Sermon Audio

This Sunday, we’ll continue our journey through the Gospel of Mark, focusing on Mark 9:42-50. This is a challenging passage, but one that speaks powerfully to our call as disciples of Jesus. In the previous passage, the disciples have just been arguing about who was the greatest, and Jesus showed them that whoever would be great must become the servant of all. The disciples’ pride is then displayed further as they reveal they tried to hinder someone from casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not part of their group. In verse 41, Jesus said that even one who gives a cup of water to those who follow Him will not lose their reward. Verses 41-50 continue Jesus’ discourse with the disciples and he addresses His disciples with a sobering message about the seriousness of sin and the radical commitment required to follow Him. The passage continues Jesus’ teaching from the end of Mark 8, where He emphasizes that following Him means denying ourselves and taking up our cross. Jesus warns against hindering others—especially fellow believers—from stumbling. Using vivid imagery, He underscores the severe consequences of causing “little ones” who believe in Him to stumble in their faith or obedience. He also calls for drastic action against personal sin, using language like cutting off a hand or eye to illustrate the need to remove anything that leads us away from Him. This isn’t about physical mutilation but about taking sin seriously and pursuing holiness with urgency, recognizing the reality of eternal judgment. Jesus concludes by urging His disciples to be “salted with fire,” living as dedicated sacrifices to God. He calls them to reject pride, embrace humility, and be at peace with one another, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel in their lives. While the passage includes tough topics like hell and the cost of discipleship, it’s ultimately a call to trust the grace of Christ, who transforms us to hate sin and desire Him above all else.

I. Do Not Cause Others to Stumble (v. 42):

II. Do Not Tolerate Sin in Yourself (vv. 43-48):

III. Do Not Lose Your Saltiness (vv. 49-50):

Last Sunday, we saw Jesus heal a boy possessed by an unclean spirit in Mark 9:14-29 after the disciples failed to cast it out. The boy’s father cried out honestly, "I believe; help my unbelief," acknowledging his faith mixed with doubt, and Jesus taught the disciples that their failure stemmed from not depending on Him through prayer — they were trying to serve in their own strength. Jesus had previously spoken of His death and resurrection and told the disciples that they must deny themselves and take up their cross (8:31-38). In Mark 9:1-12, the Father told three disciples to “Listen to Him.” Yet they have struggled with Jesus’ teaching about His death. This Sunday, we continue in Mark 9:30-41 as Jesus heads toward Jerusalem. Coming off the disciples’ failure, Jesus privately teaches the disciples again about His betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection — referring to Himself as the Son of Man from Daniel 7. Still, they don’t understand because they’re preoccupied with their own greatness, arguing about who’s the greatest. These disciples are chasing status, control, and glory, like we often do today with our idols of control, comfort, and significance. Jesus models true greatness through His sacrifice, being delivered by the Father to die for our sins, as it says in Isaiah 53, but the disciples miss it, letting their preconceptions cloud His words. Misunderstanding Jesus and the gospel distorts how disciples understand what following Him means. When we embrace our worth and identity in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we find an unsurpassed greatness, which is then expressed in humble service — being last and the servant of all. Jesus illustrates this by embracing a child, a picture of the insignificant with no status, and says receiving such a one in His name is receiving Him and the Father. It’s not about worldly gain but denying oneself from the strength of our gospel identity in Christ. Then, when John complains about an outsider casting out demons in Jesus’ name — something they couldn’t do in the previous passage — Jesus says don’t stop him. Rather than assume their service is greater than others, they should rejoice when Christ is glorified, no matter who does it, because anyone not against us is for us. Even small acts like giving a cup of water in His name will be rewarded. True greatness comes from the gospel and is expressed as His people serve for His glory.

