The Cornerstone and the Stumbling Stone

One of These Little Ones, the Cornerstone, and Stumbling Stones

(Mark 9:42, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 23, 2019)

[42] “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

Whoever

There are over 7 billion people on the earth today and there were probably about 300 million people in the days of our Lord's earthly ministry. Either then or now, that is a lot of people, and each one was created in the image of God. That means that they have an inherent dignity and also a God-given responsibility to do what is right.

Today many people have no written source that would be the final authority concerning ethical behavior. That does not mean that people have no sense of right and wrong. They do. But where do the new rules come from that so many people seem to have so swiftly adopted?

The new world that we live in believes in the autonomy of the individual above all. In this biblically strange but very familiar way of thinking, each person is an I-AM who is justified in seeking happiness as long as he or she does not unreasonably violate the will of another person who is also an I-AM. The key missing ingredient in this philosophy of life is that there is already an I-AM who has staked out the ground of self-existence and self-determination. Jesus is the I-AM who arrived in person in the womb of a virgin, taking on our human nature for the purpose of His own glory and our salvation.

Though we are not all I-AMs, we very much do matter, not only because of our creation in God's image, but also because of the blood-bought redemption of all the chosen ones in God's good plan for a new resurrection world. Therefore, when Jesus uses the word “whoever” in our text, he is asserting his authority over each and every human being, past, present, and future. Jesus is the I-AM over billions of moral agents that must answer to him concerning how we treat children and vulnerable adults.

One of these little ones who believe in me

There can be little doubt that every child matters to the God who assures us that he is aware of the death of a sparrow, and who at the moment he said the words that we are examining today was actually carrying a little child in his arms. Yet the specific focus of Jesus' saying in Mark 9:42 is on the little ones who believe in him. We will do well to think of the disciples and all those in the new entity that the master in Matthew 16:18 calls his “church” as the children of God through adoption.

The elders of our church have had the great privilege of hearing the faith narratives of many believers. It is often the case that men and women who are joining us say something like this: “I cannot remember any time in my life when I did not believe in God.” They generally have always had affection for Jesus and believed in the cross and the resurrection, not knowing specifically when they began to understand the gospel.

Our region of the country is often noted as a very irreligious are. A recent study by the Barna Group identified Manchester/Boston as number five on the most post-Christian cities in the nation. The “winner” was Springfield/Holyoke, so let me quote a few unsurprising stats for that area: 87% have not read the Bible in the last week. 65% have not attended a Christian church in the last six months. 60% have never made a commitment to Jesus. 47% have not prayed in the last week, 41% say that faith is not important in their lives. What does surprise me is that many people who don't normally read the Bible, don't usually go to church, and who have never made a commitment to Jesus, actually prayed this week! How many of these are vulnerable people, “little ones,” perhaps thinking of themselves as having very little significance in a celebrity world, and yet are actually open to the idea of making some commitment to Jesus? That could be thousands of people all around us, but they are probably not going to say anything to anyone about it. Nonetheless a bunch of them prayed to God this week.

Causing little ones to sin

In today's passage, Jesus is warning everyone in this massive world, not to put any stumbling block in front of vulnerable people who might want to follow up on their belief in him. The word for “sin” is not in the original, so the point here is not directly about someone who introduces little ones to sinful behavior patterns, such as someone who might entice children into substance abuse. (Ps. 118:22-29, Is. 8:13-15, Rom 9:30-33, I Pet. 2:1-10)

What is in view? The leaders of the church are supposed to serve the vulnerable in making progress in faith and obedience. When they misrepresent Jesus as someone different than who he is, they sow seeds of confusion. When they make the church a place where people are always trying to appear to be the greatest, they distract little ones from the glory of Jesus who says to all, “Come to me,” and “I will give you rest.” The best thing that we can do for “little ones” of every age is to help those who have charge of them in the Christian nurture of each one who believes in him. (Piper, Christa)

It would be better for him...

THE POINT: Jesus loves his “little ones.”

To make them stumble is a personal offense against him. That could have very serious consequences. How serious? It would be better to have a very sizable upper millstone around your neck and be cast into the sea, which is no way for anyone to swim.

Applying this verse:

1. How can those who are spiritually bruised find healing from childhood traumas in this life and in the one to come? There is no easy answer here, but hearing the word of God with faith has to be a big part of the way forward for all of us. It will also help release us from much bondage if we can discover the essential grace of forgiving.

