“Enemy Identification” – MARK 9:38-41

Discussing their relative “greatness” (9:34) was part of the struggle the disciples engaged in with jealousy of one another and selfish ambition. Their fraternal jealousy actually united them together when they projected that jealousy to others outside of Jesus’ followers (9:38). Surprisingly, Jesus forbids any action against this traveling exorcist (9:39).

Be careful here, though, because Jesus is not saying that everyone who does anything “in His name” is saved. Compare “those who are not against us are for us” to “he who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23). These potentially contradictory statements are actually in absolute harmony.

In this case, Jesus is warning against the temptation to channel all good things through our own hands. In the other, Jesus draws a clear line of demarcation between Satan and God and condemns blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

The distinction for us in this lesson is that just because someone is not “against” Christ, does not necessarily mean he is “with” Christ. Christians must tread very lightly, lean on Scripture and trust Jesus to know best. We live in a world where many good things are done in Jesus’ name by folks with all sorts of knowledge and beliefs.

In such cases, their beliefs do not make them our enemy … Satan is always the enemy.

Jesus never approved or disapproved of the “exorcist stranger” and we simply do not know whether the man would obey Christ or not. The point Jesus was stressing is that it is not our business to monitor and pass judgment upon the works of others when the works are done in the name of Jesus. If the disciples needed that lesson, surely we do, too! Who among us is even qualified for that job?

Just we must leave the “tares” until the harvest (Matthew 13:39-43) for Christ to remove, we have other work to do in the mean time. Jesus knows those who are His own, and we must trust Him. All people will receive due reward before the judgment seat of Christ (John 12:48) and every gracious act – even a cup of cold water (9:41) – done in the name of Jesus will receive its due from the Righteous Judge (9:41b and 2 Corinthians 5:10).

The true enemy within is the party spirit that was infecting the disciples and continues to this very day.

As we cannot rejoice in the downfall of others, we cannot even seek to force their downfall, either. Jesus does not want us to meet Him when He comes with a handful of “tares” that we have uprooted. More times than not, we’ll more likely end up with a fist full of “wheat”.

Christianity is not scalp-hunting!