Peace to You

PO - On what sure is your happiness built when your soul is possessed with divine love, as your will is transformed into the will of God, and when your greatest desire is that your Maker should be pleased.

INTRO - Last week we considered a series of warnings to avoid causing offense toward others and even toward ourself lest we’d be cast into hell (9:42–48).

Today’s passage teaches that it is our duty to be prepared for the challenging life of following Jesus.

We consider peace as well-being, prosperity, and security associated with God.

In the OT, the presence of peace was conditional upon Israel’s obedience.

In prophetic material, true peace is part of end-time hope.

Today, we have peace, by faith, in Christ.

And, because of Christ, the true disciple is at peace with other believers.

TRANS - Let’s begin with prayer and then read today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark.

What does it say?

Mark 9:49–50 ESV

For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

What does it mean?

Peace in Difficulty

What does it mean to be “salted with fire”?

First, a textual problem.

Earliest and best copy’s of this text translate to the English, “everyone will be salted with fire.”

A small number of copies belonging to the Western type of text and read, “every sacrifice will be salted with salt,” alluding to the OT.

Evidently a scribe thought was the key to the meaning of the reading above.

As such, a majority of medieval manuscripts combine the two earlier readings explaining the KJV & NKJV.

Secondly, there is an interpretive problem.

What does it mean to be salted with fire, and who will have such an experience?

The key to the meaning is to recognize that the word “fire” has a different reference from what it has in vv. 43 and 48.

There it was obviously a symbol of punishment.

In v. 49, however, both salt and fire symbolize purification.

The reference is probably to the purifying effect of persecution as Peter describes.

1 Peter 1:7 ESV

so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Lastly, “everyone” refers to all who had already experienced abuse and would soon face martyrdom.

In all, this tells us we must be like the ancient sacrifices that were powdered with salt and consumed by fire.

We accept that following Jesus is way more than reading the Bible, praying, and going to church.

That is why most churches make, in addition to giving; worship; and group attendance, a requirement for continued membership.

These are good, but the true Christian will face “push back” and must endure and, as we noted last week, do so while being at peace with other believers.

The world can be difficult enough; we must have each other’s backs.

Then, we will bless one another with peace, go through everything together and have peace, and one day enter heaven where that peace of God will bless us forever.

Peace in Duty

Can salt lose its saltiness?

The salt here is the distinctiveness of the disciple.

Jesus knows they have the responsibility toward humankind in view of end times and God’s judgement.

If a disciple looses distinctiveness, they are no longer useful.

They no longer “care to share”; he or she is worthless.

The teaching says, “guard your salt-likeness so you will live in peace through your life faith founded works.”

James teaches it is one thing to have faith, but the true Christian proves faith by their works.

James 2:18 ESV

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

When Christians work together,

and I mean do things resulting in both church growth and stopping sinning,

we will have peace with one another in our common commitment to Jesus and the gospel,

and to each other’s call and work for God.

What does it mean to “have salt in yourselves” in Mark 9:50?

Pure salt can’t lose saltiness.

However, salt at that time came from the Dead Sea and had lots of impurities.

If the salt was removed, what was left looked like salt, but could not have the life giving and saving function of salt.

A person can have the appearance of a disciple, but lack the internal properties.

“Having salt in yourself” can mean, willingness to be sacrificed, common sense, loving others, wisdom, fellowship and friendship, and being at peace.

The idea here is simply to give life and preservation to the world.

Peace in Disciples

How does Jesus’ concluding command to “be at peace with one another” in v.50 relate to the preceding sequence of events?

Rabbinic tradition held that salt represented wisdom.

However, saltiness may symbolize more than one attribute.

Jesus expects us to have salt in ourselves; be wise, pure, and gracious.

As a result, we will be at peace with one another.

This passage points back to the discussion of the disciples “who is the greatest?”

If we take Jesus’ teaching here to heart, we will all live in peace not causing one another to stumble.

We all have a part, we all are important, and we all need one another.

One of the saddest things I see is the Christian attempting to “go it alone.”

We know that is not Jesus’ way, yet there are more “lone rangers” out there than you might think.

ILL - One way to garner true fellowship is being open to have people over to your house.

I grew up in a church that had a youth group. Sure we met at church, but the best meetings were at Deacon Joe and Miss. Marlease’s home. We shared, laughed, and came to study God’s Word with serious intent.

My parents were part of Marriage Encounter and met with other couples and even attended special married couple “weekends.”

Also, I observed my parents joining others for “prayer groups.” They’d all take turns hosting and meet once a week.

There is something special about church family and having one another “over” sends a message, “I care to share on a personal level.”

Let’s work hard to share peace with one another.

Let’s find ways to enjoy and include remember to include those “lone rangers” into our church family.

What does God want me to do?

Jesus instructed the disciples to be at peace with one another.

He recognized that interpersonal conflict is counterproductive.

Are you at peace with others?

Paul commands us to do all we can to be a peace with everyone:

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Examine your relationships and seek resolution and peace where you find conflict.

Ask God “how” you might be a better brother or sister to other Christians.

Act on that and seek God’s blessings in all you do.

Share - Consider distributing note cards and inviting members to write down the names of anyone they don’t feel at peace with, praying for an opportunity for reconciliation.

Write down and idea for having a small number of people “over” and begin planning today.

Mathētēs (“disciple”) is used 46 times in Mark, 73 times in Matthew, 37 times in Luke, and 78 times in John. Per words in each book, mathētēs is a more prominent word in Mark than in the other Gospels.