So that is Mark chapter 9 and
verse 38. And John answered him, saying,
Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth
not us. And we forbade him, because he
followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not,
for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that
can likely speak evil of me. For he that is not against us
is on our part. For whosoever shall give you
a cup of water to drink in my name because ye belong to Christ,
verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever
shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is
better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
he were cast into the sea. Amen. May the Lord bless this
reading to us. There's something I feel very
appealing and endearing in John's reaction to the Lord's words
here on this occasion. Perhaps you remember the Lord
had recently been transfigured. He had returned from the coasts
of Caesarea Philippi. He had heard the disciples speaking
on the journey back to Galilee. And then as they came into this
house in Capernaum, He had heard about them speaking about who
was going to be the greatest and the Lord had gathered his
disciples around him, brought a little child into the midst
and spoke about receiving such little children and thereby receiving
Christ himself and God the Father. And John is listening. John is
hearing the Lord's words as the Lord speaks to the disciples
here. And it seems as though the lesson
enters into his heart. He really is dwelling upon this
lesson that the Lord is giving them. This lesson that by welcoming
one of Christ's little ones, we welcome Christ himself. Let us always aspire to treat
one another as we would treat the Saviour himself. The image of the Lord is stamped
on all his children. and we should look for that image
and treasure that likeness in the lives of one another. This
is an encouragement to fellowship, an encouragement to brotherly
love and affection and to mutual care and understanding and sensitivity
for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And it seems as though
John grasped what the Lord is saying here. So what is endearing,
what I mean by that when I say that John is clearly listening
to the Lord's words and learning the lesson. Well it's endearing
because he's applying it to his own life. He has done something
here that all of us should be eager to do when we come around
the Word of God, when we read the Scriptures, when we have
these lessons given to us from the Word of Truth. And John is
taking what he hears of the Lord and he's thinking to himself,
you know what? I failed to do that. That's not
what has motivated my actions. And suddenly something comes
to his mind about something that happened some time ago. And it
may even be that there's a sense of regret has followed John as
he has dwelt upon this incident. John had met a man, I think there
were others with John, but John takes the lead on this matter.
And remember John is a young man amongst all of these disciples
here. But John had met a man casting
out devils in Jesus' name. And that troubled the young man
there, and he forbade this man from casting out devils in Jesus'
name. And it seems as if that now caused
him some regret. I think that that is a sign of
spiritual life. It's evidence of growing in grace. When we hear Christ's words,
when the Holy Spirit applies them to us personally, and in
our lives shows us our sin, shows us our faults and our failures,
it's a very good thing. Sometimes people get shown their
faults, get shown their sins, get shown their failures, and
it causes them to be increasingly grieved and depressed. But John shows us here that while
there was regret, nevertheless he understood that the Lord had
a word of help and comfort for him. Indeed I think it's true
that as we age in life, as we mature in our Christian experience,
that the Holy Spirit brings to the Lord's people a greater sensitivity
of their sin and of their unworthiness. Perhaps some of you who are getting
a little bit on in years will agree with me on this matter. that we see not only in our present
life, but in our past dealings with people, occasions when we
fell short. when we didn't act properly,
when we did and said things that were improper and unhelpful. And the Holy Spirit teaches us
about these failings and these sins, and it seems that our sensitivities
towards them are keener and enhanced. So that if the Lord allows us
to learn from these lessons, such that we will alter our behaviour
then we are the richest people upon the face of this earth,
because the Holy Spirit himself is witnessing with our spirit
and teaching us all things, teaching us about Christ and about being
Christ's followers. John stopped that man from casting
out these devils. Because, says John, he followed
not us, It wasn't that the man was saying anything wrong. It
wasn't that he was misusing the Lord's name in any way. It wasn't that he was healing
for money as Simon did in the time of Peter and Philip. He seems genuinely in this case
to have been ministering in the name of Christ and thereby working
for the kingdom of Christ, but John had forbidden him from doing
so. An act that in the light of Jesus'
words now regarding this little child seemed terribly misguided
and wrong. And John's conscience was pricked
on this matter. And the Lord confirmed the mistake
that John had made. Forbid him not, says the Lord,
neither him nor anyone else. Let that witness continue. Why stop it? Why would you do
that, John? Why would you stop someone from
fulfilling the Lord's work in the name of the Lord. He's doing
the same work as you are called to do. He's promoting the same
Lord that you are called to promote. He is opposing the kingdom of
Satan. There's a lesson in here for
us all surely. Let us never hinder or block
the gospel work because it is somebody else that is doing it.