2. What hope is there for those who have led many astray in various ways? This is the kind of question that many would rather not consider. It is natural to care more about the victims than about the one who really should have known better. Yet even those who have failed badly as responsible adults can find a way out of bondage. There is yet grace even for someone who knows that he is the “chief of sinners” and repents. (see Paul)

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 114 – Mountains Skipping Like Rams

New Testament Reading—James 5:1-6 – Come now, you rich...

Why not rather disciple them?

A Good Reward

(Mark 9:38-41, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 16, 2019)

[38] 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.” [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.

We tried to stop him

The disciples of Jesus were very jealous for their special proximity to the master. Of course they had just had been arguing with each other about which of them was the greatest. (For more sibling rivalry, see John and Peter after the resurrection). Jesus had picked up a little child and told them that the greatest one should be a servant of all.

The disciples could not yet embrace that thought. As far as we can tell, Jesus was still holding the little child. Meanwhile they had moved on to a concern about some other person who might be a competitor for the title of the greatest.

Who was this intruder into their special circle of insiders? He was just someone who was casting out demons. That does sound pretty impressive. Not only was this a superstar activity, but he was doing it in the name of Jesus. The disciples acted as those who owned the copyright on the phrase, “in Jesus' name.” This “someone” was using their words that they knew to be powerful.

So what did they do? They “tried to stop him.” Why? “He was not following us.” The principle that they were suggesting was that only those who were part of the inner circle should be allowed to use the name of Jesus to perform miracles. Everyone else had to cease and desist. The disciples owned Jesus. Others should find their own savior of the world, thank you very much.

Do not stop him

Jesus did not agree with their assessment of the situation. He plainly instructed his closest friends, “Do not stop him.” Why? A person who did a mighty work in Jesus' name was one less person to oppose them as they sought to proclaim the name of the Lord and to see his kingdom established.

In this world, the close followers of the Lord would meet many who did not treat the name of Jesus with respect. Many would hate the name, as Paul once hated all those who were followers of the way of the Lord. Why should the disciples make more trouble among those who did not want to be their enemies? See Romans 12:18.

How did this strange situation described in these verses happen. People had heard that miracles were being performed (including casting out demons from people) by simple men (the disciples) who had been taught to do mighty works in the name of Jesus. They decided that they should try to do the very same thing that plain fishermen like Peter, James, and John were doing, and lo and behold, they found that it worked. That name!

Jesus' conclusion was good practical advice. If you tell such people to stop doing good deeds of power in Jesus' name because they are not one of us, you will be seen as protecting your own self-interest in a very small-minded way. You will also create an immediate enemy when you could have had a friend. Jesus' conclusion: “The one who is not against us is for us.” So be it.

You belong to Christ

There's more here. The man who was casting out demons in Jesus' name was not trying to show disrespect to the Lord and his friends. Quite the opposite. He was in effect serving the man who at that moment had a little child in his arms.

Why would anyone serve the twelve+ who was not following in the circle of the twelve? Simple answer straight from the Son of God: Because the disciples “belong to Christ.” There would be people who would want to come alongside the followers of Jesus because they knew that these men were connected to the Lord—even owned by Jesus.

Think of the many examples we have of similar behavior from the Old Testament. The Egyptians gave of their wealth to the Israelites after God had shown his devotion to his people. Think of those desperate souls who wanted to be associated with David because they had come to believe that he was the Lord's man. The same was true of faithful prophets like Elijah and Elisha. Think of the servant of the evil king Ahab, Obadiah, who had secretly supplied 100 men with food and water in order to protect them from the dreaded Jezebel. He did this for Jehovah God even though he an official of evil Ahab.

Of course each of these true servants of the Lord had many enemies too. The Israelites were despised and persecuted by Pharaoh. Elijah was pursued by the king's wife with all venomous hatred. Good Mordecai had his Haman, who built a seventy-five foot gallows to hang the man he could not tolerate. But with so many real persecutors, why should we demonize those who are only seeking to come alongside us with respect as a way to touch the hem of Jesus' garment through proximity to us? (Why not disciple Apollos).

Why would we be treated well by anyone? Because, in the words of our savior, we “belong to Christ.” This is the very thing that some disciples forget when they are busily pursuing their own greatness. We have the privilege of being held in the master's arms. We belong to him. This is a most interesting turn-around, since these friends were thinking that they owned the exclusive rights to the name of Jesus, and they were ready to protect their possession. How did Jesus treat Nicodemus? Zacchaeus?

The disciples thought that Jesus (and his whole brand) belonged to them. The truth was that they (and we, and many others) belong to him. These are two very different ways of looking at life and ministry. Being owned by Christ is the true believer's greatest glory.

