The Gospel of Mark – Part 34

It is Better – Mark 9:42-50

Mosaic Rockford – Dave Spooner – May 10th, 2020

Intro:

We again are turning to Mark chapter nine as we hear teaching from Jesus that seem radical.  Jesus is teaching His disciples as they are making their way to Jerusalem where Jesus was going to suffer and die.  Along the way the disciples discuss among themselves who is the greatest among them and Jesus teaches them that the way to be great is to be servant of all and gives them an illustration of serving children.  Next, they encounter someone who is not of there group driving out a demon in Jesus name.  John tries to stop him, and Jesus tells him not to, because anyone who is not against us is for us and that those who help them in anyway will surely receive their reward.Jesus next teaches His disciples about what way is better and the serious consequences of sin.  His first subject has to do with us causing people of small faith to sin.

It is better to drown Than to cause a believing child to sin.

Mark 9:42 ESV

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

This tells us that children are welcome and truly apart of the family of faith.  This validates the faith of Children.Second, children are prone to believe what we tell them, and if we lead, teach and cause a child to sin, we are leading them down a path of hardship and destruction and we would be responsible for leading them in this direction.It would be better for the person who does this, that they would drown than to cause a child who is in the faith away from there faith into a life of sin.  This is how serious God takes this.  And we in turn need to take it this seriously as well.  We are to do whatever we can to strengthen and support the faith of a child and lead them in a way that causes their faith to grow and to thrive.  This includes both our words and especially our actions. 

James 3:1-2 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Those of us who are old indeed teach those who are children, by both word and deed.  And those of us who teach, and this is in a theological faith context, and more responsible for what we teach because we are affecting peoples lives for both now and in eternity. So be very careful and very intentional about nurturing and forming the faith of a child.  If you lead them down a wrong path you will have to give an account for that.  And it would be better for you to be dead than to do this, God takes this very seriously. (now if you have, you need to repent and make work to make what you have done right).The second “it is better” is this:

It is better to enter the kingdom of God with limitations than to enter hell with full freedom

Mark 9:43-48 ESV

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

This “it is better” has to do with the sin in our own life, not the sin we cause in children.  Jesus said that it is better by far to put limits on what you do (hand), where you go (foot), and what you see (eye) and enter the kingdom of God than to live “free” without restrictions and be thrown into hell – where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. There are things that I limit my hands, that would be sin (stealing, hitting, touching other inappropriately, typing, signing).  There are places that I would not go that wo