Mark 9:38-48; Lk. 10:1-12, Reigning in Life (3)

·       Greatness part 2, 9:38-41.  Not only were the Twelve concerned about greatness among themselves; they were concerned about greatness with “opposing” religious groups of “sects.”  There were some people using Jesus’ name to cast out demons.  This is an interesting situation.  Who were these people?  There were Jewish “exorcists,” something we know from an account in Acts 19:13-16.  In that case, the demon attacked the exorcists because they were falsely using the name of Jesus.  That doesn’t seem to be the case here, as Jesus did not consider them to be worthy of criticism.  It is possible these were some of the “Seventy” Jesus had sent out around this same time (cf. Luke 10:1-12).  One would think the Twelve would have known about the Seventy, but perhaps not.  Jesus did give them authority to heal and they preached the same “gospel of the kingdom” message.  In the end we don’t know for sure, only that, as we said, Jesus did not consider them a problem.  Jesus understood that every “difference” was not necessarily a divisive issue, something Paul understood as well (Phil. 1:12-18).  But John and the others were jealous because they were not a part “their group.”  Again, this is thinking like men and not like God.  Jesus got in the face of the religious leaders because of their false teaching.  But He did not see the need to do that here.  Again, reigning in life does not mean being greater than those outside our fellowship any more than being greatest inside our fellowship.

·       Greatness part 3, 9:42-48.  As you read this passage, note that we are still in the context of the “greatness” question.  Jesus is still concerned with the “little ones” and those who would make them stumble.  And Jesus is still saying, there are the things of man and the things of God.  The “things of man” involve those who would step on the “little people” in order to get to their place of greatness.  This can include the kind of things the disciples were doing, arguing with each other about greatness and blasting those who are not part of their group. 

o   This passage certainly teaches that there is a hell, and that decisions in this life determine the destiny in the life to come.  What Jesus is doing, however, having chided them for being all fired up about their own greatness, is telling His disciples what they should get all fired up about.  The extreme illustration of drowning in the sea, cutting off your hand or foot, and gouging out your eye, is meant to stress the priority of what Jesus is saying.  Note the key words: “better” and “rather than.”  He is not saying we should do these terrible things; He is saying that being servant of all (v35), and receiving these little ones in My name (v37) is the path to greatness with God, and nothing should be allowed to hinder us from this.  Paul put it this way in Rom. 8:13: For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.