Obstacles – Mark 9:38-50

A text – Mark 9:38-50

³⁸ John 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.” ³⁹ But 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. ⁴⁰ Whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For 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.

⁴² “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to sin, 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. ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.  ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, 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, ⁴⁸ where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.

⁴⁹ “For everyone will be salted with fire.  ⁵⁰ Salt 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.”

A reflection:

I read somewhere that the disciple John seems to have been the person in the group who often interrupted with pressing questions. He certainly does so in this part of the Gospel of Mark. Jesus has set a little child in the midst of his disciples and has said (remember last week?) “Whoever welcomes a child like this one welcomes me…,” and while he is still probably holding the child, John bursts in with this week’s question. Jesus answers him about unknown people casting out demons in Jesus’s name  (casting out a demon was Jesus’s first healing, remember, and the demon knew Jesus’s name and identity). Jesus says those people who heal in his name will be rewarded by God, at best, and, at worst, will not be able to side against Jesus. And then Jesus returns to the lesson he John had interrupted.

Jesus is deeply, profoundly against anything that poses a stumbling block to faith, to a right relationship with God. This may be why he was so set against the Pharisees and anyone who took the Law more seriously than a relationship with the Father. He hated all the ways money and power and rules separated the poor and sincere believers from worshipping God. He hated all the status the religious leaders built up that intimidated everyday believers from entering the synagogues and talking about their faith. Jesus is warning the disciples that they, too, could begin doing things that separated people from God rather than bringing people to God. Welcome the poorest, no-rights-at-all people, like children, Jesus said. Welcome those who don’t have two pennies, Jesus said. Welcome those who haven’t the time for all the ritual cleansings because they must work two jobs to feed their families, Jesus said. Welcome these and make their relationship with God possible, even stronger.  Don’t be an obstacle.

It makes us wonder, perhaps, about when we may have been obstacles to people’s worship, to their asking questions, to their believing. Think about that. And then find ways to welcome those people.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for welcoming us, no matter how much or how little we know. Help us never to be an obstacle to anyone who wants to show their love for you. Amen.