I. True Greatness Is Modeled In Jesus’ Sacrifice (v. 30-32)

II. True Greatness Is Expressed in Humble Service (v. 33-37)

III. True Greatness Prioritizes Christ’s Glory (v. 38-41)

Last Sunday, we saw the glory of Jesus displayed on the mountain in Mark 9:2-13. Jesus was transfigured before three disciples and the Father spoke from the cloud, calling them to listen to the Son. Jesus had spoken of His death and resurrection and told the disciples they too must deny themselves and take up the cross. Now the Father says, “Listen To Him.” This Sunday, we examine Mark 9:14-29 as they come down from the mountain. Coming off mountaintop glory, Jesus and the three disciples return to the valley where there is chaos, conflict, and wickedness. They are immediately confronted with a crowd around a boy with an evil spirit. The other disciples had tried and failed to cast out this spirit, so the boy’s father cries out for Jesus’ help. Jesus does rescue the boy, but this passage is not about fighting demons. His authority over unclean spirits has been shown repeatedly in Mark already. This passage is about the fight for faith. As the boy’s father pleads for his son, he speaks honestly resonating with Christians through the ages, saying, "I believe; help my unbelief.” The father believes but knows that there is also doubt. The man’s cries out because he knows that only Jesus can grow his faith. The disciples also are struggling to believe. Readers of Mark know that Jesus has given authority to his disciples to cast out demons twice in previous chapters. Jesus commanded them to cast out spirits and empowered them to do so. Yet, here, they are not able to do what Jesus commanded. When the disciples ask Jesus why they were unable to do what he authorized, Jesus tells them that "this kind is only driven out by prayer.” That is strange because Jesus didn’t pray when He cast the spirit out. Like the boy’s father, the disciples must also depend upon Jesus in all they do. They must rely upon Jesus to grow their faith. Jesus’ power alone gives them strength to serve Him as He commands. The disciples seem to have forgotten that all their strength comes from Jesus, something we still do today. See you Sunday. 

I. Faith is Difficult In the Valley (v. 14-19)

II. Faith Grows By Jesus’ Power (v. 20-24)

III. Faith Always Relies On Jesus Alone (v. 25-29)

Throughout the first half of his gospel, Mark repeatedly shows us how the crowds and the disciples misunderstood Jesus’ identity. Last week, we reached a key moment when Peter and the disciples finally recognized and confessed that Jesus is the Christ. Mark introduced this turning point by showing Jesus heal a blind man in two stages. Jesus’ first touch caused the blind man to see, but he could not see clearly. The second touch healed the man completely (8:22-26). Just as the blind man, Peter, and the disciples could now see that Jesus is the Christ, they still did not fully understand what the Christ had come to do. When Jesus tells them He came to suffer and die, Peter rebukes Him. The disciples expected the Messiah to be an earthly conqueror who would bring victory, abundance, and glory, as in the days of Solomon. Following Him would mean reigning with Him as He conquered the occupying armies and led Israel to fulfill God’s covenant promises. Hearing that the "son of man" must suffer and die was not what they expected. We ended in verses 31-33 with Jesus chastising Peter for denying that the Messiah must suffer. This Sunday, Jesus continues teaching that not only must the Messiah suffer and die, but following Him also means walking that same path. Trusting Jesus is to follow Him as He walks the way of the cross. This passage speaks to everyone who confesses that Jesus is the Christ, as Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me..." It is not just for the elite Christians or the 12 disciples. Jesus says that anyone following Him must deny themselves and take up their own cross. After making this statement, Jesus gives four "for" statements (v. 35-38) explaining why it is necessary to take up the cross and deny self. On Sunday, we will unpack these statements and show that the way of the cross is the only path of true discipleship. This is a crucial section in Mark’s Gospel, and from this point, the focus shifts to what it means to follow Jesus. To prepare for Sunday, read Mark 8:27-9:1 so you understand the context of what we will examine in 8:34-9:1. 

I. What Following Jesus Entails (v. 34)

II. Why Following Jesus Is Necessary (v. 35-38)

III. Where Following Jesus Leads (9:1)