Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 2:21 "For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them." 2 Peter 2:21"
Day 212 – Mark 9
“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” 2 Peter 2:21
MORE VITAL TRUTHS TO BE LEARNED
Jesus was both right and wise to devote time to train His Disciples. Another situation where Jesus once again used it to help the Disciples to learn deeper truths. This time round, the question was how to regard “others” who served the Lord.
“Now John answered Him, saying,
‘Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us
casting out demons in Your name,
and we forbade him because he does not follow us.'”
MARK 9:38
1. The issue of “spiritual authority”
a) The situation described
John recounted the following incident:-
i) A man was casting out demons in the name of Jesus.
ii) He was not one of the disciples chosen by the Lord.
b) The response of John and the other disciples
i) They felt that the man had no authority to do what he did.
ii) They forbade him (this was done without consultation with Jesus).
2. Issues that arise from life and ministry
a) Jesus had not addressed this issue before.
b) The Disciples obviously needed clear guidelines.
c) Their decision to restrain the activities of the individual appeared to them to be logical.
A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING NEEDED
Jesus understood how His Disciples must have felt, but their approach was parochial and stifling. He opened up their minds to consider other ways of understanding the subject of ministry.
“But Jesus said,
‘Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name
can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
For he who is not against us is on our side.'”
MARK 9:39-40
What a different perspective Jesus had! Jesus wanted His Disciples to be far more open and accommodating than they were. They must not exercise their authority as His Disciples without first obtaining deep comprehension.