September 21, 2021
Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture is from Mark chapter 9, verse 40: Whoever is not against us is for us. (NRSV)
Jesus is talking with his disciples. One of them has told Jesus they stopped someone who was not with them from casting out demons. Jesus told him to leave the man alone because, “whoever is not against us is for us.”
This reminded me of growing up in a neighborhood with lots of kids. We would play in the court/street, because, of course, it was not a through street. We kids knew which driveways we could ride our bikes on, use for bases in kickball or softball, and the yards we could hide in for a huge game of hide and seek. But we also knew which yard and driveway was off limits. We could not even touch the grass and it was as if there was an invisible fence all around it. That family was not for us kids having fun, but we made the correct assumption that everyone else was. It was just the way it was.
Perhaps the disciples were concerned the man was casting out the demons incorrectly or that he would make a mistake, somehow damaging Jesus’ reputation. Whatever the reason, it was excluding this man from God’s kingdom, just as our neighbor excluded us from his yard. But Jesus is clear - his kingdom is inclusive. Leave him alone, Jesus says, because there are more people than just the disciples who are part of God’s kingdom. And that is very good news - all are welcome!
Blessings. And prayers.
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