19th Sunday after Pentecost Mark 9:38-50

John's Only Question

While Peter sucks up all the oxygen in the room with loads of questions, John only gets one direct question to Jesus recorded in the Gospels. In the passage immediately preceding our text today, Jesus told the disciples that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven must be the servant of all. In response, John asks about a recent encounter and how they should have responded.

Apparently the disciples saw someone successfully performing miracles in the name of Jesus, but this person wasn’t one of the twelve, wasn’t in Jesus’ inner circle, wasn’t “one of us” to use John’s wording. In essence, John’s question boils down to this: “How should we handle people who aren’t just like us?”

Jesus’ response to John’s question…

1. Jesus offers a broader definition of who is “one of us” than the disciples wanted. Who do you struggle to include as “one of us” and why? How do you think they view you?

2. When have you served someone else in the name of Christ? When have you allowed someone else to serve you? Which is harder and why?

3. If Jesus’ words about stumbling are addressed to his closest followers, try to apply these words to yourself. Where are your own words or actions pointing away from Christ and causing others to…