Causing To Stumble - Mark 9:42-50
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] 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]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.'
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.”
Reflection:
Whereas Jesus offers many invitations to kingdom living, today he gives a pretty stern challenge for those who would block the kingdom from coming here on earth as it is in heaven. The basic meaning of the name "Satan" is obstructer, and we see this is Satan's main tactic is to thwart the coming kingdom. Since one day he will be destroyed, he is "hell bent" on bringing others with him. And, of course, those he would try to work on are the "little ones", who could mean literally young children, or more probably those young or immature in the faith. And to do this the primary tactic is "causing them to "stumble".
He gives a very stern warning to those who cause others to stumble. And then he turns to a more personal challenge by saying that if your hand, eye or foot causes you to stumble, it is better to cut it off or get rid of it, than be thrown into hell. We can see that these are all body parts and represent all aspects of our bodily desires. The lust of our eyes, the pride of our hands, and the tendency of our feet to rush into evil. And without being too literalistic, Jesus is using hyperbole to saying if there is anything in your life that causes you to stumble from pursuing life in the kingdom, it is better to extract it now than suffer eternal consequences.
The bottom line is that as we step out in kingdom living it will at sometimes seem like losing an appendage. Denying ourselves may will require discipline and reliance on God's grace and it's means. As my favorite philosopher/theologian. Dallas Willard explains in his two books "The Spirit of the Disciplines" and "Renovation of the Heart", the spiritual disciplines are the means for which God has given us to divinely enable us to live the life of a disciple. Our hearts are transformed by God's grace in the power of the Holy Spirit through them, and we are more able to resist temptation and stumbling blocks. They are the same disciplines Jesus used.
Today's teaching is hugely important for Christians in the 21st century, so we can be the salt and the light that the world so badly needs and Jesus so greatly desires for you and me.
Jesus help us to be so aligned with your will and life through abiding in you and your grace, that we will quickly recognize stumbling blocks and not be hindered by them. As we keep our eyes on you and use the means of grace you have given us, we can be your salt and light in the world. Amen.
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] 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]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.'
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.”
Reflection:
Whereas Jesus offers many invitations to kingdom living, today he gives a pretty stern challenge for those who would block the kingdom from coming here on earth as it is in heaven. The basic meaning of the name "Satan" is obstructer, and we see this is Satan's main tactic is to thwart the coming kingdom. Since one day he will be destroyed, he is "hell bent" on bringing others with him. And, of course, those he would try to work on are the "little ones", who could mean literally young children, or more probably those young or immature in the faith. And to do this the primary tactic is "causing them to "stumble".
He gives a very stern warning to those who cause others to stumble. And then he turns to a more personal challenge by saying that if your hand, eye or foot causes you to stumble, it is better to cut it off or get rid of it, than be thrown into hell. We can see that these are all body parts and represent all aspects of our bodily desires. The lust of our eyes, the pride of our hands, and the tendency of our feet to rush into evil. And without being too literalistic, Jesus is using hyperbole to saying if there is anything in your life that causes you to stumble from pursuing life in the kingdom, it is better to extract it now than suffer eternal consequences.
The bottom line is that as we step out in kingdom living it will at sometimes seem like losing an appendage. Denying ourselves may will require discipline and reliance on God's grace and it's means. As my favorite philosopher/theologian. Dallas Willard explains in his two books "The Spirit of the Disciplines" and "Renovation of the Heart", the spiritual disciplines are the means for which God has given us to divinely enable us to live the life of a disciple. Our hearts are transformed by God's grace in the power of the Holy Spirit through them, and we are more able to resist temptation and stumbling blocks. They are the same disciplines Jesus used.
Today's teaching is hugely important for Christians in the 21st century, so we can be the salt and the light that the world so badly needs and Jesus so greatly desires for you and me.
Jesus help us to be so aligned with your will and life through abiding in you and your grace, that we will quickly recognize stumbling blocks and not be hindered by them. As we keep our eyes on you and use the means of grace you have given us, we can be your salt and light in the world. Amen.
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