30They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. Mark 9
We saw yesterday that the Lord consciously took time away from the crowds to be alone with His disciples and tell them what lay ahead for Him and them in Jerusalem. The Lord chose to reveal what would be a very sudden change of circumstance to His followers, He didn’t want them to be caught completely unaware of all that would soon occur. The Lord still wants to share His heart and open the eyes of those who walk with Him, especially concerning future events.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ Mark 9
While the Lord was sharing about His future death and resurrection the disciples began to discuss who was the greatest among them, which I suppose is still typical of human nature. Jesus not only told them that the Kingdom of God was totally opposite to the thinking of this world, but demonstrated it by taking a little child in His arms.
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’ Mark 9
Whoever welcomes the smallest and the least in the Name of the Lord welcomes the Lord Himself. Then He goes on to correct them regarding another man who was using His Name, but was not one of the disciples.
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.’ Mark 9
The beloved disciple, John, wanted to protect Jesus’ Name from being used by outsiders, but Jesus told John not to restrict anyone using His Name to help others in need. The Name of the Lord carries authority, even by those who may not be one of our group or our church. God wants that Name released all across the earth and the enemy wants to prevent this at all costs. God wants unity in His Name, while the enemy seeks to divide and keep us separated.
39 ‘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, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 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. Mark 9
Jesus’ teaching regularly contradicted the disciples viewpoint, He wanted to shift their way of thinking and this still happened after His resurrection e.g. Peter’s reluctance to go to the house of Cornelius. Acts 10 The Lord still wants and needs to change our thinking in these days, His Kingdom is going to bring in a new day on this earth.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.
‘He does all things well’. Mark 7:37