READING: Mark Ch 9 v 38 – 50

“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.” “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, for whoever is not against us is for us. 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.

“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. 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. 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. 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, where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,and the fire is not quenched.’

Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.

SERMON: Mark 9:38-50 What is the point?

I wish to base this morning’s sermon on our Gospel reading. At first glance, this text appears to be just a series of short, disconnected sayings attributed to Jesus. They do not seem to have anything to do with each other. But, since God would not have just haphazardly had Mark write these verses down, there has to be a common theme, or point he wants us to get. As we look more directly at the text, we find that there are five basic points that Jesus is making.

First, in verse 40, Jesus tells us, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” OK, I can understand that. At least I think I do.

Second, in verse 42, Jesus says, “Don’t do anything to harm the faith of another person, especially a child.” That point is clear, especially the millstone and drowning part. If you do harm to a child, it would be better if you died, than to deal with God’s wrath; not a good thing.

Third, in verses 43 though 47, Jesus tells us that it would be better for us to mutilate ourselves than to risk losing heaven and eternal life. Now self-mutilation is serious stuff. I am not sure that am comfortable with that concept. After all, does Jesus not tell us that our bodies are temples, in which he dwells?

Fourth, in verse 50, Jesus tells us that we are to, “Have salt in yourself.” I can go along with that, for Jesus tells us in Matt 5: v13, “you are to be the salt of the earth.”

Fifth, in the last half of verse 50, Jesus tells us to “Be at peace with each other.” Sounds like an excellent idea to me.

So many points, all good points, but I do not think that any of these points is what the sermon is about. The more I think about it the more I believe that this text is a reflection of our lives!

To help you to better understand what I mean by that, I want to tell you a story that I once heard and in fact there was a film made about a similar kind of event.

There was an old Shepherd who became sick and was taken to the hospital. His faithful sheep dog Shep kept watch outside the hospital door. Sadly it was not long before the shepherd died and his body was taken to the train station, to be taken back to his family who lived on the far side of the country. The story is told, that when the coffin was being loaded onto the train that Shep appeared, looking for his master. As the train left the station, he began to run down the tracks after it. Later in the day, he came back to the station exhausted, and for the next five and half years, Shep met every train that came into the station, as he kept looking for his master to come home. Shep became well known, and kind people took care of him; but he refused to be taken to anyone’s home. He had but one reason for living: waiting for his master to return. Shep’s loyalty to his master did not end until one cold winter day he died.

Can you recall the film which had a similar theme? Greyfriars Bobby.

When I first read about Shep and his loyalty to his master, I could not help but think; if only we could demonstrate that same unwavering devotion to our master. For it is when we take our eyes off Jesus, that our daily living somehow seems to lose its ultimate purpose, its point for living.

Let me give you a couple of examples of what I mean. Take your eyes off Jesus, and the Bible becomes a book of nice moral and spiritual sayings. That is why some people like Proverbs. Nice teachings, but what is their ultimate point?

Another example of what happens when you take your eyes off Jesus is that other things become your reason for living. They might be good things, like family, health, or career. On the other hand, they could be bad things, like alcohol, or drugs. It could be greed, or maybe you are being pulled in so many different directions that you feel like there is no point in anything.

So what is the point? The point is that our focus should be only on our Saviour, Jesus. God tells us in Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Unlike, Shep’s devotion to his master, our devotion is often spread out over many things. Because of this lack of focus, Jesus has given us some very painful warnings. He tells us that if our hand, foot, or eye causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it. This is not meant to be taken literally, because our hands, feet, or eyes do not cause us to sin. It is our sinful self, our lying, deceitful, proud self that causes us to sin. He is just using these extreme examples to make a point, to tell us that we have to be done with sin. He wants us to know that our salvation is of utmost importance, even if we have to lose our past lives to save our souls.

Jesus is telling us in this text, that he wants all of us, not just a part. He wants us to hand over to him our old self and he will give us back a new self.

Which leads us to the main point of this text: peace. But, what kind of peace is it? The text ends with, “Be at peace with each other.”

When we put our whole-hearted devotion upon Jesus, we will have more peace. We will have peace because he will help us as we struggle individually and as a congregation to cut the sin out of our lives. When we cut out the sin we have peace with one another.

When we centre all our being, all the time on Jesus, and our all our striving to live a Godly life, then just like at the end of the text, we will learn the main point of it all, that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Amen

PRAYERS

Gracious God, it’s September and change is in the air. Children are back in school, students are getting ready for university and teachers and lecturers are back into work mode.

We pray for all young people who are anxious about their new transitions, the newness of classes, new forms of work, new companions in new places. Give them confidence in themselves and in the systems they will be part of. And for those who recognise you as Lord, be their rock and their guide.

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

In September we see nature beginning to move on, stripping back its summer foliage, but with a final burst of summer fruitness. Our faith too has to move on, not relying on past experience and yesterday’s answers. Make us ready for the journey, moving on to wherever you may take us, without doubting your loving presence. Keep us from a stagnant faith that never changes and grows. Open us to new things this autumn.

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

Lord, why do people hate when there is so much to love? There is hatred and fear to be found in many places and in many circumstances and it’s been going on too long. We believe that love is stronger than hate because hate divides and love unites. Take hold of the unruly and nasty urges of men and women to do harm to others and patiently teach them, and us, the ways of love.

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

Lord, we are each here with a bundle of concerns, mistakes made, tasks unfinished, people on our hearts. We bring these bundles to you and ask for your kindness and wisdom. Help us to give proper attention to these things, nit to duck them or keep them to ourselves, but to open them to you for you to touch them with your lively wisdom and grace. We pray in a moment of quietness for what is on our hearts at the start of this week.

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

God of September, Lord of the year, continue to lead us through this month with faith, hope and love.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

And so we bind our prayers together in the words that Jesus taught his disciples.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen

Revd Kevin.
Associate Priest at St.Wilfrid and St.Thomas