Truly good works may be done by all kinds of people out of reverence for Christ and his church. (Consider 1. Other Denominations, 2. Admirers of the Western Tradition.) We should always encourage others in what is virtuous, even though those who get credit for virtue may not be in our churches. God has ordered this world so that those who are kind to us for Jesus' sake will by no means lose their reward. The church belongs to the Lord because of the good work of our glorious savior. Jesus is our best reward.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 113 – Who is like the Lord our God?

New Testament Reading—James 4:13-17 – A mist

Greatness Like Jesus

Receiving God

(Mark 9:30-37, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 9, 2019)

[30] They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, [31] for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” [32] But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

[33] And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” [34] But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. [35] And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” [36] And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, [37] “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

What will happen to the Son of Man?

Jesus said some things to his disciples that he did not explain to the general crowds. In particular, in today's passage he repeated what he had said to them on an earlier occasion regarding his suffering, death, and resurrection.

Calling himself by the messianic title of “Son of Man,” Jesus first said that he was going to be “delivered into the hands of men.” The central idea contained in this phrase is betrayal. Jesus did not say that he would be captured by his enemies without the involvement of any of his disciples. Nor did he say that he would voluntarily turn himself over to the Jewish and Gentile authorities. He would be handed over to those who hated him by one of his own associates. To submit to this was an act of service.

Jesus also asserted that the men who would gain control of him as a result of this sad betrayal would kill him. Again, this was not a prophesy that he would be harassed and then released, or alternatively that no one would trouble him at all. The prediction was very specific: “They will kill him.” Once more, a supreme gift of suffering love for us.

Even more surprisingly, the “Son of Man,” after he was killed, and after the passage of some period of three days (Friday night, all day Saturday, and very early Sunday morning) would “rise” from the dead. This was, of course, a shocking prophecy. A person could perhaps get himself killed, but no one, after being dead for days, can fulfill his own plan to rise from mortal death to the new condition of immortal life. That was impossible. Jesus spoke these words by faith, and his resurrection was his vindication.

The disciples: confused, afraid to ask, and seeking their own greatness

We are told that, for the second time now, the disciples did not understand what Jesus was plainly seeing. Furthermore, they were intimidated by him or overwhelmed by the situation, and they “were afraid to ask him.”

They walked on through the region of Galilee until they came to the Sea of Galilee, and to Capernaum, the small town at the very northern tip of that body of water where Jesus and some of his friends had a simple place they called home.

Since Jesus knew what was on their minds, he was able to question about their recent private conversation on the road to Capernaum. They kept silent despite his inquiries, because they knew that the Master would not approve of their discussion topic: “On the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” Their silence was an indictment against them showing that they knew that this was not the Jesus way of life.

Want to be first? Want to receive God? Be a servant of all.

So how did our Lord handle this disappointing situation? He taught his close circle the truth—honestly, patiently, and lovingly.

First he gave them the general principle that should govern the church in every age: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Christians are called to follow Jesus. That means sacrificial service. Why would this surprise anyone?

But we are slow to pick up on this. We still assume that our association with Jesus is for our own immediate comfort and happiness—for our goals, rather than for his eternal glory and our good as he defines it and according to his own perfect timing.

To help the disciples eventually get the point, which they would later remember when they communicated the gospel including this story, he “took a child and put him in the midst of them.” What was he doing? We have to pay close attention to the general point we just discovered about service, and then look again at what he says about the child that he takes in his arms.

Jesus said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” What does it mean to “receive” a child in Jesus' name? When you look into the eyes of a child who needs your help and protection and you see Jesus, you have entered upon holy ground. Marriage and family life are wonderful opportunities to fulfill the words of the Lord.

We give our lives for a spouse, a child, a grandchild, or a friend, and we serve the Lord who served us through his life and death. When we serve him, we serve the Father who sent the Son. But what if all we see is our own grievances for our troubles rather than the opportunity to love and serve? We need a better perspective (See Job 19:23-27)

The providence of God is full of opportunities for us to learn to serve with joy. This is not just for those who are married and who have little ones like the child Jesus embraced in front of the disciples. Single men and women are called to be disciples too. We can be strengthened by God's word to Jeremiah's scribe so long ago when he was so tempted to feel sorry for himself in Jeremiah 45:5 “And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”

The truth about what would happen to Jesus was shocking and confusing to his disciples. They were still thinking that it made sense to seek their own greatness first. The Lord took a child in his arms and showed them a new way of winning. The gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus has ministry implications for his followers. But will we listen to the Son of God? Will we receive God?

