let’s skip ahead and hear these words of Jesus, about “greatness.”

 

Mark 10:43-44 NIV

⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

 

This “Greatness” is in the Kingdom of God. And, to be in that Kingdom of God, we are turned into “little children.” And to be a Child of God we are given the free gift of Baptism by God. Now as a little child of God, we can’t do one speck of one little thing to earn our Baptism. We can’t even walk down the aisle to receive our baptism. God comes to us and takes us in to Himself, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God provides just what we need. Even as we are little children, or are like a little child, helpless in the arms of Jesus. In Baptism, God forgives us and delivers us from death and the devil, and gives everlasting life to all who believe what God promises. God gives the gift and develops the faith we need to believe. Nothing of this is of our own effort.

You see, in baptism, my life is NOT about me! It’s all turned topsy turvy.

 

What? You mean, to be great, or first, we must be last, least, and servant of all?

 

Stop! Serving is to be the normal thing? Not rank, power, prestige or greatness?

 

That’s the message and hard teaching of Jesus here. Become a servant of ALL. Become a slave to ALL. Society is reversed in this teaching of Jesus.

 

We are called to be slaves or servants, the lowliest and least respected people in the society in which we live in this world of the here and now.

 

Yes! Forget yourself. Give yourself to someone that is no benefit to yourself.

 

The charity of humility rules out your own greatness and personal ambition of pride and prestige and power.

 

Stop and think, what did Jesus do?

 

Jesus welcomes ALL people to Himself in what He did in His suffering, death and resurrection.

 

Only those who accept the powerless and vulnerable, will receive Jesus… God… AND… must become a child to enter God’s Kingdom.

 

And there we are again. The greatest achievement is to receive the least as the most and to serve. Yes, as I “Point To Jesus,” This IS the Greatest. This IS Jesus. Follow Him and learn from His teaching.

 

After all we stand in need ourselves. We NEED God’s protection. We NEED God’s grace and love. We NEED God’s help, as a Child of God, we NEED God. So, follow Jesus… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

 

I invite you to listen to this YouTube music video that inspired me during the writing of this reflection.

Who You Say I AM

 God bless you this week and… Always… “Point To Jesus.”

 

Do We Live In A Vacuum? - Mark 9:14-29

 

Mark 9:14-29 NIV

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

 

Do We Live In A Vacuum?

This particular episode of Jesus ministry takes place after the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration was a time when Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him on a high mountain by themselves. On this mountain, Jesus suddenly becomes transfigured before these disciples’ eyes and his clothes are shining or dazzling white brighter than anything the disciples have ever seen before. And then with Jesus the disciples see Elijah with Moses standing with Jesus. Well, Elijah and Moses have been dead for years! Then there is a cloud. God likes to give messages and appear in clouds as witnessed in the past. Out of this cloud comes the voice of God, “This is my Son, I love Him, listen to Him.” (my paraphrase) And then next when the disciples look around, they saw no one anymore.

Wow! What an experience! After this they come down the mountain. This is where this passage comes to life. The disciples, left behind, are in the valley facing a conundrum. They have been unable to heal the child of this man that Jesus comes upon. So that sets the stage.

For a moment, in your mind’s eye, contrast the glory of the Mount of Transfiguration to the valley of human terror. Contrast the glories we see in the high points of our calling to the terrors of this world, in the valley.

Some disciples go away and get these spiritual “highs” with God. Other disciples are left behind to deal with the terrors, the sin, the death, the destruction in the valleys of this world.

We seek to climb the hills, the mounts, in our lives. We seek to be the best, to conquer the world, sin, death and the devil. We seek to be number 1! We seek the mountains of life and the pride and glory. Yet…

The real skill or art is in the going down the hill or mountains.

I remember in my life at GE Aviation, we would make visions to guide our actions. Yet in this real life with Jesus, we are called to go from the vision of the Transfiguration to deeds. What? That sounds so works righteous! But hear me out.

From our high points as disciples of Jesus, we have been privileged, we have been gifted, we have been called. Our call is to come down. Come down from the mount and hear Jesus’ command. A command to love God and likewise to love all those God gives to us each and every day. And when we’re in the valley of this earthly dwelling in which we live in the here and now… DO God’s work!

So, why did the disciples in the valley fail in their efforts to heal the man’s child?

Jesus makes it clear. The disciples, and ourselves as well, fail because of our lack of faith. Here in this instruction from Jesus for our calling we receive a message on the importance of faith. When Jesus instructs me or you, as His disciple, don’t get defensive. Listen to Him. Jesus is God’s beloved Son. What Jesus has to say to us IS important.

The Father of the child, displays just a dash of faith. And with this dash of faith, Jesus heals. Jesus did not wait for the man’s faith to grow. Jesus took action and healed.

Once again, as we seen over and over again in these past few talks on “Pointing to Jesus,” Miracles happen in the context of faith.