The work of the Kingdom of Christ is not a competition and it is
certainly no reason for rivalry. Let us rather encourage one another. Let us pray for all who serve
and labour in Christ's name. And of course that is the important
point, isn't it? It is to be serving in the name
of Christ. That glorious name. That name
which is above every name. And that name which incorporates
and encapsulates all of the names that are applicable to the Lord
Jesus Christ in scripture. He is the wonderful counsellor. He is the mighty God. He is the
everlasting Father. He is the Lord. The King, He
is Jesus, the Saviour, He is Christ, the anointed Messiah. But in the name of Christ, if
that ministry goes forth in the name of Christ, then it is to
be encouraged, it is to be supported, and it is to be helped. It is
to be prayed for, and interceded for, and it is certainly not
to be hindered in any way. This is Christ's Kingdom, and
His servants are answerable to Him, and no one else. And here the Lord employs a lovely
little phrase to remind us of the great distinction that characterises
God's dealings with men and women in this world and reveals him
to be the gracious and loving saviour that he is. It's there
in verse 40. For he that is not against us
is on our part. The Lord uses this phrase several
times in the Gospels and in his own ministry. It's phrased slightly
differently in some of the other parallel passages in Matthew
and in Luke. But the sentiment is constant. He that is not against us is
for us, is on our part. And that reminds us of this great
biblical truth of the division that exists in all humanity because
of the eternal decrees of God. In the eternal decrees of God's
electing grace and his sovereign distinguishing mercy, there is
a great division of men and women in this world. I sent out a little note yesterday
and I remarked about the fact that very often people say there
are two kinds of people in this world. Well, in this situation,
there are two kinds of people in this world. There are those
that are righteous and those that are wicked. and the Word
of God draws an absolute distinction between the two. There are those
who stand perfectly justified in God's sight, pure, holy, spotless
and clean by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
those who do not. This division that the Lord Jesus
Christ is emphasising here, you are either for us or against
us. Those that are not against us
are on our part, reminds us that we either belong to Christ or
we do not. That's the great chasm, that's
the great division that God has brought into this world. If you are Christ's, then every
requirement to make you fit for God's presence has been won for
you and freely given to you. Especially we should particularly
notice that redemptive work through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ
which has brought the forgiveness of our sins. Paul says in Ephesians
chapter 1 verse 4, according as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love. And this is God's great purpose
of grace. This is God in his sovereign
purpose, laying upon that chosen people, that people whom he loves
and has loved from before the beginning of time, every blessing
required to bring them into union, communion, and reconciliation
with Him. That is the finished gospel that
we preach. That is the message that goes
forth, that the Lord God has accomplished the salvation of
His people through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the shedding of His precious blood, has fitted a people of
His choice for an eternal union with Him in glory. to be united
together forever with the Lord Jesus Christ. That great divide,
that election, that choice of God is a fixed matter. It is
certain, it is sure, it is founded upon the sovereign will and immutable
purpose of God. And that, brothers and sisters,
is the foundation stone, is the ground upon which the Lord's
church and people have their comfort and joy in this world,
in our salvation. That is our assurance. Our assurance
is not that we've believed. Our assurance is not that we
see the evidence of God working in our life. Our assurance is
not that we feel better now than we used to feel or that we have
more hope now than we used to have. Our assurance is that God
has finished this work. and that those who come to Him
seeking His help, seeking His forgiveness, will not be cast
out but will receive all the blessings of those benefits which
Jesus Christ has secured by His death on the cross at Calvary. That finished work is the ground
of our confidence and our assurance. This election from eternity of
sum to salvation and their redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ in time
has real day by day, lifelong consequences for the Lord's people
in this world. It's a double possession. The
Lord Jesus Christ was given a people. in the eternal covenant of God. We call it the covenant of grace
or the covenant of peace. But that people were identified,
that people were set apart, sanctified, and that people were justified
in the mind and will of God, in the covenant purposes of God,
as they were committed into the care and keeping of the Lord
Jesus Christ. and that was the first possession
that Christ had of us. Thereafter he possesses us again
by buying us, by purchasing us, by redeeming us from the fall
and from the entering in of sin into our lives. The passage of
the Lord's people through this world is directed and provided
for in every detail by our God. And I want to draw your attention
to another little phrase which I think is very meaningful in
this passage because the Lord says here, ye belong to Christ
and here is one of these beautiful, these wonderful, these delightful
Bible phrases that, shame on me, I often read and pass over,
fail to note and fail to emphasise and fail to own as a gift from
God, as a personal possession. If you highlight your Bible,
then highlight this little phrase that the Lord speaks here with
respect to the teaching that he is giving. Verse 41, he says,
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my
name because ye belong to Christ. Just note that, just think on
that for a moment. because you belong to Christ. Whosoever shall give a cup of
water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, shall not
lose his reward. You know, the Lord even sticks
a verily in there. He even says verily. That's an amen. That is, as it
were, an absolute certainty. This is done. They will not lose
their reward. Why? because you belong to Christ. They'll have their reward because
you belong to Christ. Because you belong to Christ,
whoever shall offend you that believe in me, it would be better
for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and that
he was cast into the sea. I don't know that you can get
very more graphic pictures than that from just a few words. Here is the Lord emphasising
this fact. Because you belong to Christ. And this is what Christ has done.
