The Pilgrim Path---Mark 9: 38—41

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 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. For the one who is not against us is for us. 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.”

WE TRIED TO STOP HIM…

Our family was able to attend a week-long conference for Pastors at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama for nine consecutive years. It was soul-enriching. One of the speakers that the LORD used to encourage us on multiple occasions was Dr. Warren Wiersbe. Dr. Wiersbe had been pastor of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago for years, then the director of Back to the Bible Radio Ministry (after Theodore Epp). Wiersbe may be best known for his “BE” series of Bible Commentaries (he wrote over 150 books before he died in 2019). He was a tremendous Bible expositor and a man with a keen sense of humor. I was able to hear him lecture on sermon preparation, church leadership, and the nature of pastoral ministry. What a treat to be able to ask him questions. Once in a sermon at Beeson he asked:

“Did you know that the LORD can use people who disagree with you?”

We all laughed---and then---gave thanks to God that it is a good thing that this is So!

Now---the text in focus today has the disciples concerned that someone is using Jesus’ Name to exorcise demons---BUT this guy is NOT part of the apostolic number! He apparently doesn’t disagree with them---He simply is not serving right alongside them. Well---the disciples told Jesus that they tried to “stop” this fellow! Who does he think he is? He was not with us!

Imagine how shocked the disciples were when the LORD Jesus says, “Don’t Stop Him---if he’s doing a mighty work in my name---he will not be able to speak evil of Me afterwards.---For the one who is not against us is for us.”

What a necessary word about Christian toleration. If someone believes the Bible is really “all” the Word of God--- If they believe a confessional document like the Apostles’ Creed---We certainly have a lot in common with them---and can do a lot with them in this world for the cause of Christ. This must be appreciated in a Dark Age such as ours---where common ground is hard to find.

From Bishop J. C. Ryle: The man was doing a good work without doubt. He was warring on the same side as the apostles, beyond question. But this did not satisfy John. He did not work in the company of the apostles. He did not fight in line with them. And therefore, John had forbidden him---But let us hear now what the great Head of the Church decides! “Jesus said, forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us.” Here is a golden rule indeed, and one that human nature sorely needs, and has too often forgotten. Men of all branches of Christ’s Church are apt to think that no good can be done in the world, unless it is done by their own party and denomination. They are so narrow-minded, that they cannot conceive the possibility of working of working on any pattern but that which they follow. They make an idol of their own peculiar ecclesiastical machinery and can see no merit in any other. They are like him who cried when Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, “My Lord Moses forbid them” (Numbers 11: 28).

To this intolerant spirit we owe some of the blackest pages of Church History. Christians have repeatedly persecuted Christians for no better reason than that which is here given by John. They have practically proclaimed to their brethren, “you shall either follow us, or not work for Christ at all.”

Let us be on our guard against this feeling. It is only too near the surface of our hearts. Let us study to realize that liberal, tolerant spirit which Jesus here recommends, and be thankful for good works wheresoever inclination to stop and check others, merely because they do not choose to adopt our plans, or work by our side. We may think our fellow Christians mistaken in some points. We may fancy that more would be done for Christ, if they would join us, and if all worked in the same way. We may see many evils arising from religious dissensions and divisions---But all this must not prevent us rejoicing if the works of the devil are destroyed and souls are saved. Is our neighbor warring against Satan? Is he really trying to labor for Christ? This is the grand question. Better a thousand times that the work should be done by other hands than not be done at all. Happy is he who knows something of the spirit of Moses, when he said, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets;”----and of Paul, when he says, “If Christ is preached, I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Numbers 11: 29; Philippians 1: 18).

HYMN

Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ the head and cornerstone,

Chosen of the LORD and precious,

Binding all the Church in one;

Holy Zion’s help forever,

And her confidence alone.

Latin Hymn (seventh century) Translated by John Mason Neale (1818—1866)

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason