Pentecost 19-St. Mark 9:38-50

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,+ and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

‘"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."’ (V. 42)

It is said that Hell should be preached in all its fury and terribleness. It is no kindness to sugar coat it. That is, it is not a kindness to spread a pretty covering of leafy branches over a pit into which many have fallen and broken their necks. After all, why would we want to be led into a hole in the ground? This may be the business of the cunning hunter, but that is not you or I.

That also is not the business of the preacher.

The one who hunts the world for souls makes this his business. He would like to see us led down the wide path, which will bring us to this leaf-covered pit. He would see us ruined. It is not the business of the preacher to ruin people in order to make sure their feelings are not hurt.[1] Instead, it is the business of the preacher to make sure that all who hear his message understand the seriousness of hell. Jesus is just such a preacher.

Yet, Jesus does not do what we might expect Him to do. Jesus does not preach a “so-called” fire and brimstone sermon. He does not beat any of His hearers over the head with the realities of hell. Jesus is subtle, He simply says, the one who causes a little one to sin, woe to him. Jesus simply says, what will happen if salt loses its saltiness? This question seems almost non-sensical. How is this possible?

‘John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward."’ (V. 38-41)

It is interesting how this passage begins. It is directly following the Transfiguration and John walks up to Jesus. He has been somewhere; perhaps John went off to get some food for the group or something. Well, John returns and tells Jesus of the things he had seen while away. Something had been going on and John thought it was a bad thing. We hear of this guy who is casting out demons in the name of Jesus! What a wonderful thing!

Jesus does not respond as we might think. Jesus tells John, you reacted wrongly.

Jesus tells John and the other disciples, leave such people alone. They are with us. As Jesus tells them, ‘"For the one who is not against us is for us."’ (V. 40) That is, there is no middle ground. As John later writes in his Revelation, we are to be either hot or cold. If we are lukewarm, Jesus will spit that person out of His mouth. There is no middle ground. If the man was on the side of Christ he should not be treated as an enemy. Rather, Jesus is saying, “rejoice, in the success of this other one and do not hinder him.” Jesus is telling them, “This man shows you that you twelve are not the only ones. You are not alone.”

The man that John tells us about here needs encouragement, not condemnation. These next words are ones that we sit up and take notice of as we read Mark’s gospel. Especially if we hear them with the meaning the Greek words carry with them. ‘"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."’ (V. 42)

The words there translated, as “little ones” do not simply refer to a small child. That is true, but it also refers to all who are infants in their faith, no matter their physical age. Again, there is more. The Greek word skandalidzo refers to the trigger stick attached to the bait in a deadfall trap. That is, a trap that has a cage held up with a stick. The bait is under the cage and when moved will pull loose that stick. When that happens, the heavy weight of the cage comes crashing down.[2]

We know the picture. It is one of someone being led away from faith in Jesus. Such a person will be held to account for such actions. We all know what happens if you tie a stone the size of a millstone around someone’s neck. It would not be possible for anyone to again harm another in the faith. What Jesus is saying is better than the consequences of harming a little one is utterly final.

If this is not shocking enough, Jesus continues. He tells us again and again, “do not cause anyone to sin! The consequences are too terrible.”

‘"And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell."’ (V. 43-47)

The things Jesus says here are blunt. This is drastic stuff. And, remember, Jesus means what He says here. He is not simply saying this to mean something else. Jesus means what He says. It is like the surgeon we go to when we need medical help. The doctor will cut off or cut out that which must be removed so that we will continue in good health. This is what Jesus is describing for us here.

Yet, as we read through this passage at the end of Mark’s ninth chapter, we begin to see something else going on. Jesus is not simply telling us to be as drastic as to dig out our eye if it causes us to sin. Jesus does mean what He says, but it is also clear that Jesus is telling His listeners two messages. The one is the obvious one. If one of your body parts cause you to sin, cut it off. If a book or magazine causes you to sin, throw it away. If the television is causing you to sin, turn it off. Or, better, stop paying for cable. Removing a stumbling block from your life may require you to even change jobs or friends.

The point is, whatever it takes to prevent your or someone else being led away from sin. That is what you are to do.

If this sounds too difficult, try the alternative. ‘ "It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’"’ (Vv. 47-48) What do those words that Jesus quotes Isaiah (66:24) really mean? Think about it. So, if we fall from the faith this is what our alternative is. An eternity in hell, where the worm does not die, nor is the fire quenched. So, the fire in hell burns eternally. That is, it truly burns, like touching a hot stove burner but does not consume (Ex. 3).

Most of us have touched either a hot stove or something else and received a burn, at least once. We know how painful that is for just a short time. Now, extend that out endlessly. Now, add the other half of that quote.

The Holy Spirit also includes an endless worm as well in that quote.

But, what kind of worm are we talking about? These are maggots. They also feast on the rotting flesh of that soul in hell but they never consume the body and put it out of its misery. This is also something all of us are familiar with. Those worms or maggots which feast on the rotting body of an animal or trunk of a tree. What a terrible fate. If we consider this end, we realize the necessity of maintaining our own faith in Jesus as well as encouraging others in their faith. That is, not causing anyone to stumble. This is a higher goal than any other is. Certainly higher than seeking riches or fame.

The use of salt in Scripture we see a number of times. In St. Matthew (5:13), Jesus says that the disciples are the light of the world. Here Jesus uses this word, salt, to mean something that is within you. That word of God given at baptism and throughout our Christian life. Jesus is speaking of the word of God that power of God that is given to us with our faith. It is continued and sustained in you and in me through Bible study, confirmation class, daily devotional reading in the Bible, etc. This is the salt that is within each of us. The Word of God creates and sustains the faith in us as believers that it speaks of.

‘"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.”’ (Vv. 49, 50)

Here we are back to that strange statement of Jesus. What happens when salt loses its saltiness? Now we understand the answer. In the physical world, salt actually can lose its saltiness. The same can happen to you and to me. We can lose that saltiness given to us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we fall out of the habit of church attendance and partaking of the sacraments or Bible study, or devotional reading. In these ways, we can lose our saltiness. Yet, if we are continuing in faith through the use of these things, we will not lose our faith. It will not matter how often we continue to speak to our neighbor about the hope that has been given you.

So, each of us is a well-seasoned disciple. After all, we are filled with the Word of God. We are filled with salvation through Christ.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, CPH, pp. 99-100.
[2] Sermon Studies on the Gospels, Series B, NPH p. 325.