He has possessed us twice. He possesses us in eternal election
in this great division which God has effected. And he has
possessed us in the redemption by his blood. And now we belong
to Christ. Because you belong to Christ
as the Lord, the Lord is watching your every move. Because you
belong to Christ, He is jealously guarding your complete well-being,
body, soul and spirit. Hear this, these are our privileges
as the Lord's people. We who believe in Him, we belong
to Christ. Nothing can harm you. No good
thing will be withheld from you. No enemy shall lift up his heel
against you without the express permission of him to whom you
belong. And only then it will work for
you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. That's
what Joseph said, was it not, to his brothers? Yet Joseph knew
hard times. He knew what it was to be beaten. Sam tells us that they beat his
feet. They hurt him in prison. He had
to endure all the humiliation, all the frustration. all the lies and allegations
against him. He had to endure the rejection
of his brothers, the servitude, the slavery, being bought and
sold like a commodity. All of these things afflicted
Joseph, but he understood that the Lord still looked on him.
Why? Because he belonged to Christ.
Because he belonged to God. And throughout the scriptures,
this is the testimony of the Word of God. Because you belong
to Christ, He has provided for you everything you need for acceptance
with God. He's paid your debts. He's cleansed
you from sin. He has won your liberty. He has
secured your inheritance. He has prepared your eternal
abode and He is coming back to personally escort you into His
Father's presence. because you belong to Christ.
God the Father has looked to your substitute, to your surety,
in the covenant agreement to represent you and to intercede
for you and to mediate for you in your affairs, to advocate
for you. on your behalf in every relationship
with himself. He doesn't look to us, he looks
to Christ and he sees us in Christ and he sees his dearly beloved
son and he commends us with every love and affection that he has
for his son. That means that whatever the
divine holiness requires, from you as a fallen, sinful, rebellious
creature. It has been paid for and supplied
to the fullest degree, and nothing remains outstanding. Why? Because you belong to Christ.
Because you belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit has undertaken
to regenerate your spirit, to occupy your soul. to comfort
your heart and to minister the gospel of good tidings and great
joy to your quickened mind as he leads you in the paths of
righteousness for his own namesake. Because you belong to Christ,
Christ has gone ahead to prepare a heavenly mansion that eye hath
not seen nor ear heard, neither having entered into the heart
of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
He will soon, very soon, come and give to us and you will enter
into your rest. and there you will forever continue
with the Lord, because you belong to Christ. Brothers and sisters,
the end of the matter is this. Because you belong to Christ,
you are saved, you are safe, and you are eternally secure.
Nothing and no one can separate you from the love of Christ because
you belong to Him. I just want to make a final point
here with respect to the blessings and the woes that are spoken
of by the Saviour in this little passage. And I think it'll do
us good just to dwell on this for a moment as well. Sometimes
people speak of common grace and it's a term that I don't
like and it's a term that I don't use because it is open to so
much misapplication. It is best, I feel, to speak
of common providences if we're speaking about matters such as
the sun shining on the righteous and the wicked and the rain falling
equally upon both. That's, again, these two kinds
of people that are in the world. Those that are for Christ and
those that are against him. Those that are righteous in God's
sight, being in Christ, being his people, and those who are
outside of Christ. However, such is the care of
the Lord for all who belong to him. that there are providential
and temporal blessings and judgments that afflict men and women, and
indeed nations, who either kindly treat the Lord's people or despitefully
use them. Rewards are given to those who
treat you kindly. who help and comfort you because
you belong to Christ. Even a cup of water to drink
will not go unnoticed by Christ or any kindness unrewarded by
him. Equally, woes come upon all who
seek to harm the body of Christ, to hurt or offend Christ's little
ones in any way. because you belong to Christ.
The described punishment that we see in this verse about the
millstone and being cast into the depths of the sea is dreadful. But the implication of the verse
is that that is to be preferred to what will come upon those
people that harm and offend the little ones of Christ. Fear ye
not little flock. It is your father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. For our part, brothers and sisters,
we are not to seek revenge on those who hurt or grieve us. We're not to endeavour to find
opportunity to pay them back in like manner. Lord says in
Luke chapter 6, bless them that curse you and pray for them which
despitefully use you. Nevertheless, as The Lord promised to Abraham
long ago, for Christ's sake and the gospels, I will bless them
that bless thee and curse them that curse thee, and in thee
shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Our gift to
this world is the gospel that we preach, is the presence that
we continue to have in this world until the Lord is pleased to
call us to himself. May the Lord bless these thoughts
to our hearts and teach us thereby to serve him and love him more
because we belong to him. Amen.