Series: What Time Is It? Sermon: It’s Time to Be Responsible
Texts: Mark 9:38-50, Esther
Supplemental Text: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29, James 5:13-20
Psalm Reading: 19
In Mark 9:38-50, we see Jesus calling His disciples to be responsible with their eyes, hands and feet. To be responsible is to respond to the needs of our time and place with Jesus’ courage and grace. In Jesus we see someone whose eyes saw the overlooked, whose hands touched the untouchable, and whose feet went to the unreached. Our eyes, hands and feet have been given to us to bless, not to curse, to salt the earth, not to sour the earth. Christians realize that we are responsible for the particular place and time in which we find ourselves. Jesus’ hyperbolic statements about “cutting off” eyes, hands and feet are intended to shock us into removing any habits that cause others to stumble in their faith. We must allow Him to examine our lives and excise anything that needs to be cut out so that our lives can be fully devoted to Him in our times. Psalm 19:12-14 is an excellent prayer to do this.
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Reflection Questions
Begin with a prayer pause. Read and imagine being with Jesus in Mark 9:35-37.
Read Mark 9:38-50. Remember that Jesus is in the middle of instructing his disciples on how to be servants (Mark 9:35) and how to welcome the little ones (Mark 9:36-37). What does the Holy Spirit draw your attention to?
John’s statement to Jesus in Mark 9:38 reflects an in-group bias or cliquishness. How does this show up in the church today? Why is this dangerous to spiritual growth and what can we learn from Jesus’ response to John?
How do the hyperbolic (exaggerated to make a point) statements in Mark 9:42-49 encourage us to take responsibility for our impact on the faith and lives of others?
Jesus uses the Greek term “skandalizō” in verses 42, 43, 45 and 47. This is translated as “stumble” in NIV, “offend” in KJV, and “fall into sin” in CEB. Can you think of ways that others may have caused you to stumble? Or how you have caused others to be offended or to fall into sin?
After these reflections, is there something in particular that God is drawing your attention to? Is there something you need to “cut off” in order to keep from stumbling?
Read James 5:13-16. Close in prayer with the guidelines he provides. Pray for the troubles. Lift up praise. Pray for the sick. Confess your sins.
Weekly Reading (Sept 29-Oct 5)
Monday: Esther 4:1-17; 1 Peter 1:3-9
Tuesday: Esther 5:1-14; 1 John 2:18-25
Wednesday: Esther 8:1-17; Matthew 18:6-9
Thursday: Psalm 8; Galatians 3:23-29
Friday: Psalm 26; Romans 8:1-11
Saturday: Genesis 23:1-20; Luke 16:14-18