In My Name
Notes
Transcript
Turn to and read Mark 9:38-40. Pray.
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
I will have to say, at the onset, that these next few verses - Mark 9:38-40 - have always baffled me; not the interpretation but the application.
One commentator stated:
This incident revealed the Twelve’s narrow exclusivism.
Another wrote:
Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary A. Perfect Wisdom (9:30–50)
He was jealous for the exclusiveness, the honor, and the uniqueness of the apostolic circle to which he belonged. How dare anyone who was not of their circle use the name of Jesus to exorcise demons?
Finally, Dr. David Sorenson said:
[John] thus boasted to Jesus that he and the other disciples had witnessed someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Because this fellow was not of their immediate fellowship, they ordered him to cease and desist.
All three of these commentators point out the fact that John - and by extension, the rest of the disciples - were being exclusive.
Exclusiveness:
the tendency to exclude others
the tendency to associate with only a select group
In other words, the disciples were being snobs!
Here’s my question:
Is it wrong to be exclusive?
Is it wrong to be exclusive?
Well, there are two ways in which that question can be answered - Yes and No!
In the context of this passage, I would say that, Yes, it was wrong for the disciples to be exclusive and to “look down upon” this individual, whomever he may have been.
John was merely trying to get Jesus to change the subject. Remember, in vs. 34, the disciples had been arguing amongst themselves who should be the greatest. Jesus had to “put them in their place.”
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Next, notice why it was that the disciples forbade this man:
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
Two times John said that this man “followeth not us.” John didn’t say, “…because he followeth not You, Lord.” This man, whomever he was, was not part of the exclusive club of “the Twelve.”
In this situation, you could say that disciples were exhibiting the same attitude that the chief priest, scribes and pharisees exhibited. They were looking down upon this man because he wasn’t part of their group.
Much later in the New Testament, James addresses this exact issue. Turn to and read James 2:1-9.
Allow me to point out the fact that, when James wrote these words, he was referring to what was going on “in the church.”
I wonder if there are individuals who have visited SCBC in the past but will never come again because of this very thing?
In a society where there is so much “racial tension,” James points out two Biblical truths that we must practice:
We must love our neighbors as ourselves.
We must love our neighbors as ourselves.
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
There is so much junk going on in our world today that could be rectified if we - as Christians - would simply obey this command: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself!
Pastor Campbell, how do I love my neighbor as myself?
Excellent question. Let’s turn to Luke chapter 10 to find out how Jesus answered that question.
Turn to and read Luke 10:25-37.
Ok. How did Jesus answer the question? The answer is in vs. 37:
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
How do we love our neighbors? We treat them with mercy - whether they deserve or not!
Folks, this is Biblical truth. It is a Biblical truth that we need to get back to! It is Biblical truth that our world needs today, January 10, 2021
Next...
Respect of persons is sin.
Respect of persons is sin.
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is incompatible with partiality and discrimination. We cannot combine snobbery with faith in Christ. The two do not mix. Consider...
Jesus did not play favorites.
Jesus did not exclude any.
Jesus associated with the least; He kept company with publicans and sinners.
This is best seen in Matthew 11:28:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Following Christ’s example, then...
Our attitude toward others must be right. Our actions toward others must be right.
Our attitude toward others must be right. Our actions toward others must be right.
Now, let’s go back to my original question:
Is it wrong to be exclusive?
Is it wrong to be exclusive?
There is a time, though, when the answer to this question is, “No, it is not wrong to be exclusive.”
Wikipedia defines religious exclusivity as...
...the doctrine or belief that only one particular religion or belief system is true.
Jesus alludes to this in His response to John:
But 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 on our part.
Do you see it? Jesus said, “Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name...”
Truth is exclusive.
Truth is exclusive.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus, in making that statement, was being exclusive. And, He was right to do so because it was and is the truth!
While we accept the fact that truth is exclusive, we need to keep in mind that the world around us wants us to instead accept religious pluralism which is the belief that all religions provide valid responses to the existence of God. In other words, all religions lead to God. Since we do not accept that, the world accuses us of being unloving and intolerant.
We can, though, believe that truth is exclusive while, at the same time not developing the unbiblical attitude of exclusivity.
Pastor Paul Chappell, in his book, “Keep the Faith,” said:
We are commanded to love, and we are commanded to hold the truth. And we dare not do either at the expense of the other.
Chappell, Paul. Keep the Faith: Standing for Biblical Truth, Discerning Ministry Trends, Reaching forward with the Gospel (p. 14). Striving Together Publications. Kindle Edition.
How can we do this? How can we hold to the truth while at the same time not displaying a snobbish attitude which excludes others and drives people away from the truth?
We must follow Christ’s example.
We must follow Christ’s example.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The glorious revelation of God which the Logos displayed was full of grace and truth, that is, it was a gracious and truthful revelation
Jesus was gracious while also holding to the truth.
Folks, at times, my flesh wants to to shove the truth down the throats of other people - with a smile, of course! That is not what Jesus did.
Take for example, Christ’s interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4.
Did Jesus tell the Samaritan woman the truth? Yes.
Did Jesus treat her in a loving, gracious way? Yes.
We can do the same as we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.