Jesus Says Greatness Comes From Serving Others
January 18, 2022
Commentary
The three lessons Jesus taught in this section are basic to Christian living today. If we are yielded to Him, then suffering will lead to glory, faith will produce power, and our sacrificial service will lead to honor. John reported to Jesus that they had seen a man casting out demons “in thy name"(v. 38) and they had tried to stop him. It appears that John and the other disciples were jealous and had given offense to the man (v. 38). They had tried to restrain and so Jesus takes time to teach them an important principle, “For he that is not against us is on our part” (vv. 39-41). This is definitely dealing with an attitude of judgement toward others. These words of Jesus are a death blow to the intolerant spirit, to the attitude that says, “Our group is the only group that is right.” Jesus here establishes the basis for fellowship among believers. He is really saying, “I don’t care what denomination you are in. If you have received Jesus as your personal Saviour, if you have been born again, you are my sister or brother in Christ.”
Next Jesus brings up a subject that is seldom mentioned in religious circles today. He talks about a place called hell (vv. 42-50). It is a real, actual, literal place. God says that if people die in their sins apart from the Lord Jesus they will go to a place where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not (vv. 43,44). We must take sin seriously. Your hand (v. 43) represents what you do. Is there any action, anything you are doing in your life, that is not pleasing to God? Your foot (v. 45) represents where you go. Are you going anywhere that causes you to sin? Your eye (v. 47) represents what you see. Are you looking at anything that brings sin into your life? True humility means knowing yourself, accepting yourself, being yourself and giving yourself for others. The world’s philosophy is that you are “great” if others are working for you, but Jesus message is that greatness comes from serving others.
Application
Can I think of anything in my life that I need to get rid of? It may be things I am doing, it may be places I am going, it could be things I am watching. I need to tell God I am sorry and ask Him to help me start doing things that He wants me to do.
Mark 9:38– 50 (NET)
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, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. 49 Everyone 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.”
Illustration: The Best Selling Books on Humility
Do you have humility like the man who wrote the best-selling books, “Humility and How I Attained It” and “The Ten Most Humble Men in the World and How I Chose The Other Nine.” (Source Unknown).