Mar 9:38-41 | KingComments | STEP | The words of John show how difficult the lesson of the previous verses is learned. After the search for one’s own interest, presented in the previous verses, we see here the search for the group’s interest. John believes that the group to which he belongs is superior to someone who has not joined the group to which he belongs and which follows the Lord. Outside that group, according to John, can be no blessing. In order to truly do a service for Him, John believes, the man who casts out demons must join them. John even speaks of the fact that they prevented the service of the man because “he was not following us”. He makes “us”, that is the group to which he belongs, the measure of the service. He must have forgotten that the man does what the disciples were unable to do because of their unbelief ( ). Such a spirit of sectarianism also prevailed among the group of believers in Corinth who had made Christ the “head of the party” ( ). The question is not whether someone joins the disciples, but whether something happens in the Name of the Lord. If the Lord chooses someone, that is decisive. How does John come to such an assessment when he and the other disciples were recently unable to do so? The cause is a lack of self-knowledge and the posturing to belong to the right group. Some may not go with ‘us’ on the church path because they find so little of what they find with the Lord Jesus in service, humility, love, faith, prayer and fasting. We should humble ourselves about this. We should rejoice about every service that is done for Him and thank Him for it. The Lord reprimands John. Whatever moved the man, the Lord emphasizes His Name in His answer. Because the man is acting in His Name, he is for Christ and not against Him. The Lord connects Himself to what the man does. This man does not seek his own honor, but that of Christ. He does not abuse the Name of the Lord to make a name for himself and to defame the Name of the Lord, but uses it to honor Him in the deliverance of people from the power of satan. This principle of “he who is not against us is for us” is important in judging all that is done for the Lord Jesus. He connects His disciples in His service with Himself. And when it comes to a service for Him, it is not a testimony against Him nor against His disciples, but the disciples and He are dealing with someone who is cooperating toward the same goal. When it comes to service, the Servant acknowledges every service done for Him. When He says, “he who is not with Me is against Me” ( ), it relates to His rejection. He who chooses not to share with Him in His rejection actually chooses against Him. Neutrality is impossible. The Lord makes it clear that even the smallest service performed by anyone to one of His disciples, precisely because he is of Christ, will be rewarded by Him. A cup of water may not be much for the giver, but for those who are truly thirsty, it is a great refreshment. The Lord unites Himself so much with His disciples, that He experiences this refreshment done to one of His own as done to Himself. His disciples are the little ones, the dependents. Christ, too, has made Himself nothing ( ) and has been here as the dependent Man. He who acknowledges this and therefore follows Him is great to Him. He has others, who perhaps do not “go with us” the way, who give a refreshment to those who have gone out for Him in His service. They will receive their reward from Him. The giving of a cup of water does not seem much compared to the casting out of demons. The Lord holds up this example to His disciples because they did not consider the man who cast out the demons to be one of them. In their eyes, that man could not be good because he had not joined their group. The Lord now says that they must appreciate and accept everything they receive from others, even though they do not belong to ‘their group’, if that is done “because of your name as [followers] of Christ”. For example, a group may be so sectarian that only literature written by someone from the group may be read. One shuts oneself off from the readings of other believers. The Lord says here that believers may receive everything from other believers who have the desire to serve each one who is of Christ, precisely because that other one is of Christ. The Lord knows how to appreciate this and will reward it.

‏ Mark 9:38-41

Who Is Not Against Us …

The words of John show how difficult the lesson of the previous verses is learned. After the search for one’s own interest, presented in the previous verses, we see here the search for the group’s interest. John believes that the group to which he belongs is superior to someone who has not joined the group to which he belongs and which follows the Lord. Outside that group, according to John, can be no blessing. In order to truly do a service for Him, John believes, the man who casts out demons must join them.

John even speaks of the fact that they prevented the service of the man because “he was not following us”. He makes “us”, that is the group to which he belongs, the measure of the service. He must have forgotten that the man does what the disciples were unable to do because of their unbelief (Mk 9:18). Such a spirit of sectarianism also prevailed among the group of believers in Corinth who had made Christ the “head of the party” (1Cor 1:12-13).

The question is not whether someone joins the disciples, but whether something happens in the Name of the Lord. If the Lord chooses someone, that is decisive. How does John come to such an assessment when he and the other disciples were recently unable to do so? The cause is a lack of self-knowledge and the posturing to belong to the right group. Some may not go with ‘us’ on the church path because they find so little of what they find with the Lord Jesus in service, humility, love, faith, prayer and fasting. We should humble ourselves about this. We should rejoice about every service that is done for Him and thank Him for it.

The Lord reprimands John. Whatever moved the man, the Lord emphasizes His Name in His answer. Because the man is acting in His Name, he is for Christ and not against Him. The Lord connects Himself to what the man does. This man does not seek his own honor, but that of Christ. He does not abuse the Name of the Lord to make a name for himself and to defame the Name of the Lord, but uses it to honor Him in the deliverance of people from the power of satan.

This principle of “he who is not against us is for us” is important in judging all that is done for the Lord Jesus. He connects His disciples in His service with Himself. And when it comes to a service for Him, it is not a testimony against Him nor against His disciples, but the disciples and He are dealing with someone who is cooperating toward the same goal. When it comes to service, the Servant acknowledges every service done for Him.

When He says, “he who is not with Me is against Me” (Mt 12:30), it relates to His rejection. He who chooses not to share with Him in His rejection actually chooses against Him. Neutrality is impossible.

The Lord makes it clear that even the smallest service performed by anyone to one of His disciples, precisely because he is of Christ, will be rewarded by Him. A cup of water may not be much for the giver, but for those who are truly thirsty, it is a great refreshment. The Lord unites Himself so much with His disciples, that He experiences this refreshment done to one of His own as done to Himself.

His disciples are the little ones, the dependents. Christ, too, has made Himself nothing (Phil 2:6-7) and has been here as the dependent Man. He who acknowledges this and therefore follows Him is great to Him. He has others, who perhaps do not “go with us” the way, who give a refreshment to those who have gone out for Him in His service. They will receive their reward from Him.

The giving of a cup of water does not seem much compared to the casting out of demons. The Lord holds up this example to His disciples because they did not consider the man who cast out the demons to be one of them. In their eyes, that man could not be good because he had not joined their group. The Lord now says that they must appreciate and accept everything they receive from others, even though they do not belong to ‘their group’, if that is done “because of your name as [followers] of Christ”.

For example, a group may be so sectarian that only literature written by someone from the group may be read. One shuts oneself off from the readings of other believers. The Lord says here that believers may receive everything from other believers who have the desire to serve each one who is of Christ, precisely because that other one is of Christ. The Lord knows how to appreciate this and will reward it.