MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St.Mark

St. Mark 9:42-50

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I FIND a real difficulty in the interpretation of these verses almost in every part. The question that rises in my mind is of how literally Jesus expects us to take his words. However in spite of this there is some very clear teaching here which all of us can identify with.

The passage commences with Jesus' strong condemnation of those who causes children to offend. This verse is certainly linked with the previous verses. The verse reveals how special children are in the eyes of God and the Saviour and how precious they are to him. No doubt the words 'cause to offend' has been left intentionally general, however the direction which was brought forcefully to my mind is one which is quite prominent today, and that is the direction of child abuse, specially in the sexual realm. It is clear from this verse that the severest judgement of God is reserved for those who carry out such abuse, so that it would have been better if they had been drowned at birth (a millstone tied around their neck, etc.) than that they should have grown up to engage in such awful degradation and such awful harming of the lives of others. It is implied as well in Jesus' words that no guilt attaches to the one so abused, and that in the eyes of God they are as they were before abuse, or as if they had never been abused. However, although God sees no defilement, there is no doubt the abused one feels wholly degraded and defiled, and so for them the truth of new life in Christ and new birth in Christ needs to be pressed home. They need to realise that in Christ the abused one has died in Christ, and although the abused body still exists in this life, the person new born inside in the spirit, is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. There is no degradation or defilement in the regenerate person, but only a holy and pure soul fit for God. Whatever the body may be saying to the abused, the new person is truly undefiled. It also needs to be pressed home to the abused one, that although the old flesh still exists and feels the defilement, this will not be forever. This flesh will be removed and left behind at death, and a new pure resurrection body will be given. Thus the plague of our sinful flesh is temporary however permanent it may feel in this life.

In the next verses 43-48 where Jesus is speaking about removing parts of the body that cause sin in a person, I personally feel that Jesus' words are not to generally be taken literally so that the body is mutilated, though perhaps in some cases Jesus may call for the removal of a part of the body. I see Jesus speaking so strongly to force home to his people the great problem and struggle we have with our sinful bodies. What is it that Jesus is pressing upon us.

Firstly, the awful sinfulness of our flesh, and the tremendous danger it presents to our spiritual life, so that we need to be constantly watchful to mortify all the sinful deeds and propensities of our flesh. It is a foolish Christian who does not appreciate the corruption which lies in our bodies, and the fact that this sinful body will never be redeemed. It needs to be understood that in this life we are never free from our sinful flesh, but that instead it will be exchanged in eternity for a new resurrection body. In this life it will always be a source of great spiritual warfare and struggle.

Secondly Jesus wants to impress upon us the awful nature of hell. Any pain or sacrifice in this life is worth it in order to save from the awful suffering and pain of hell. Pain and suffering now, though it is so urgent upon us when we suffer, and seems to be forever, is in fact temporary, unlike hell which is forever.

Thirdly Jesus wants to impress upon us the need to be watchful, and to guard against all things which may stimulate our flesh and cause us to sin. It is for this reason Christians need to be careful concerning the friends they make, the company they keep, the activities they engage in, the work they take up, and so on.

The last two verses 49-50 I find myself feeling that I don't know whether I have understood them properly or wholly. What I offer in explanation now is done tentative. When Jesus is speaking of everyone being salted with fire, he is, I believe, speaking of purification. Jesus seems to be telling us that some experiences by which Christ works purification within his people will be severe and painful, but will be for the good purpose of purifying us from sin and keeping us from evil.

In the next verse where Jesus speaks of salt becoming useless, he seems to be warning us against avoiding the purification of the Lord, so that the perfect work of purification does not take place and we are left as we were, vulnerable to the temptations of the flesh. Our flesh cries out to avoid pain and is very insistent. We must let the salting by fire from the Lord do its perfect work, trusting in the love and goodness of our Saviour to bring us through safely.

Purity brings greater peace with God, in ourselves and with others. Thus to allow the purifying salt of God to have its perfect work is worthwhile for our greater peace. So let the salt of God be in us.