Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the scandals that the Lord Jesus denounces among his people. Indeed, the disciples believed they had to prevent a man from performing miracles in the name of Jesus. “Do not prevent him from doing so, replied Jesus, for there is no one who, doing a miracle in my name, can immediately afterwards speak ill of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9.39-40). “He does not follow us” is the pretext given by John. But the Lord shows them that in this also they were taken care of themselves and not of Him. However, many Christians, while not walking with us, follow the Lord very closely in the way of renunciation and of the cross (Mark 8.34-38).
For John said unto him, Teacher, we have seen a man casting out demons in your name; and we have prevented him, because he does not follow us. And the Lord answered him, Whoever gives you a glass of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. But if someone scandalized one of these little ones who believe, it would be better for him to have a big millstone put around his neck and throw him into the sea.
He continues his teaching in these terms: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life one-armed, than to have both hands and to go into hell, into the fire that never goes out. If your foot causes you to fall, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have both feet and be thrown into hell, into the fire that never goes out. And if your eye is an occasion for you to fall, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. For every man will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing; but if salt becomes tasteless, what will you season it with? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
But the Lord Jesus does not mean, by these words, that it’s indifferent to him whether one follows him or not; it’s that the acceptance or rejection of his person, in this time when the great number rejected him, had to concern the disciples above all and be of value to them. To follow Jesus in the path of his word is a matter of obedience which stems from attachment to his person – something that Jesus highly appreciates; but those who follow him must do so for this reason, without thinking that there is merit in it; otherwise the heart looks after itself and shrinks, while if one deals with Christ the heart expands and grows in his likeness. For John’s narrow-mindedness made him forget that the man they wanted to prevent from casting out the demons was doing precisely the thing that the disciples could not do, despite their privileged position following the Lord.
In fact, the time in which Jesus lived, like ours, was characterized by the rejection of his person; if therefore anyone was not against them, he was for them. Let’s notice that the Lord does not say: “He who is not against me is for me”, but he says: “He who is not against us is for us”. He identifies his weak disciples with himself, since, after all, they were with him, something he recognizes and appreciates, telling them at one point: “But you, you are the ones who persevered with me in my temptations. ”(Luke 22.28).
May the Lord grant us all to follow him in the path of obedience to his Word which is that of truth and love, animated by the same spirit as himself, in order to be kept from narrow sectarian spirit, which attaches more importance to “us” than to the person of the Lord.
Everything we do for the Lord is of such importance to God in this world where he is despised, that even a cup of cold water given in his name to his disciples, because they are his, will have its reward. On the other hand, a little child who believes in Jesus is of such value to him that if someone puts a stumbling block in his path, the Lord Jesus said that it would be better for him to have a stone put on him, grindstone around his neck and he be thrown into the sea. Beloved, let’s all allow ourselves to enter this fact, so important for time and eternity, that everything in our life, is appreciated by God in relation to the person of Christ rejected by men, but glorified by God.
So instead of being so preoccupied with their greatness, the disciples were to avoid anything that could prevent them from entering into life, or the kingdom of God, for it is above all about eternal life and heavenly things. However, if the occasions of fall, for the little ones, are sometimes placed by others on their way, for each one of us they exist in ourselves; it can be the hand, the foot, the eye, members indispensable to the present life, but which through sin make us murmur or deprive us of salvation.
That is why thought must become so attached to the question of eternal life that we should deal ruthlessly with anything that turns us away from it. May the hand accomplish reprehensible things, may the foot lead us down a wrong path, may the eye attach the heart to evil with lust, despite all the pain of breaking with acquired habits, it should be given up at the cost, even from a painful amputation; for if we do not have “life” to share for eternity, it will be “gehenna, … unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.” What will they do with the limbs that have lost them, those that will be thrown into eternal fire? What to do with his hands, his feet, his eyes, in this place where all objects of lust will have disappeared in the face of the terrible consequences reserved for those who prefer the satisfaction of one day to their eternal happiness? We believe that no one will deprive himself of heaven for whatever fleeting enjoyment a deceptive world can offer him.
The question of our eternal salvation is therefore of such paramount importance that it is worthwhile to give up without hesitation any occasion of a fall while on the way, because once at the end, the fate is fixed for eternity. “When the clouds are full of rain, they pour it over the earth; and if a tree falls, in the south or in the north, it remains in the place where it fell.”(Ec 11.3).
Ultimately, judgment is a sure thing for all, and God cannot endure evil forever, since He declares that “Everyone will be salted with fire.” But, to those who are lost, eternal judgment falls in sharing. It is that believers deal with God in this world for all that He cannot recognize in their walk. Then God begins the judgment with his house (1 P 4.17). For the believer depends on a Father who, without regard to persons, judges according to the work of each one”(1 P 1.17). So he must avoid the occasions of falling for his own account and for others, especially for the little ones, being careful not to satisfy the lusts of his flesh.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and put together for your understanding.
- Narrow-minded rebuked:
Tolerance: Mt 9.10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples; Mark 9.38 “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.” Luke 9.49-50 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” 50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Ph 1.17-18 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
- Universality: Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. Ac 10.47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”; Ac 11.18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”; Ac 15.19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
- Name of Christ: mighty when called upon in prayer and service: Luke 24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem; Jn 14.13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Neutrality impossible in the spiritual world: Mt 12.30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
From all of the above, we note that we are not to prevent a man from performing miracles in Jesus’ name, for he who is not against us is with us. And instead of being preoccupied with their greatness, the disciples were to avoid anything that could prevent them from entering the kingdom of God, for it is above all about eternal life and heavenly things. Because our eternal salvation is of such paramount importance that it is worthwhile to give up without hesitation any occasion of falling while we are on the way, because once arrived at the end, the fate is fixed for eternity. For if we do not share life for eternity, then it will be gehenna, eternal hell, unquenchable fire. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to renounce and defend the little ones, in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week the question concerning divorce: Let not man therefore separate what God has joined.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.