Mark 9:38-41 English Standard Version (ESV)
Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[a] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Personal Insights
The whole theme of who is the greatest isn’t finished yet. John had a thought to share with Jesus and it seems that he might have been thinking about this for a while. This thought might have come about due to the disciples not being able to drive out the demon from the boy earlier in the chapter.
John’s comment was that a man, who wasn’t one of the 12, was able to cast out demons in Jesus name and that, as disciples of Jesus; they felt he should be stopped. Jesus’s response is very black and white. He told John that he shouldn’t have stopped this man from doing what he did. Jesus goes onto say that you are either for me or you are against me. We can’t sit on the fence when it comes to Jesus. Are you a believer in Christ or not? There is no grey area here.
The miracle of casting out demons was based on the authority of Jesus not on anything else. This man, whoever he was, maybe a disciple of John the Baptist, believed in the power and authority of Christ. He was able to do what he did because of Christ not because of his standing in life or his denomination or cultural background or anything else. The important thing was his relationship to Jesus.
John gives the impression that he hasn’t quite understood his position with Jesus. Yes, he has the privilege of being one of the 12 and being able to walk closely with Jesus but this is not an exclusive group. Those who believe in who Jesus says He is can do amazing things in His name also.
Jesus goes onto to say that even giving out a cup of water to someone in His name is worthy of reward. There is no hierarchy when it comes to doing things in Christ name. Jesus brings in the whole servanthood idea again to show and teach His disciples the importance of having a servant heart. This is a theme throughout the book of Mark, showing Jesus as a Servant King.
What impression do we give to those who don’t believe in Jesus? Do we judge those who are not of the same church background as us? Or don’t worship the same way as us or what about cultural background or family background? Maybe we have more in common with John than we would like to think or admit.
John’s comment was that a man, who wasn’t one of the 12, was able to cast out demons in Jesus name and that, as disciples of Jesus; they felt he should be stopped. Jesus’s response is very black and white. He told John that he shouldn’t have stopped this man from doing what he did. Jesus goes onto say that you are either for me or you are against me. We can’t sit on the fence when it comes to Jesus. Are you a believer in Christ or not? There is no grey area here.
The miracle of casting out demons was based on the authority of Jesus not on anything else. This man, whoever he was, maybe a disciple of John the Baptist, believed in the power and authority of Christ. He was able to do what he did because of Christ not because of his standing in life or his denomination or cultural background or anything else. The important thing was his relationship to Jesus.
John gives the impression that he hasn’t quite understood his position with Jesus. Yes, he has the privilege of being one of the 12 and being able to walk closely with Jesus but this is not an exclusive group. Those who believe in who Jesus says He is can do amazing things in His name also.
Jesus goes onto to say that even giving out a cup of water to someone in His name is worthy of reward. There is no hierarchy when it comes to doing things in Christ name. Jesus brings in the whole servanthood idea again to show and teach His disciples the importance of having a servant heart. This is a theme throughout the book of Mark, showing Jesus as a Servant King.
What impression do we give to those who don’t believe in Jesus? Do we judge those who are not of the same church background as us? Or don’t worship the same way as us or what about cultural background or family background? Maybe we have more in common with John than we would like to think or admit.
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