It’s funny, when Jesus encounters this scene, in the valley, the religious leaders of the day, the disciples and the crowd of people are arguing about this inability to heal the man’s son.

How many times do we argue while standing in the presence of real need. We can say, oh, thoughts and prayers. Well, that’s true, but sometimes, this turns into all talk and no show. So many people who are not disciples of Jesus look on and ridicule Christianity for this attitude, possibly this lack of faith. In the face of human need, there comes a time for thoughts and prayers, but these thoughts and prayers, must be followed by action. There comes a time when we are called to SHUT UP and ACT! In the face of need, stop discussing and ACT!  Yes, ACT. Feed the poor, clothe the naked, fill those buckets with supplies for those who have suffered from weather catastrophes, build homes, visit the sick, talk to the shut-in… on and on and on. There IS a time to ACT!

Just as we see Jesus do here, the world brought a need to Him. The world brings needs to us, His disciples, as well. We are the disciples of Jesus, the Healer. So, we respond! We respond and ACT in love, not judgment. We respond in love, not rebuke for the situation that others have found themselves in because of their own actions.

For sure, Jesus was in anguish over the situation that he walked into, after being on the mountain with His Father. Yet, Jesus had compassion on all of these people. Jesus had compassion and a direct message for His own disciples, the religious leaders of the day, the crowd and the man and his son.

As the world comes to us in disbelief of what Jesus can do, people are still suffering. Stop! Don’t judge them for their lack of faith. Place your own hope, your own belief in Jesus on the line and ACT. Do something!

Yet, what seems to happen to so many of us, myself, you and disciples included?

Instead of placing our belief in Jesus, we first turn to, or place our hope in, science, political leaders, medicine, doctors, and on and on. We turn first to the world.

Yet, in the midst of our sin, we don’t and many times we won’t believe in Jesus! Come on! How long will we let this occur?

Do we believe more in the powers of man and this world and ourselves, than we do in the God of Love? We turn to Jesus with an “If you can!” Wow! Come on! Jesus IS God!

There are no limits to the power of faith and confidence in God.

Remember back a few episodes of “Pointing to Jesus.”

 Mark 4:39 NIV

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 

Mark 5:41 NIV

⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).

 

Jesus combines God’s power with God given faith. Faith, that absolute trust and dependance on God that reflects itself in prayer. There is that prayer, coming to life.

 

The road from unbelief to belief comes from a cry, a prayer. See it? Help my unbelief, the man cries out to Jesus. We too cry out to Jesus for help in our unbelief.

 

We need a daily prayer. Help my unbelief! May I daily recognize my sin and need for Jesus in my life.

 

And then it happens. Jesus heals! Jesus saves! Jesus ACTS!

 

And what happens is a cure that is permanent. Jesus forgives us and heals us and calls us and through the Holy Spirit, sends us out. Down from the mountain and into the valley of this world of sin and death.

 

Now, witness what Jesus does with this man’s child. Upon healing the child, the child appears to be dead. Seems a bit like a look forward to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Here we witness resurrection speak. The child appears dead, yet, with the hand of Jesus, the child rose up.

 

Wow! What a flash forward does this bring me to my own desires. Even though I live in sin, and even though I die in sin; I look forward to that day, when Jesus returns, and with His hands he lifts me up from the dead to everlasting life with Him.

 

Finally, as Jesus teaches us and His disciples, we discover that prayer is a BIG thing to Jesus. Prayer isn’t like the prayer that this world thinks it is. Prayer isn’t some answer to all the ills of this world and all the ills of the evil and the faults we see in ourselves. Prayer is not a way to bring on some magic power to make all things “right.”  No.

 

Prayer IS communion with God. Prayer IS when we go to God, all our life long, beyond ourselves, to THE power greater than ourself. Prayer casts us out of our sinful selves in love for all those God gives to us each and every day. Prayer is our call to ACT, in love for God and in love for all those God gives to us each and every day. Prayer drives us to our knees before THE Creator to ACT out in the love God gives to us.

 

Yes! Prayer IS important and always to be desired.

 

Jesus speaks openly and honestly and direct to His disciples.

 

We fail when we lack faith, when we lack prayer and when we lack the discipline to use all the wonderful gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us to give freely to the world and the people of this world with which we live. God graciously gives us faith and all we need to act out in His love for all the world.

 

The mount? The valley?

 

Jesus spent His life going down. Jesus came down from communion with God in heaven, to the crowds of human need. Jesus came down to me, to you and to all the world, to forgive, to save, and to unite Himself with us into all eternity.

 

Lord, give me the guts and determination to serve and sacrifice in love through the gifts you have given to me. As You have delivered me from sin, death and the devil, I thank You. Help me to watch my tongue that I may speak to this world and always, POINT TO JESUS, today, tomorrow and forever.

 

The artwork displayed is Raphael’s great painting of the Transfiguration.

 

I have included a YouTube musical for you reflection…

Even So, Lord Jesus, Come