He Isn’t One Of Us!
Mark 9:38-42

INTRO:
I would like to invite you to open your bibles to Mark’s gospel chapter 9. We are going to look at an interesting passage and I hope we will come to a fuller understanding of what is written. We are going to begin to read at verse 38.

Mark 9:38-42 (NKJV) – “38. Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.'' 39. But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40. "For he who is not against us is on our side. 41. "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. 42. "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

It is frustrating when a teacher realizes that they are not “getting through” to their students. The teacher does their best to communicate truths to those whose learning is their responsibility. They teach, they illustrate, they review ... and yet something happens which says to them, “They have heard the words, but they have not learned the lesson.” I wonder if that may not be exactly what our Lord may have thought when the apostle John interrupted His lesson to say; “we have forbidden this man to do these things”. Against the context we realize that Jesus is teaching them concerning who really is the greatest among the disciples in the Kingdom of God. He is teaching them this because they were disputing among themselves saying essentially; who is going to be the most important one of us in the Kingdom?

I wonder if John did not interrupt Jesus because perhaps he was just a little bit embarrassed by the disputing that was going on among the disciples. Perhaps John realizes that “while we were talking among ourselves Jesus discerned what we were discussing”. He realized that we wanted to know which one of us was going to be most important and now he is telling us who is going to be the greatest in the Kingdom. Perhaps they really wanted to change the subject. In this Jesus knows that they still do not yet understand.