Remember the point of the Transfiguration: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 112 – The generation of the upright

New Testament Reading—James 4:11-12 – One lawgiver and judge

A healing for you

A Coming Day of “Never Again”

(Mark 9:14-29, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 2, 2019)

[14] And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. [15] And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. [16] And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” [17] And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. [18] And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

[19] And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” [20] And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. [21] And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. [22] And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” [23] And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

[25] And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” [26] And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” [27] But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

[28] And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” [29] And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

What are you arguing about with them?

When Jesus and three of his disciples came down the mountain after the amazing and life-changing Transfiguration of the Lord, they all immediately ran into an ongoing argument involving the scribes and some of Jesus' other disciples. The Lord had previously warned the disciples about the teaching of the scribes and the Pharisees, and he had just been speaking with Peter, James, and John about how the scribes had missed the importance of John the Baptist, doing with him whatever they wanted.

When the master was temporarily gone, these religious enemies were causing trouble. Meanwhile the crowd was amazed to see Jesus and they rushed right to him. They had a need (or a passion to test him one more time) and he had a question for his friends: “What are you arguing about with them?” The father of a boy who needed healing believed that the trouble was about the inability of the disciples to heal his son. We can readily imagine that the scribes had used this sad non-healing to rail against the friends of the Lord. But now the master had arrived and that debate was over.

A frightening enemy was lurking in the life of the young man. Note the words describing the activity of this unclean spirit against the boy. The spirit “seizes” him. It “throws” him down. The spirit was not the boy's friend. It would want to break him and kill him.

Bring him to me.

Jesus would help the son by casting out the unclean spirit, but the boy was not the only one in trouble that day. His father also needed help. In fact, the whole generation, Jesus said, was “faithless.” They were a heavy burden on the honest shoulders of the Messiah.

Jesus said these welcome words of power: “Bring him to me.” They brought him to Jesus. That's when the frightening performance began, as if this bully spirit asserted its limited authority over the boy, like a jackal jealous for his possession of a prey that it considered its own. It “convulsed” the boy. Naturally such a sight would have been overwhelming to all observing. Jesus asked the father a basic question. “How long?” That's a great question, not only going back, but especially going forward. “How long?” Going back the question was “How long has this been happening to him?” Answer: “From childhood.” Devastating. Going forward the question was different: “How long will this be allowed to continue?” We are waiting for that answer as the issue changes from the possessed son to the desperate father.

The father used understandable words for someone who had long been disappointed and was almost out of strength: “If you can do anything...” Jesus then exposed the bigger issue that he had touched upon by mention of the argument with the scribes and his reference to the “unbelieving” generation. Where is the father's faith?

We tend to focus on the father, or the disciples, or the crowd when we think of the topic of faith here, but the key focus of faith is the OBJECT of faith, not the person who may or may not be exercising faith very well. The important thing about our faith is our own inability and our then finding someone who is able. God is able! Jesus is able! The Holy Spirit is able! We are the ones who stand in need of divine compassion and world-changing help. God heals and God gives faith. Suddenly “all things are possible.”

Come out of him and never enter him again.

Jesus did not do what he did that day to impress the crowd. He performed most of his miracles because of compassion for needy people like us who would be able to have hope in him through his word. When we read and find faith, we are healed. Jesus said two things that should impress us as we read about this encounter with a frightening adversary. First, “I command you.” Who was in charge? Jesus. What about today? Same answer. Second, “Never again.” The day is swiftly approaching for a final “never again.” He will remove from us every enemy, take us by the hand, lift us up, and we will rise.

Faith and prayer

Who needed Jesus that day? The boy. The father. The disciples. The crowd. The scribes. Who needs him today? We do. Remember to believe. Remember to read the word and pray. All of these good spiritual exercises are not about impressing any crowd. They are first about God, the great object of our faith, who gives us every good and perfect gift.

Inability, possibility, and the power of God

Jesus, the God/man who died for our sins, overturns an evil empire by His word. That was true in the life of his disciples 2000 years ago and it is true all over the world today.

Our attempts to fix ourselves and this very damaged life all around us often lead us to frustration and despair. Who can defeat the powers of darkness? We know this for certain: Jesus casts out evil by his own divine authority. He calls his disciples to a life of faith and prayer as he continues to overturn demonic oppression everywhere.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 111 – His wondrous works

New Testament Reading—James 4:1-10 – He gives more grace