Beloved brothers and
sisters in Christ, peace be with you!
We continue our
meditation on Mark 9 and today we focus on verses 38-40. It reveal to us what it truly means to serve Christ and belong
to His mission.
John comes to Jesus with
a concern:
“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."
At first glance, this
response may seem to affirm anyone who claims to act in Jesus’ name. But when
we place it in conversation with Matthew 7:21-23, we uncover a deeper
truth that speaks to the religious realities of our time:
Jesus said: “Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers
of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23)
How do we understand
Jesus’ teaching today taking into consideration these two messages in the
Gospel of Matthew? How do we discern true discipleship from deception in a
world where many claim to act in Christ’s name?
Understanding Jesus’
Response to John
John’s concern is
simple: “He was not following us.” Notice the emphasis, not on following
Christ, but on following us. There is a temptation, even among
sincere believers, to equate faithfulness to Jesus with being part of an
exclusive group. Jesus’ response, however, expands the vision of the Kingdom.
His statement, “For the one who is not against us is for us”, teaches us that
the mission of God is not confined to a particular religious circle.
But does this mean that
anyone who simply uses Jesus’ name is truly His disciple? Not at all.
Jesus also warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” belongs to Him (Matthew
7:21). There is a difference between those who authentically serve in
Christ’s name and those who exploit His name for personal gain.
The Greek word anomos
in Matthew 7:23, translated as “lawlessness”, is key to understanding
the truth in Jesus’ teachings. Jesus condemns those who use His name but act without
alignment to the Father’s will. They perform miracles, prophesy, and do mighty
works, yet Jesus says, “I never knew you.” This means that miracles and outward
signs do not always indicate a true servant of Christ.
The Danger of Spiritual
Deception Today
Today, we see a growing
number of individuals who claim to be “pastors” and “prophets” in the name of
Jesus. They draw massive crowds, perform supposed miracles, and make great
promises. But how do we discern whether they are truly from God?
Exploitation of the
Faithful : Many modern false teachers manipulate people, demanding
large sums of money in exchange for “miracles” and “breakthroughs.” They do all
sorts of strange things, hypnotize the crowd, etc. But did Jesus ever sell healing? Did the
apostles ever charge for deliverance?
A Focus on Signs Rather
than Christ: Some claim that
supernatural signs prove their authority. Yet, Jesus warns us: “False christ’s
and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to
lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). We shouldn’t
forget that satan exists and is working seriously to establish his own kingdom
of darkness. Didn’t Jesus say that the “sons of this world are more astute than they
sons of light” (Luke 16:8)? We really need the Spirit of God to discern and
know what is from God and what is not from God.
True test of a Servant of God: The true test of a servant of God is not miracles but
obedience to Christ. Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments”
(John 14:15). Those who twist the Gospel for selfish gain are not truly
His followers. Another sign that can help us discern is that these false pastors
are at the center of every attention. Their
disciples will happily and proudly say: “I am disciple of pastor x, pastor y; thus, Christ is completely
forgotten.
A Call to True
Discipleship
Dear friends, we must be
vigilant and rooted in God’s Word. Jesus calls us to be discerning and to seek
those who bear the fruit of true discipleship (Galatians 5:22-23).
A true servant of Christ: We should lead people to Jesus, not to ourselves.
We should try to lives in humility and obedience to God's will. Let us also practice
love, justice, and mercy rather than greed. Let us proclaim the full Gospel,
not just messages of prosperity and comfort. Christianity without Cross of
Jesus is deception!
As we reflect on Mark
9:38-40, let us remember: Christ’s mission is greater than our human
boundaries, but not all who invoke His name are truly His. We must be
discerning, standing firm in faith, and aligning ourselves with the true will
of God.
May the Holy Spirit grant us wisdom and understanding, so
that we may follow Christ faithfully and not be deceived by the wolves in
sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).
Amen!
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