Bigger Than You Think
Preached by Jason Abbott
November 17, 2013
38 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.” 39 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. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 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.
Introduction
Recall that Jesus has just been redeeming his disciples’ understanding of greatness. True greatness, Jesus teaches, will entail service and sacrifice, humility and graciousness. True greatness looks like Christ Jesus—who is heading to the cross in order to glorify God by redeeming sinful mankind! That was the gist of Benjamin’s message last week.
This week Jesus continues his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross, and he also continues to instruct his disciples about the service, sacrifice, humility, and graciousness that characterize greatness in the kingdom of God. Thus once again, Jesus must adjust his disciples’ perspectives.
In order to see how Jesus does this adjusting, we will focus on a complaint and on a confusion. The disciples have a complaint for Jesus, and this complaint betrays a confusion which they have about Jesus.
1. A complaint
a. What is John complaining about (v. 38)?
On the surface when we read the passage, it appears that John is upset because there is some lone-ranger exorcist healing in the name of Jesus. So we might assume that John and the disciples are concerned about the purity of the ministry. Or, we might think that they are concerned that someone will be led astray by this unsanctioned exorcist. Or, maybe (if we’re really putting lipstick on a pig) we interpret their complaint as a concern for the reputation of their rabbi!
Yet, look closer at the complaint which John voices on behalf of the disciples. He says:
Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us (v. 38).
When we really begin to look at the details of this complaint, we see its dirty underbelly emerge. We see that the disciples are not too concerned about their rabbi’s reputation. We see that they are not too concerned that people are going to be led astray by this unsanctioned exorcist. We see that John and the disciples are not too concerned with the purity of the ministry.
Instead, they are concerned about their special little group’s reputation. They’re concerned about protecting their turf. The purpose clause in verse 38 tells us all we need to know.
Why did the disciples try to stop him?
…because he was not following us (v. 38).
John says, “Look Jesus, this dude needs to cut it out unless he joins our side! He needs to submit to our rules and align with our group! Until he’s one of us, he should be made to stop!”
But, we do this all the time too. Don’t we? Let me point out how I see this at work in my own sinful heart. Let me reveal how this works in pastoral ministry. (By the way, you should use this as a way to springboard into a consideration of the speck or plank in your own eye and not simply enjoy hearing me discuss my sins in public!) Here’s how I find myself turf guarding.
When someone visits the church and then decides to go to another good evangelical church, I feel disappointed. “They obviously don’t like good biblical preaching!” I tell my wounded ego.
When another church in town has a good outreach idea or has success reaching a certain population, I find myself wishing it was our church instead of celebrating what God is doing in the other church’s ministry.
When I look at other churches’ staff pictures, I don’t want their staff to look cooler than our staff. I don’t want their ministry descriptions to sound better than our ministry descriptions.
This is such a destructive mentality. It divides God’s Church, and it sets up competition among local churches that are supposed to be united under one head, Christ Jesus! We should celebrate when another church is used of God even if it means our church becomes less prominent in some way!
Do you catch yourselves doing similar things? Do you catch yourselves motivated by this myopic mentality—my group is the only right group, my party is the only right party? Don’t do this! It is deadly!
Well, Jesus sees right through John’s and the disciples’ complaint. He sees their envy and their turf guarding. He sees their insecurity. So:
b. How does Jesus answer the disciples’ complaint (v. 39)?
He answers them graciously and gently. He redirects their misguided factional focus back to a Christ focus—back to himself. He says:
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 (v. 39).
Jesus takes the disciples’ complaint and blows it up; he really demolishes it. Jesus destroys their turf guarding. He does so by taking their jealousy for the glory of their particular group and then refocusing that jealousy on the glory of God.
Jesus, in short, is broadening his disciples’ perspective on the boundaries of God’s kingdom. He’s telling them, “It’s bigger than you think!” You see, the disciples think it’s all about their little group—it’s all about them and their club. They think if this exorcist is not a part of their band then he must be in the wrong. He must be made to stop. But, they are in the wrong. Their myopic thinking about the plans of God is what must be made to stop!
Now this doesn’t mean there aren’t things that must divide us. There are! However, we must be careful to discern whether or not the things that divide are merely our rules (i.e. what we wear to church) or God’s rules (i.e. Jesus is God). We must not be merely for our group. We must ultimately be for God’s group!
