Mark 9:14-50 Faith, Humility and Care

Faith, Humility and Care

Mark 9:14-50

We shall take today’s Scripture in its pieces, for the sake of the lesson. But do remember these things all happened on the same day, in very short order. They are connected; they tell us of life in the kingdom.

Faith

⁴When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵As 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.

¹⁷A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸Whenever 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“O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

²⁰So 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.

²¹Jesus 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 him who believes.”

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

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

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

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

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

Arguing with the Pharisees

Recall that we are talking here of the “other disciples” – the ones who did not see the Transfiguration. As is often the case, we can see the difficulty the disciples are having not by what they are doing but by what they are not doing. They are arguing with people. They are concentrating on winning the argument, and so sacrifice healing for debating points.

The argument, clearly, concerns the demon possessed boy. Recall that the Pharisees most certainly believe in demon possession; they believe in exorcism – they just don’t believe in Jesus. They are, however, experienced debaters. They have managed to get the argument on their own terms here; debate, rather than action.

The simple fact of the matter is this: Without prayer equals without power. Rather than debate these people, they should have gone to their heavenly Father for aid.

Christ’s approach

As Jesus approaches this knotty little argument, we see his approach to the problem. It is very different from the Pharisees and the disciples.

	First, by asking what they are arguing about, he simply points out the absurdity. They are arguing over this exorcism. Either the disciples can do it, or they must appeal to Christ. What’s to argue about?
	Having displayed the disciples’ problem, he next goes on to tell them the solution – and to give vent to his disappointment with them. The matter is one of faith, he tells them.
	But such a statement is not sufficient for the boys father. “If you can help” arises, a statement which challenges both Christ’s power and his love. Christ’s response is simply to ask for the smallest of obedience: bring the boy here.

If

The statement is a classic; it reflects the view of so many of us. I believe (I really do, Lord) – but I need some help with it. There is just enough faith here to allow that it is possible.

	Note, please, that this is not the cynic demanding a sign, for no such sign is given the cynic. The father genuinely believes.
	His mistake is to doubt “whether or not.” He is asking the wrong question. The right question is “Who is this Jesus?” If he is not from God, all the belief in the world will not help. If he is, then praise God.
	Remember the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace? Their faith extended beyond circumstance; whether God chose to save or not, He is still God.

The matter is rather simple for most of us. We believe – and we’d be a lot happier about it if God gave us the power to work miracles. But remember: power in us, that’s magic. Power in Him, that’s faith.

Humility

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

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

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

³⁶He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him 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.”

The example of humility

As the Transfiguration showed his glory, his death on the cross showed his humility. Jesus died the death of a despised criminal. He has now chosen to take his disciples away from the crowds to teach them. Teach them what? Humility. You cannot help but contrast his humility in going to death on a cross – which is what he is talking about – with their pride in being first.

How often our pride is an embarrassment to us! Is it not like God to puncture our pride when it surfaces?

Teaching with formality

There is a certain style to the lesson. He does not ask them what they are arguing about while they are arguing about it, on the road, with the crowds near by. He waits until they are behind closed doors. If you need to have your pride punctured, it is best done gently.

He then sits down. This is the picture of a rabbi holding a formal time of instruction. We still speak of people who “take the chair” of a meeting, meaning to take charge of. If you need to have your pride punctured, it is best done with dignity.

The lesson is short (pun intended) and to the point. He takes a convenient example at hand, a small child. In those days children were held to be the lowest members of society (a position now reserved for Junior High students). The example is clear to them. If you need your pride punctured, it is best done with a practical example.

The lesson itself

The lesson is remarkably economical in words. Christ lays out three principles of conduct in the kingdom of God:

	First, it is a kingdom of servants. If you follow the website on which these lessons are posted, you will notice a page marked “Web Servant.” Most sites have a page for the Webmaster; but this is not appropriate for the kingdom of God – in which there is but one true master.
	Next, that kingdom extends to “all who will.” One’s status in society, high or low, makes no difference.
	Indeed, it makes so little difference that we can safely say that many who now appear to be in high position will be found to be in low position. Indeed, finding the best “team player” is often difficult. Finding the worst usually is not.

Who the work is for

If the work is lowly (and it often is) we should consider who we’re working for – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It just appears to be for the church nursery.

	If the task seems a low one, we should do it nonetheless – for the task is for the highest.
	The task therefore deserves to be done as well as possible. Give of your best to the Master, as the old hymn says.
	The task also therefore deserves to be done cheerfully, as God loves a cheerful giver.

Inclusive care

³⁸“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man 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. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

⁴²“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. ⁴³If your hand causes you to sin, 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.^£ ⁴⁵And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^£ ⁴⁷And if your eye causes you to sin, 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, ⁴⁸where

“‘their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.’^£

⁴⁹Everyone will be salted with fire.

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

For and against

Christ here lays out another principle of life in the kingdom of God. It’s binary, as the computer types would say. You’re in, or you’re out. How is this?

	Christ, by his very nature, by the claims he makes about who He is, forces this choice. You cannot mildly approve of Jesus Christ.
	Because of this nature – in or out – we are not to judge others. If they are not Christ’s servant, then our mission is to evangelize them. We need know nothing more than the fact that they are sinners like us. If they are Christ’s servants, who are we to judge them?
	More commonly, however, do we put barriers in the way of Christ’s servants. You cannot serve Jesus unless you are a member of the right church; worshiping in the right way. All this is pain to the Lord who prayed that we might be one.

Caring for the least

Now that we understand “in and out,” we can see why we are commanded to care for even the least in the kingdom of heaven. We don’t really know who will truly be the least (or most) when Christ returns, but we do know his command is to care for all of our fellow Christians.

Look at it this way: suppose you do a favor for one of my children. For example, one friend got my son a summer job during his college years. My son should be grateful; I certainly am. Now if I (a sinner) can understand such gratitude for good things, how much more does this apply to Christ, and to God the Father?

No half way

Of all the principles of the kingdom of God, this is likely the least popular. Christ puts up with no half way measures. He gives you three examples here:

	“foot” – it is better for you to stay away from some places than to wind up in hell. For most of us there are such places. Some have signs on the door saying “adults only.” Others have signs in our hearts.
	“hand” – it is better for you to avoid doing some things than to wind up in hell. Some of us are not to be trusted with a drink in our hands. Some of us are not to be trusted with money in them either.
	“eye” – it is better for you not to gaze upon some things than to wind up in hell. Pornography is not a victimless crime.

The principle of “salt”

Jesus sums it up: have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other. Salt?

	In the Old Testament it was a symbol of purification (we still gargle with salt water). We need to keep ourselves pure – not half way pure.
	In the Old Testament grain offerings which were “first fruits” were salted. We need to present our first and best to our Lord.
	In the New Testament, we are told[1] that our speech is to be seasoned with salt – meaning that it should be full of grace.

In these things we can find peace in the kingdom of God. By keeping ourselves pure; by doing our best for our Lord; and by keeping our speech gracious and kind we keep peace in the kingdom.

Summary

These look like isolated instances, but I think not. The basic call to follow Jesus is rooted firmly in faith. If you will walk with him, you will walk in humility. You will share that walk with many others of many different views; maintain peace with them in your purity, best work and gracious speech.

[1] Colossians 4:6