Jesus continues His discussion with His disciples about His impending death, weaving in a discussion about true humility and salt.

The video link is here:

Mark 9:30-50… Of Salt and Humility

The Audio links are to the right (iTunes and Spotify).

Here is the transcript used for today’s podcast:

Mark 9:30-50

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

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.

Of course they were afraid. Peter had just been chewed out by Jesus by arguing with about this topic.

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.

The concern for greatness indicates that the “yeast” of Herod is clearly present in the house.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan.

 

Maybe on some level, they were beginning to understand that He was going to die. Perhaps they were arguing about who should run things once He was gone? Who was the one most fit to be in charge?

Paul understood this principle… see what he said to the Corinthian church below.

 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NIV

Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?…

Leadership 101

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.”

Oh, Jesus KNEW what they were arguing about. Leadership looks like this. A leader serves those around him. He knew He was going to die, they were just beginning to get a clue about His death, but had no clue as to what life would be like post death and resurrection.

Being a servant is the path to true greatness. And being truly great doesn’t necessarily mean being famous or powerful as the world defines it. I would rather do God’s will and die anonymous to the world and known by God than to die with the whole world shouting my name only to find myself standing in front of Jesus and hear Him say “Paige who? I never knew you.”

The self-denial of cross-bearing discipleship stands in direct opposition to the “yeast” of a self-promoting Herod and the proud Pharisees.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan.

 

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.”

As the least important member of ancient society, a child had no power or status and was completely dependent.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan.

 

He is still teaching about servant-leadership. There is no glory in meeting the needs of a child. They have no place of status or honor in this world. The world does not see this as important, because you don’t GET anything from it. That is the exact point Jesus wants to make here, I believe. To be great in God’s eyes, THIS is how you are to behave. Strutting around and trying to be in charge is the exact opposite of what Jesus wants from us.

Years ago, I was an engineer in a satellite communications company. I fell into this trap of wanting to run things. I even cloaked my desire in the  saying “The best way to impact people from  is when you are in charge.” Sounds noble, right? So I pushed and campaigned for the position of becoming the manager of my engineering group. I succeeded and was promoted. Within a year I was fired. That was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. I was much more effective as an engineer when I labored in anonymity than I was when I ran things.

There is room for others than You in the House of God

Verses 33-37 (above) dealt with the disciples’ love of status. Here (v38-41) their self-importance leads them to think that they, like the Pharisees and teachers of the law, can define who is “in” and who is “out” of God’s people.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan.

 

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.

We must be very careful to NOT develop an attitude of knowing “who’s in and who’s out”. Just because someone’s ministry or work may appear unconventional or may not meet your church’s qualifications as to what the definition of “ministry” is does not mean they are not doing His work.

This is still on the subject of humility. Previously, Jesus wants them to adopt an attitude of humility when dealing with “leadership” issues among each other. Here, He wants them to adopt an attitude of humility as they look OUTSIDE their group to someone who does NOT have membership in their little conclave.

Perhaps the best example today would be to address the disdain some denominational folk have for other folks in different faith traditions. Jesus would say that just because they are Calvinist and you are Arminian in your theology does not invalidate the works THEY are doing. Just because they are Catholic and you are protestant does not invalidate the works THEY are doing. Just because they are Pentecostal and you believe the Gifts of the Spirit are no longer extant in today’s church does not invalidate the works THEY are doing. Humility is the word of the day here, folks.

Don’t run after “being in charge”. Don’t fall into the trap that you know enough to be able to decide who’s in or who’s out, who’s right or who’s wrong. I am not saying to NOT pursue truth. I am saying that none of us is so smart that we can make the kind of decisions the disciples were trying to make. Pursue truth – but with the realistic attitude that you don’t and won’t know it all.

There is room for someone other than yourself in the room.

The Penalty for Arrogance

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. 

I see Jesus capping His teaching on not seeking position, on not trying to “know it all” when it comes to other believers with this verse. There is an awful penalty for this kind of arrogance.

Having forbidden his disciples from hindering another of his followers, Jesus warns against the deadly consequences of causing not only the “little ones . . . to stumble” (v. 42) but also themselves.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan.

 

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] [b] 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] [c] 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.’[d]

sin that deforms the character is far more serious than ritual purity since it disqualifies a person from eternal life in the world to come. Causing oneself to stumble is as serious as causing a little one (v. 42) to stumble and requires radical measures.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan

 

If we do not take sin seriously, it will destroy us. We have two choices before us. Destroy the sin, or let the sin destroy us. Jesus addressed this in the following verses. He starts by saying

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

Not everything Jesus says is easy to understand. Fire is destructive in nature Sometimes fire consumes the entire thing thrown into it. Sometimes fire destroys the shell of whatever is thrown into it, leaving the pure thing underneath impurity-free.

We will ALL experience fire. If you are a Christ-follower, then the fire will burn away sin – all those things that are impurities – leaving the pure essence of God’s work standing. If you are not a Christ-follower, then you will be completely consumed by this fire, leaving you with nothing.

…everyone, disciple or not, will be salted with fire of either the destructive (the first alternative) or purifying (the second alternative) kind.

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan

 

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? 

Salt cannot be made salty again, if it loses its “saltiness”. If we let sin destroy us, we lose our ability to affect and impact those around us. He is not talking about losing our salvation here (IMO) but he is definitely talking about our usefulness.

Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Imitating Jesus’ cross-bearing character (see note on 8:31), they are to be God’s salt in his world (Matt 5:13–16; 

Edited by Carson, D. A. (2018). NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan

 

Salt purifies us… then WE become salt – which will then cause us to have a dual effect which Paul calls an “aroma” – that draws other believers to us or drives  non-believers away.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16

15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. 

 

In His Grip –

Paige