Chapter # 9 Paragraph # 6 Study # 2
June 6, 2023
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis: The Kingdom's principles of "reward" are firmly rooted in the motives of those who are to be rewarded.
Introduction: In our last study we considered Mark's focus upon "The John" and his opposition to the exorcist who was "not following us". This was Mark's way of revealing the "problem" of seeking greatness when the "kingdom concept" is "being able to set the agenda and compel others to fall in line".
It is very clear that the disciples, at this point, had a faith in Jesus that included a concept of The Kingdom of God that was actually in direct harmony with the kingdom of darkness. This is a reflection upon the actual "glory" of the King, and, if held means that the holder does not understand the actual character of Jesus. This is an extremely dangerous reality: faith in Jesus as the Christ, when the Kingdom is viewed in the actual terms of the kingdom of darkness, is a perversion of the "faith in Jesus" that the Gospel requires.
It is to this issue that we turn this evening.
- I. There Is An Immediate Switch Of Subject In 9:41.
- A. The immediately preceding context is of "The John" attempting to hinder an exorcist using the name of Jesus "because he was not following us".
- 1. The "larger" issue is the carnal kingdom ambition of "being great".
- 2. The "smaller" issue is the twisting of the "kingdom authority", given to the apostles, into the supposed "dark kingdom authority" where "opposition" is at work.
- B. Then, suddenly, Jesus switches from an "apostle's" attempt to restrict another's use of the name of Jesus, to another's act of giving the "apostles" a drink of water "in the name that ye are of Christ".
- 1. The contextual contrast: on one hand, "he that is not against us is for us"; and on the other hand, "if anyone should give to you a drink of water, ... he shall not (ou me) destroy His reward".
- a. There are nine texts in which "apollumi" is used in Mark's record.
- 1) 1:24 -- the unclean spirit questions Jesus as to His intent to "destroy us".
- 2) 2:22 -- the wine, when the skin is burst, is "lost" (i.e., "destroyed" ??).
- 3) 3:6 -- the Pharisees and Herodians conspire to "destroy" Jesus.
- 4) 4:38 -- the storm is said to cause the disciples to be "perishing" (i.e., "destroyed ??).
- 5) 8:35 -- the one who wishes to "save" his soul will "lose" ("destroy" ??) it, but the one who "loses" ("destroys") his soul shall "save" it.
- 6) 9:22 -- the evil spirit routinely sought to "destroy" the boy by casting him into water.
- 7) 9:41 -- our current focus.
- 8) 11:18 -- the chief priests and the scribes were seeking to "destroy" Jesus.
- 9) 12:9 -- the angry owner of the vineyard will "destroy" the vine-growers because they killed his son.
- b. Jesus is saying that nothing that the one who gave the water can do will "destroy" his reward. This is firm (ou me) and strongly indicates that if the one whose action is set in stone as to "reward", certainly no one else can "destroy the reward" either.
- 2. The contrast is significant: an "apostle" attempting to block the actions of another to another's provision of a drink to an "apostle". Which is operating on the basic Kingdom principles?
- 3. There is in this context an extended explanation of "reward".
- a. It begins with "...he shall not lose (destroy) his reward...".
- b. But it immediately shifts to what happens to someone who "offends".
- 1) The "offended" is of "one of these lesser ones".
- a) The translators seem to give the impression that Jesus is still talking about the children.
- b) But a strong case can be made for the idea that He is not still talking about the "children", but of "those considered to be lesser than the apostles by those very apostles" who are, like the exorcist, serving others in the name of Jesus.
- i. The larger context is the disciples' argument over who is "greatest".
- ii. "The John" reveals his complete lack of understanding by "joining the opposition". Jesus had just said that "everyone who is not against us is for us", but "The John" has no qualms about being "against" the exorcist who is operating on the basis of the name of Jesus/Christ. Thus, "The John" is the one who "is against us" because he tries to squelch one who is "for us".
- 2) The issues of "offense" are "Gehenna" deserving actions.
- a) The textual indicators are that 9:44 and 9:46 are not a legitimate part of Mark's words.
- b) The words and truth of the "Gehenna" issue are in 9:48, but the overall text does not have the emphasis that a three-fold repetition would have.
- c) Jesus is addressing The Twelve who are captivated by their lust for greatness.
- i. This does not challenge the concept of the inability to "destroy" one's own reward.
- ii. This does not challenge the reward of any "work" that is properly motivated, but it does challenge the nature of any "work" that is motivated by "the lust for greatness" [Note Luke 10:17-20].
- d) These warnings of Jesus are designed to force the disciples to evaluate whether, or not, they have ever done a rewardable work if they are so focused upon their own superiority.