I. “WE FORBADE HIM”
A. It is the apostle John who “interrupts” the Lord and says “we saw this man casting out evil spirits in your name and we forbade him to do it. Interesting it is John that interrupts.
1. Look at John 21:20 - “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?''” John, “...the disciple, whom Jesus loved...” This is the way John describes himself.
2. There is no doubt from scripture that John was a close disciple of Jesus, there is no doubt that he was very close to our Lord - perhaps he felt this gave him privilege others did not share, even the privilege of interrupting Jesus when He is teaching on a very important subject.
3. Let’s look at Luke 9:52-56 – Notice that at verses 49 and 50 is Luke’s account of this very incident about what we are speaking. Hard on the heels of this account here is what we read. “52. and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?'' 55. But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56. "For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.'' And they went to another village.” Here the brothers, James and John, are outspoken! “These people have rejected you, they have not received you, let’s call down fire upon them. Outspoken ... and mistaken! Again we see John is involved in this immediate interjection into the situation.
4. Let’s look at Matthew 20:20-24 – “20. Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21. And He said to her, "What do you wish?'' She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.'' 22. But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?'' They said to Him, "We are able.'' 23. So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.'' 24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers.” – No doubt that John considered himself to be a “favored one” among the apostles. He thinks he can interrupt the Lord.
B. John interrupts the Lord to tell Him they saw a certain person casting out devils in His name and they forbade him. I want us to remember what they saw and what they did—then turn in your Bibles to the tenth chapter of Luke.
1. I want us to look at two verses, 1 and 17. Luke 10:1,17 – “1. After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 17. Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.''” – It is evident from this that in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ He entrusted miraculous powers to some beyond the 12.
2. It is true, that the 12 apostles had a very special role in the Kingdom. No one else would share that role. For instance look at - Mark 16:19,20 – “19. So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20. And they (the apostles) went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.”
3. There is absolutely no doubt the Apostles had a special role in the Kingdom. The fact that they occupied this role however did not make them the “exclusive” followers of the Lord. It did not give them “exclusive” rights as far as the Lord is concerned. Here is a situation of a person apparently casting out a devil in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is not doing it as an Apostle but as a true disciple to the Lord. Yes, the Apostles had a special role. Roles may have been different, but service and privilege were equal ... and some of Jesus disciples (in Luke 10 as we read for example) were endowed with miraculous powers. This should not have been a concern to the Apostles.
4. Their concern, however, is evidenced in the words “he follows not us”. We should ask, who is the “us”? To whom does the “us” refer? As we look at the context what we find is that the “us” earlier refers to the Apostles. The Lord is teaching the 12! In the course of teaching the 12 John interjects about a man who does not follow us! Or as Luke says; “with us”. In other words—he is not part of the Apostolic “band”. He is doing these things and he ought not to be doing them so we forbade him to do them.
5. Rendering service is the point. This man is casting out devils in Jesus name. Apparently the power has been entrusted to him by the Lord. What is the problem?! Jealousy. Jealousy rears its ugly head ... and Jesus knows that John still does not understand the nature of the Kingdom!
C. What about this man they forbade to cast out devils in Jesus name? What can we say about him?
1. The first thing we can say is this. If you read the text, the Bible does not say he was trying to cast out devils in Jesus name. Does not say that at all. The Bible says he was casting out devils in Jesus name. There is no doubt from scripture that this man was doing something miraculous.
2. The second thing about this man in view of the circumstances in the text is that he is without doubt a true disciple of Jesus, but not an Apostle. We are true disciples of the Lord but we are not Apostles. We do not share the role of an Apostle. In terms of responsibility and service we are equal with them.
3. The third thing,... who gave the Apostles the authority to forbid a true disciple, and I want to emphasize those two words, true disciple, to forbid a true disciple from doing good works? The Lord did not give it to them. They assumed that authority. Jesus is teaching them about the Kingdom in this section of scripture and Jesus was so patient.
4. Jealousy is not an uncommon problem even among Christian people. Jealousy over the years has been a significant problem among gospel preachers. Jealousy among preachers has caused no end of problems in the Lords church, it has caused divisions and how regrettable that is. I wonder if perhaps even preachers in the Lords church have not understood the nature of the Kingdom. The human temptation to channel all good through our own hands and to despise all groups except our own is evident.
II. “FORBID HIM NOT”
Then Jesus says; “forbid him not”.—This man is a disciple and he is ministering appropriately as a disciple of Jesus Christ. He should not be forbidden.
1. The Lord recognized the real problem here – the problem of jealousy. There are Christian people, true Disciples of Christ, baptized into Christ, serving in keeping with the teaching of God’s word, who are outside of the realm of our relationships, outside of the realm of our knowledge of them. I am confident they are doing good work, and it is not our place to cast dispersions on the work they are doing simply because they are not in our sphere of knowledge.
2. These disciples beyond our sphere of knowledge should be commended, not condemned. This man though he is not an Apostle, is a true disciple and he is going about doing a disciple’s work.
3. There is a caveat that we need to add right here, however, and that is this; the words ... “in Jesus name” do not make everything that is done in religion legitimate. Let me illustrate. Turn with me to Acts 19 where we will find an incident recorded beginning at verse 13. - Acts 19:13-17 – “13. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits (now isn’t that just what it was that John said this man was doing? The difference is that the Lord recognized that what the man was doing was truly miraculous. I’ll go on to read this incident.), saying, "We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.'' 14. Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?'' 16. Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Do you see the point? Just using the name of Jesus, just saying “in the name of Jesus” does not legitimize everything that is done in religion.) 17. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” This illustrates the point.
4. A number of years ago there was a motion picture named “The Kingdom of Heaven”. The story is set during the Crusades of the 12th century and the defense of Jerusalem. During the Crusades, as they were called, many things were done in the name of the Lord Jesus. Some horrific things, inhumane things. Yet, people thought it was ok because they were done in Jesus’ name. Those things were not ok, they were not acceptable.
5. Unfortunately, so many things done in Jesus’ name in the religious realm are truly questionable. Just pronouncing the name of Jesus, waiving His name over something does not make it right. That is the caveat we need to keep in mind as we consider the text before us.
B. This man, however, is a true disciple doing a disciple’s work as the disciples were doing at that time.
1. Jesus recognizes the miracle which he did – we read no doubt of it in the text. .
2. Here is something else, if you look at the situation, this man does not say “look I want credit for this”. He does not ask for some advantage or other because of this. The man has simply done this service in the name of the Lord.
3. The point made here is: this man is not our enemy! He is not an Apostle, but he is a disciple of Jesus Christ. He may not be following along the journeys with the 12 and the Lord but nevertheless he is working for the same cause. Not our enemy, he is on our side.
4. Sadly, it is easy to be condemning rather then commending. Here are the Apostles, John the apostle that Jesus loved, John the one called the apostle of love, falling into the same mold as did the scribes and Pharisees! Criticizing other people, condemning other people who are not a part of their little group.
5. I am not talking about anything to do with denominational Christendom, as it is called. I’m talking about true disciples who just happen not to be part of the Apostles. Since they are not part of us, well they ought not to be doing these things. That is our right. That is our privilege.
6. That man could have said; Whoa, wait just a minute, you may be an apostle and you have a role, one that I will never have, can’t have, but that does not take away from the fact that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, serving according to His word. I have the same responsibilities as you as far as my serving is concerned, I have the same opportunities to serve as you, I serve legitimately. I may not serve as an apostle... but that is the point Jesus is making here for they do not understand.
III. “HE THAT IS NOT AGAINST US”
A. Jesus then goes on to say, “He that is not against us is on our part.” Jesus has to make it clear that this man is not our enemy. This man was not working against Jesus and the apostles
B. A similar thought - Matthew 12:30 – “30. "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
1. The point is that there can be no middle ground in following Christ. There is no area between true service and serving self. You are either in His service or not. You are either with Him or you are not.
2. We cannot have one foot in the world and the other in the kingdom! Now this man in question here did not have both feet in the Kingdom yet, because it had not yet been established. But he had both feet truly in discipleship.
IV. NOT ONLY A MIRACLE ... BUT A CUP OF WATER
A. What about verse 41? What is this about? We were talking about the miracle this man performed then suddenly we jump to a cup of water. In Mark chapter 9 here is what the Lord says; "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.’
1. From the miracle to a cup of water. To go from a miracle to a cup of water is a great “leap” in human thought isn’t it.
2. The point the Lord is making is very simple and should be very obvious. Service rendered in Jesus’ name is service to the Lord. Does not matter its nature. Here is a man endowed with miraculous abilities and he was casting out evil spirits; that is wonderful. Consider a man who gives to someone a cup of cold water. One of these things is kind of flashy isn’t it? The other, well, it’s just a cup of cold water, but Jesus says a cup of cold water given in my name is service. It does not matter that it is not a miracle, it’s a service.
3. The qualifier here. “in My name, because you belong to Christ”.
i. This makes clear, because of the context, that the man, who is anonymous, this man whom the apostles forbade belonged to Christ. He was doing good in the name of Christ. Something else about verse 41. What is being said here is that this service, whether a miracle or a cup of cold water, has spiritual significance.
ii. Notice the words in the text “he shall not lose his reward”. We are not talking about eternal reward obviously because that is not a works related reward. The good that he has done will be recompensed with good. Even giving a cup of water has spiritual significance.
B. Then there is the “other side of the coin” - 9:42 "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”
1. As certain as there is recompense for good that is done, for service that is done, is this next promise of our Lord.
2. The “little ones” in the text, we are likely to think of in terms of little children. Yet, look at the next words, “who believe in Me”, they are believers.
3. If someone were to place temptations to sin in the way of these believers and cause them to stumble, they will receive a punishment more serious than to be weighted by a millstone, cast into the sea and drown! This is certain death.
4. That tells me that just as certainly as what would happen to a person with a millstone around their neck, cast into the sea, just as certainly they will receive a just reward.
5. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ in verse 42 are stern in this statement. The reason is that it is a despicable thing to Jesus Christ for one to put temptation in the way of believers. Temptation to sin.

