I love watching old-time TV shows from the 50s and 60s, and on one show I recently watched, the main character, a young boy, joined a club with some neighborhood boys. However, when they wouldn’t let one of his friends join, this boy quit the club. One of the other boys said that part of the fun of having a club is keeping other kids out. Is it really fun to hurt others by keeping them out of clubs? Many think so, as even adults frequently take part in such behavior, as we see in their own clubs and organizations. Unfortunately we sometimes even see this behavior in churches. In today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark we see Jesus address this, along with another topic, both of which we’ll look into this morning.
As our Scripture opens, the Apostle John speaks to Jesus, telling him about an incident that had recently happened with him and some of the other apostles. He somewhat proudly tells the Lord that he and some others had stopped some other men from casting out demons in the Name of Jesus because they were not part of their group (vs. 38-41). Just like the little kids in the club, if you’re not one of us, you can’t do this or that, and we’ll run you off if you try. The disciples did not like it when others, those not in “their group” were preaching, teaching, and healing in Jesus’ Name. They tried to stop them. However, Jesus had to stop His disciples from their behavior.
There are some in the Church who do the same. If a different denomination, one that is authentically preaching the Gospel truthfully, but has a different name on the door, some people will shun them, maybe even speak spitefully about their group. Maybe we reject other Christians because they look or act differently from us. Maybe their hair is a different color, or maybe they have tattoos and we think they can’t possibly honestly be following Jesus, so we doubt their faith. Or maybe it’s the reverse, the younger group scorns the faith of those older and more traditional. Jesus said in essence that if they are truly doing righteous things in His Name we should not vilify, censure, or revile them. If they love Jesus and hold to His Word, we should not reject them.
Jesus proceeds with another teaching, one that has caused some puzzlement and even concern over the years. He told His audience that if someone causes a believer and follower of His to stumble, to fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a millstone, a large heavy weight, tied around their neck and be drowned (vs. 42). Jesus continued, that if one’s hand, foot, or eye caused them to sin, it is better to cut them off than to keep them and then burn in hell in the afterlife (vs. 43-48). If we reach for something we shouldn’t, if we walk somewhere we shouldn’t, or we look at something we shouldn’t, are we supposed to take out the ax and start chopping off hands, feet, and eyes?
I don’t believe that Jesus was telling His followers to maim and disfigure their bodies, especially when such drastic action could possibly lead to death if the wound got infected or they bled to death. There is more than one way to “cut off” something. In addition to meaning literally chopping something off, we can cut something off by putting an end to it. Sometimes certain things need to be cut off or ended in order to preserve us from going deep into sin in our life. It may be a relationship, a job, a hobby, our TV, or computer, etc. It likely will hurt, perhaps a lot, but it is necessary. If a relationship is leading you away from Jesus, cut it off, end it right away. If something we are doing on the internet or watching on TV is leading to sin, pull the plug, perhaps get rid of it altogether. If your job has sinful elements to it, quit. Jesus is saying to take the drastic step, whatever it is, to keep you from sin. Run from the temptation, just as Joseph did (Genesis 39:7-12). Run to Jesus and He will strengthen you.
Jesus spoke very clearly here about hell, and some of the aspects of that very literal place. He spoke of hell as being a place of unquenchable fire, and where the worm does not die. The Greek word that Mark used here is “skolex” which is defined as a worm which preys upon dead bodies, like a maggot. Jesus might have meant a literal worm or maggot chewing away at the people for all eternity in hell, or perhaps He might have meant the “worm” of memory that will eat away at one for all eternity. In hell one will remember all the wicked and evil things they did, and especially the times that they had the opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior, but turned Him away. Either one will be awful, along with burning forever.
Some people believe that if there is a hell, it will only be for a while, and then you no longer exist. That is not what Jesus teaches here. The fire is never quenched. It does not end. I am sure that you do not want to ever go there. There is only one way to be certain of that, and that is by confessing you are a sinner, acknowledging that Jesus died to pay the penalty of your sins, and calling upon Him as your Savior. Do not delay, as no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Turn to Jesus today!
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