Ironically, verse 40 actually provides an interesting example on how people today often attempt to expand the boundaries too broadly when, in fact, God defines his people more narrowly.
c. Is not being against Jesus enough in order to be for Jesus (v. 40)?
In other words, what are the dividing lines?
Some people might look at verse 40 and argue that one can be saved by simply not opposing Christ or not being against Jesus Christ. Isn’t this what verse 40 is saying?
For the one who is not against us is for us (v. 40).
Let me give a specific example of this. Someone might argue that Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet from God. Thus, they don’t oppose Jesus. So, isn’t that enough to save them? Or, someone might argue that some people like to call Jesus a great human teacher. And, that’s not negative; that’s not being against him. Therefore, doesn’t that mean they are for Jesus?
Yet, such interpretations would be applying too much to this statement too soon. In other words, it is not taking into consideration this verse’s place in redemptive history. What do I mean by this?
Well, no one can be for Jesus as Savior until Jesus has saved. Thus, on the way to the cross, there is grace—there is leeway in how one conceives of Christ. (There must be. Consider that even the disciples don’t understand his mission yet!) For, “Only at the cross will the evidence be present for a full verdict, and at that time those who are not for Jesus will be against him.”1 In other words, simply not being against him—following his crucifixion and resurrection—will no longer be a sufficient response. After the cross, there can be no neutrality.
So, someone who is not against Jesus during the course of his earthly ministry can be counted, graciously, as being for Jesus simply because he is not yet able to see him fully! However, once Jesus has been crucified and has risen, that same person must be for Jesus, or he will be against him since Jesus has now been fully revealed as God’s only way to salvation! Do you see?
Well let’s move quickly to our second point. What does this complaint reveal? It reveals:
2. A confusion
a. Why does John complain (v. 38)?
Well, he complains because he is protecting the group turf; he’s guarding the club—as we’ve already said. However, a very interesting confusion is subtly revealed in his complaint. A confusion that is deadly dangerous!
He complains:
Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us (v. 38).
The pronoun is the subtle clue here: “he was not following us.” Somehow John has assumed that he is worthy (along with Jesus) to be followed. Somehow he has granted himself, and the other disciples, a position of leadership equal to Jesus. One commentator explains:
John’s report that the independent exorcist “was not following us” is depressingly ironic…. It is not a little presumptuous at this stage of discipleship for John to think himself and the other disciples worthy of being followed. This is yet another echo of their inflated self-importance.2
There are times where we can rightly encourage others to follow our Christian example. For instance, Paul is able to tell the Corinthian church:
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
However, notice who Paul places at the lead. Christ is always our leader! We always follow him. In fact, that is precisely what Jesus reiterates here to his disciples. Remember his answer to their complaint:
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 (v. 39).
Jesus tells John and the disciples firmly but graciously (by adjusting their pronoun problem): “It’s not you who need to be followed; I am the leader.”
It’s important to note that this is not Jesus merely commanding such priorities into the lives of his disciples. It’s also exactly how Jesus is living out his earthly ministry. Jesus does not focus on his own pleasure or his own will or his own glory but instead focuses on the Father’s pleasure and the Father’s will and the Father’s glory.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: our Triune God is so very different than all other conceptions of God. Though majestic, he is humble. Though all powerful, he stoops to serve the lowly. Though holy, he takes our sins upon himself and dresses us in his righteousness.
Jesus does not tell us in this passage that it’s all about God’s glory and God’s will and God’s pleasure without demonstrating it first by his own service! Jesus serves so that we can serve! Praise be to God for his divine leadership!
Well, if there was any confusion on who is to be followed then Jesus puts it to rest at the end of this passage.
b. To whom do John and the other disciples belong (v. 41)?
What does Jesus say?
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. 41).
Much could be said here but let me simply point out that not only do the disciples’ conceptions of the kingdom of God need to be expanded but so too do their conceptions of Jesus. They are his!
Not simply his students but his servants.
Not simply his companions but his creatures.
They don’t merely belong with him; they belong to him. They are his; he has come to claim them! In fact, he has come to claim many—all those the Father has given him to claim (John 6:37). Jesus’ kingdom is bigger than you think and so is he. If you have not yet, don’t hesitate to trust in and belong to him!
1James R. Edwards, The Gospel According To Mark, 291.
2Ibid, 289.