CONCLUSION: Along that line O. Henry wrote this story in which he tells of a little girl whose mother was dead. Her father used to come home from work and sit down and take off his jacket and open his paper and light his pipe and put his feet on the hearth. The little girl would come in and ask him to play with her for a little for she was lonely. He told her he was tired, to let him be at peace. He told her to go out to the street and play. She played on the streets. The inevitable happened--she took to the streets. The years passed on and she died. Her soul arrived in heaven. Peter saw her and said to Jesus, "Master, here's a girl who was a bad lot. I suppose we send her straight to hell?" "No," said Jesus gently, "let her in. Let her in." Then his eyes grew stern, "But look for a man who refused to play with his little girl and sent her out to the streets--and send him to hell." God will be stern to the person who makes it easier for another to sin, and whose conduct, either thoughtless or deliberate, puts a stumbling-block in the path of a weaker brother.

Arguments about who is greatest, jealousy of the work of another and such are the sorts of things which bring temptation and sin into disciples’ lives. Such things as these have no place among the Lord’s disciples. John missed the point entirely. Yet for all of what we have said I acknowledge this kind of jealousy that exists is not all that uncommon. Such things as these are too often realities ... even among us. We need to listen carefully to what the Lord is teaching here ... our eternal destiny may well depend on our understanding of what it is the Lord is saying.

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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon
Cecil A. Hutson – December 16, 2007