Word@Work 108 - Mark 9:42-43
Published: Tue, 04/22/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 9:42-43 "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, 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. (NIV)
This is certainly a graphic description of the violence of judgement, and the need to take radical steps to avoid it! The narrative assumes that the Lord Jesus still had the little child in his arms (cf Mark 9:36-37), even though this discussion was hardly a benign nursery rhyme (interestingly a lot of traditional English rhymes were cautionary and violent tales - because children needed to know the dangers of life). The disciples were still in their spiritual nursery and needed to learn they had a responsibility for the spiritual welfare of others. Attitudes, teaching or behaviour that deflected others from trusting Jesus would not be tolerated.
The style of the Jesus-people had to be radically different from that of the religious stuffed-shirts, that they were tempted to copy. The Pharisees, and their like, were only interested in themselves and really did not care about others, especially those who they despised (women, the bereaved, the chronic sick, beggars, and children etc). Jesus did care about them. He had Is 61:1-3 as His commission, which He validated in Luke 4:18-19. So to go against that commission, would invalidate any claim to be a true disciple of Jesus.
The church is always at risk of being a club for the benefit of members. But that is not the ethos of the Body of Christ. It may need radial surgery to deal with such an exclusive attitude, that leaves the outsider in the sin of unbelief or misleads them away from saving faith in Christ. Rom 2:17-24 fleshes out the argument ... and gives us a lot to think about (do click the link to read the passage!).
Prayer: Father God, please forgive me where I have caused others to turn their backs on Jesus. Help me with the radical change needed so that I do not do that again. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
This is certainly a graphic description of the violence of judgement, and the need to take radical steps to avoid it! The narrative assumes that the Lord Jesus still had the little child in his arms (cf Mark 9:36-37), even though this discussion was hardly a benign nursery rhyme (interestingly a lot of traditional English rhymes were cautionary and violent tales - because children needed to know the dangers of life). The disciples were still in their spiritual nursery and needed to learn they had a responsibility for the spiritual welfare of others. Attitudes, teaching or behaviour that deflected others from trusting Jesus would not be tolerated.
The style of the Jesus-people had to be radically different from that of the religious stuffed-shirts, that they were tempted to copy. The Pharisees, and their like, were only interested in themselves and really did not care about others, especially those who they despised (women, the bereaved, the chronic sick, beggars, and children etc). Jesus did care about them. He had Is 61:1-3 as His commission, which He validated in Luke 4:18-19. So to go against that commission, would invalidate any claim to be a true disciple of Jesus.
The church is always at risk of being a club for the benefit of members. But that is not the ethos of the Body of Christ. It may need radial surgery to deal with such an exclusive attitude, that leaves the outsider in the sin of unbelief or misleads them away from saving faith in Christ. Rom 2:17-24 fleshes out the argument ... and gives us a lot to think about (do click the link to read the passage!).
Prayer: Father God, please forgive me where I have caused others to turn their backs on Jesus. Help me with the radical change needed so that I do not do that again. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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