On his way to Jerusalem Jesus teaches his disciples about who belongs to the kingdom of God. When his disciples argue about who is the greatest, Jesus corrects them by saying it is those who are servants of all, who welcome children and those like them in his name (Mark 9:33-37). But this story is immediately followed a story of the disciples not receiving someone in Jesus’ name. In Mark 9:38-41 we learn about the disciples attempting to hinder someone from casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Just like the disciples were encouraged to welcome the insignificant in Jesus’ name, here they are encouraged to be welcoming and supportive of others who work in Jesus’ name, and not to make enemies out of allies.
This can be a hard teaching for us because Jesus might sound a little too inclusive for our likings. While this story doesn’t answer all our questions, it teaches us what our general disposition should be towards our brothers and sisters who serve in Jesus’ name outside our circles and tribes.
Be an encouragement, not a hindrance
The story begins with John reporting to Jesus that he and the other disciples saw someone casting out demons in Jesus name (Mk. 9:38). If John had stopped there, Jesus would have likely said, “Great!” But John continues: “...and we tried to stop him.” The disciples tried to hinder someone from carrying out the work of the kingdom, work that was done in Jesus’ name. Why? “because he was not following us.” John’s justification seems to suggest that he is putting the disciples on the same level as Jesus. They are not concerned with what this guy believes about Jesus; they seem to be concerned with the fact that he has not been called and authorized as one of them, one the twelve.
It was the twelve who had originally been given the authority to extend Jesus’ mission and cast out demons (Mk. 3:13-15; 6:7). But earlier in the chapter we learn that the disciples were unable to heal a boy who had an unclean spirit (Mk. 9:17-18). So, they are telling someone to stop doing something that they could not do. In light of their failure to cast out a demon, their argument about status (Mk. 9:33-37), and the upcoming discussion with James and John about positions of power in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-45), we can conclude that the disciples tried to stop him because this was a devastating blow to their special status and identity. They wanted the monopoly on casting out demons.
But what does Jesus say? “do not hinder him” (Mk. 9:39). This scene alludes to the story from Israel’s history when the Lord poured out his Spirit on the seventy elders (Num. 11:16-30). When Joshua wants Moses to stop the two elders prophesying in the camp, Moses responds like Jesus: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them” (Num. 11:28-29; cf. Acts 2!). So, Jesus, the greater Moses, desires all his followers people to act in his name, not just the twelve.1This was Paul’s attitude as well (Phil. 1:15-18). Even if people preach Christ from envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition, Paul doesn’t care about his reputation, but rejoices that Christ is proclaimed.
Don’t make enemies out of allies
Jesus gives three reasons why the disciples should encourage and not hinder the exorcist. First, “for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me” (Mk. 9:39). No one who is actually doing mighty deeds for Christ will speak evil against Jesus later, for that would be illogical and inconsistent and would undo all their work! The key here is the phrase, “in my name.” If someone truly doing a mighty work for Christ—on his behalf, in his authority, for his glory, calling on his name—the fruit of their ministry is proof they are on the “right side,” and the disciples are cautioned about thinking ill of them or trying to stop them.
Second, the disciples should not hinder someone ministering in Jesus’ name and advancing his kingdom “for the one who is not against us is for us” (Mk. 9:40). Jesus is explaining the need for an openness to all who are serving in the name of Jesus, working to expand his kingdom, and not opposing the gospel. “The making known of his name is more important than their distinctions.”2James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 290. The fact that Jesus leaves this statement intentionally ambiguous can be troubling. But David Garland provides a healthy word of caution: “This undogmatic openness to others will trouble anyone more intent on establishing the limits of who is in and who is out than on winning the war against the enemy. The enemy becomes anyone who is ‘not one of us,’ instead of Satan.”3David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 368–369.
Finally, the disciples should not hinder the exorcist “ 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” (Mk. 9:41). This is not saying unbelievers who are nice to Christians will be saved. The idea is still about welcoming and helping others who follow Jesus, who “belong to Christ,” who are “of Christ,” even when they are outside our circle. Jesus says if we act with kindness toward those who belong to him, if we encourage, embrace, and help them, rather than treat them as our enemies, we will be rewarded.
Stop with the friendly fire
This short story does not give us all the details we need for proper theological triage or for knowing how far outside our theological circles we can find allies. But there are several lessons we must learn.
First, we must not take our cues for the kingdom from our culture. This is what the disciples did when they hindered children from coming to Jesus (Mk. 10:13-16) and when hindering the itinerant exorcist. In the world’s eyes, insignificant and “useless” people don’t belong in the kingdom of God, and people not in our political or theological tribe are enemies and have no business working for the kingdom. But Jesus rebukes his disciples for thinking this way, and he isn’t proud of us when we act that way as well.
Second, we must be cautious about drawing lines and being quick to judge others “insiders” or “outsiders.” God doesn’t only work through the people we approve, people that meet our standards for theology or ministry, people in our own preferred theological camps. Yes, we must be alert for and guard against false teachers; yes, we must not blindly accept anyone who claims to be serving the Lord Jesus. But far too often we can be guilty of friendly fire when someone holds the orthodox faith but differs from us on second or third-tier issues, and thanks to social media, this behavior is becoming rampant in some corners of the kingdom.
Third, we should examine our motives when evaluating the work of Christians in different traditions. When we feel to urge to exclude, reject, or hinder someone, is that coming from a place of pride or desire for status? Just like our natural reflex as Spirit-filled Christians should be humility, love, patience, peacemaking, and gentleness, our natural reflex towards those “outside” our circles should be openness, encouragement, and help. We must strive to be an encouragement, not a hindrance.
And finally, we must remember who our real enemy is. We can get so busy fighting with people who have different theological and political views that we forget the evil that wreaks havoc in our broken world. In a day when the church faces threats from the left and the right, we must be grateful for the kingdom work being carried out around the world, even when it’s outside of our preferred tribes. We must not be guilty of making enemies out of allies.
Mitch Bedzyk serves as a pastor Emmanuel Community Church, overseeing music and Sunday Classes. He received his Master of Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and works in IT for the NY Office of Mental Health. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children: Kya, Khalli, Oliver, Amelia, and Micah. In his spare time he enjoys reading, coffee, guitar, being an MLS fanatic and playing fantasy soccer.
