NOT ENOUGH MILLSTONES
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank for your Word; its value is beyond measure. Without it, I would never have known how much you love me and how much you were willing to sacrifice for me.
Read MARK 9:30–50
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Causing to Stumble
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where
“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’[c]
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Footnotes
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘Plenteous grace with thee is found, / grace to cover all my sin. / Let the healing streams abound; / make and keep me pure within.’1
Think Further
Jesus knew that his disciples were not prepared for his departure, let alone his death, even though he tried to assure them that he would rise again. He was concerned that they were still not ready to continue his mission in the world.2 Their desire for personal power and prestige appalled Jesus. He chose, as he often did, a living parable. The shock of this episode is lost to modern readers who exalt childhood as a time of privileged innocence. Children in Jesus’ time were without status or rights. The disciples needed to become like them. This was not the image of God’s kingdom that the status-conscious disciples had in their minds. It is ironic that John expected praise for preventing someone from doing what they themselves had failed to do. It is not theological exactness that pleases God but genuineness of heart.
Who are the ‘little ones’ (v. 42) we should not harm? Commentators differ, some taking ‘little ones’ as a code for the disciples or the persecuted early church. Here, however, in Mark’s arrangement, it is difficult to see that ‘these little ones’ are any other than children, one of whom is probably still on Jesus’ knee. This becomes even more obvious if we look at Mark’s original text, removing all our headings, punctuation, capital letters, and verse numbers. No doubt God will reward Christians being persecuted by a hostile world, but a terrible fate awaits those who abuse children or lead them astray. There are not enough millstones for the pastors, clergy, priests, and church leaders of all denominations who have harmed children. Their actions have terribly marred the church’s witness. We may water down Jesus’ advice as exaggerated hyperbole, but perhaps they might have been better off cutting off the offending part.
Apply
Ask God for the trusting innocence of a child.
Closing prayer
Lord God, I pray for the purity of the church, for its leaders and laity, as well. Build us into a spiritual house that is pleasing to you. I pray too, for the vulnerable who have been wounded, that you would bring healing made possible only in Christ.
1 Charles Wesley, 1707–88, ‘Jesu, lover of my soul’ 2 John 17:6–11
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