Anchor My Faith

Don’t Hinder One Who Is Doing Good

Scripture: Mark 9:39; Luke 9:49

In the previous lesson, Jesus uses a child to explain that greatness is not found in the proud but in the lowliness found in a small child. Greatness is found in a humble attitude to serve those rejected by the world who are seen of little or no value to society. In this lesson we will cover the remaining few verses of the section, which seem to form a new section.

^{Mk 9:38} “John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because ^{Lk 9:49} he does not follow with us.”’

As one reads these two verses, one might wonder why it matters if one is a follower of Jesus or not as long as the person is being helped. It matters, only in the minds of the disciples, because they considered the casting out of evil spirits as one of the foremost signs of apostleship. When the disciples saw this, they were surprised that one who did not follow Jesus had the ability to work such a miracle; a miracle that they had just recently failed at. It appears that the teachings of Jesus had been so influential, that some, not identified as his disciples, had shown this ability to cast out demons as proof of a strong and overpowering faith.

In Matthew 12:22 – 32, Jesus was accused of casting out demons by Beelzebul. He responded by asking by whom their sons cast out demons. Based on this we can conclude that there were those in the Jewish race who cast out demons.

In this instance, those who were casting out demons had faith in Jesus Christ and by acting with him and for him, though not amongst his recognized followers, they were contributing towards his honor by carrying out a great purpose of his ministry in destroying the works of the devil. The disciples were opposing these who were casting out demons, not so much from envy or hatred, but out of their zeal for Jesus, as though they were thus serving his cause and upholding his honor. Unfortunately, this zeal was out of place as they had not first taken council with Jesus.

^{Mk 9:39} “But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For the one who is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”’

A work that one does which honors Jesus and is not for the purpose of self glorification should not be hindered even if that person does not follow Jesus. By being engaged in the same cause of destroying the works of the devil, that person is actually celebrating the name of Jesus. In doing so that one is not opposing Jesus but is actually recommending him. Paul makes a similar argument in Philippians 1:17 – 18 ESV: ¹⁷ “The former proclaims Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

If that one does not follow Jesus at all, then their acceptance is cautioned based on Matthew 13:30 ESV: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned but gather the wheat into my barn.”’

Whoever gives a cup of water to drink in the name of Jesus, out of regard for him, does well, and shall be rewarded by God; much more shall he be rewarded who casts out devils in my name. The disciples are thus being taught that it is contrary to the spirit of Christianity to criticize works of benevolence, or to suggest unworthy motives for them.

Conclusion

How easy it is to criticize what someone is doing because it is not being done in the way you think it should be done and in so doing you are actually hindering the work of God. This is the lesson Jesus was teaching his disciples in this lesson.