Chapter 9, Part 5 — Mark 9:38–50
In Mark Chapter 9, Part 5, we continue Jesus’ teaching of His disciples concerning humility, service, and how His followers are to treat one another.
But first, we look more deeply at something Jesus had previously told His disciples.
Jesus repeatedly told them that He would be betrayed, killed, and rise again on the third day.
Yet they did not understand.
Why?
Why Didn’t the Disciples Understand?
Mark 9:31-32
Jesus clearly told His disciples:
“The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
Yet Mark tells us that they did not understand.
Luke gives us an additional detail:
“But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them.” — Luke 18:34
Was Jesus wasting His time telling His disciples something they could not yet understand?
Absolutely not.
Jesus had a purpose.
The Spirit of Truth
Jesus gives His disciples an important explanation in John 16:
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” — John 16:12
Then Jesus promises:
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” — John 16:13
There were things the disciples were not yet able to receive or understand.
But the Holy Spirit was coming.
When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost, everything changed.
The same principle remains important for believers today.
We need the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, point us to Jesus, guide us into truth, empower us, and teach us through God’s Word.
Jesus had already explained why He told His disciples about events before they happened:
“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.” — John 14:29
God had a purpose all along.
Who Is the Greatest?
In Mark 9:33-37, Jesus’ disciples had been arguing about which one of them would be greatest.
Jesus sat down—the traditional posture of a rabbi teaching—and told them:
“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” — Mark 9:35
Then Jesus took a little child into His arms.
Matthew records Jesus saying:
“Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:4
Jesus is teaching His disciples about humility.
We don’t enter God’s Kingdom by making ourselves great.
We come humbly to Christ.
“Whoever Receives One of These Little Children”
Jesus tells His disciples:
“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” — Mark 9:37
Consider the importance of that statement.
How we treat those who belong to Jesus matters deeply to Him.
To receive one of His little ones is to receive Christ.
This truth provides important context for what happens next.
“He Does Not Follow Us”
Mark 9:38
John tells Jesus:
“Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
Notice John’s concern.
He does not say:
“He doesn’t follow Jesus.”
His complaint is:
“He does not follow us.”
The man wasn’t part of their group.
But Jesus responds:
“Do not forbid him.”
The disciples needed to understand that God’s work was greater than their particular circle.
“He Who Is Not Against Us Is on Our Side”
Mark 9:39-40
Jesus says:
“Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.”
Then:
“For he who is not against us is on our side.”
This should cause us to consider carefully how we view and treat other believers.
Christ’s Church belongs to Christ.
Our allegiance must ultimately be to Jesus—not simply to our particular group.
Even a Cup of Water Matters
Jesus continues:
“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” — Mark 9:41
Even something as simple as giving a cup of water to someone because that person belongs to Christ matters to God.
Christian service does not need to be spectacular to be significant.
God sees faithful service.
Be Careful How You Treat Christ’s People
Jesus then gives a very serious warning:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” — Mark 9:42
Jesus takes the treatment of His people personally.
We see this dramatically in Acts 9.
Saul was persecuting Christians.
But when Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus, He did not merely ask:
“Why are you persecuting My people?”
Jesus said:
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
And when Saul asked who was speaking, Jesus answered:
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
What Saul did to Jesus’ followers, Jesus took personally.
That should make every Christian carefully consider how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Jesus’ Serious Warning About Sin
Jesus continues with some of the strongest language in the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 9:43-48
Jesus speaks about cutting off a hand, cutting off a foot, and plucking out an eye if they cause us to sin.
This is not a command to physically mutilate our bodies.
Sin is ultimately a heart issue.
James explains:
“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” — James 1:14
And when sinful desire conceives:
“It gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” — James 1:15
Jesus’ imagery emphasizes how seriously we must deal with sin.
If Your Hand Causes You to Sin
The hand represents what we do.
If something we are doing continually draws us into sin:
Cut it off.
In other words:
Stop doing it.
Do not protect sinful behavior simply because giving it up is difficult.
If Your Foot Causes You to Sin
The foot represents where we go and what we pursue.
If where we are going—or what we are pursuing—is drawing us toward sin:
Stop going there.
Our relationship with Jesus is more valuable than any sinful pursuit.
If Your Eye Causes You to Sin
The eye points us toward what we look at, dwell upon, imagine, and allow into our thought life.
If what we continually watch, imagine, or concentrate upon is drawing us into sin:
Cut it out.
Take sin seriously.
Jesus does.
Jesus’ Warning About Hell
Three times in this passage Jesus repeats the warning:
“Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
Jesus is quoting Isaiah 66:24.
His warning is intentionally severe.
Sin is not something to excuse, entertain, or manage casually.
Jesus calls His followers to deal decisively with anything that continually leads them toward sin.
Don’t Forget the Context
There is also an important context surrounding Jesus’ warning.
Jesus began this teaching by taking a little child into His arms and teaching His disciples about humility and receiving His little ones.
He then speaks about:
- Receiving those who belong to Him.
- Serving them.
- Reward for serving them.
- The danger of causing them to stumble.
- Dealing radically with sinful behavior.
That means this passage should affect not only how we deal with our personal sin, but also how we treat one another.
If what we’re doing causes Christ’s little ones to stumble:
Stop doing it.
If where we’re going or what we’re pursuing harms Christ’s little ones:
Stop pursuing it.
If our attitudes, thoughts, or words cause offense and stumbling:
Cut it out.
Jesus takes the treatment of His people seriously.
Seasoned With Salt
Jesus concludes:
“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.” — Mark 9:49
This connects with the Old Testament sacrificial system.
Leviticus 2:13 instructed Israel:
“With all your offerings you shall offer salt.”
Then Jesus says:
“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it?”
And He concludes:
“Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” — Mark 9:50
After the disciples had been arguing about who was greatest and stopping someone because he was not part of their group, Jesus brings them back to humility, service, and peace.
Key Takeaways From Mark Chapter 9 Part 5
- The disciples did not yet understand everything Jesus was teaching them.
- Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide them into truth.
- We need the Holy Spirit to understand and live according to God’s Word.
- Greatness in God’s Kingdom requires humility.
- Christ’s Church is greater than our particular group.
- We should be careful how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Jesus takes the treatment of His followers personally.
- Even simple acts of service performed in Christ’s name matter to God.
- Causing another believer to stumble is extremely serious.
- Jesus calls us to deal radically with sin.
- Sin begins in the heart.
- What we do, where we go, and what we allow into our minds should honor Christ.
- Jesus gave serious warnings concerning judgment and hell.
- Followers of Jesus should pursue humility, holiness, service, and peace.
Have Peace With One Another
The disciples were concerned about who was greatest.
Then they were concerned about someone who wasn’t part of their group.
Jesus redirects their attention.
Humble yourself.
Serve others.
Receive My little ones.
Don’t cause them to stumble.
Deal seriously with your own sin.
And finally:
“Have peace with one another.”
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