The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Mark 9:38-50
A Salty Body in Jesus’
Name
Proper [21] B, 30 September 2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Christians are given to be a salty / body / in Jesus’ Name. What does that mean? Let’s ask Jesus in our Gospel
reading for today: 38John
said to [Jesus], “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and
we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus said, “Do not
stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon
afterward to speak evil of me. 40
For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you
a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his
reward.
Us. Which “Us” did John have in mind? Was it the disciples
and Jesus? Perhaps. But this question comes immediately after Jesus rebuked the
disciples for their argument about which among them was the greatest. They
forgot all about Jesus being part of “Us.” Christ
served us, became the very last, the servant of all by being killed and rising.
And by being last, the servant of all, He freed us all from sin, to serve
others. Jesus embodies true Greatness. He who made Himself last, has been made
First.
The point then, is not whether people follow us. We pray
they will join Immanuel or a sister congregation, but the bigger question is: Are
they following Jesus? Our basic ground rule has been this: what does the text
say? We don’t shy away from controversial topics as some Christians do—we meet
them head on with our eyes on God’s Word. Then, we know what the Bible says
about Baptism, Communion, pastors, the Church, the forgiveness of sins, and the
importance of serving others and telling the good news about Jesus. Christians
can work toward true unity only if Holy Scripture is the source and foundation
for all teaching and practice, instead of human authority, human reason, what
happens to be politically correct at a given moment, or the vote of the
majority.
We are reminded that we should ask as a congregation and as
individual members of the body of Christ: Are we following Jesus? The point
then, is not whether people follow us. Are they following Jesus? Then, and only
then, will we find unity. We will also know what it means to serve those who
need to hear of Christ as well as those who belong to Christ. We are given to
serve in Jesus’ Name.
Christians are given to be a salty / body / in Jesus’ Name. What does that mean? Again, Jesus explains: 42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones
who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were
hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it
off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to
hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it
out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with
two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire
is not quenched.’
We are the body of
Christ in this place. Individuals, yes—individuals saved one-by-one by
Jesus and gathered together as His body.
Jesus takes sin seriously. So, if one of the parts of the body—if one the members
of the congregation—sins, then we need to restore them gently. If they will not
repent, church discipline follows for their own good, and the health of the
body. Unrepented, unforgiven sin leads straight to hell—do not pass go, do not
collect $200. And there is wonderful freeing forgiveness for those who repent!
The Gospel says, welcome home!
When members stay away for reasons other than illness, it
often feels like the body of Christ is missing something. The whole body aches.
Parents have an important responsibility to raise their children in the faith.
If we wait until they make up their own minds, they would get to run around
like pagans forever. Jesus gives a stern warning even to those who care for
young people: Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and
he were thrown into the sea.
Christians are given to be a salty / body / in Jesus’ Name. What does that mean? Today’s text concludes: 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if
the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in
yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Salt has a distinctive, unmistakable flavor. We will face
times of testing from the Lord in this life. Even then, that flavor is to
preserved just as Jesus gave it to us.
Without church discipline, mentioned before in the
discussion of the body, we would lose our saltiness. Eventually, Christians
wouldn’t taste any different than the rest of the world. Without Jesus, His
pure word, and acts of charity in His name, we would also lose our saltiness.
Salt and Light go together. For LWML Sunday next Sunday, the
theme is “Salted for Service.” The word Christian means “little Christ.” As we
go into the world, the salt and light of Christ within us shines around the
edges. Jesus reminds us: 13"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its
taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything
except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14"You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a
basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who
is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
Christians are given to be a salty / body / in Jesus’ Name.
We are first given to follow Jesus and serve others in the name of Christ. We
are one body of Christ, and need to preserve pure doctrine and practice in our
midst through teaching, and, when necessary, church discipline. Jesus warns all
Christians against unfaith so that we would be salt and light to a dark and
bitter world.
LCMS CoW: The
Lord’s service calls forth our service—in sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving
to Him and in loving service to one another. Having been called, gathered,
enlightened, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, we receive His gifts with
thankfulness and praise. With psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we joyfully
confess all that God has done for us, declaring the praises of Him who called
us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our song joins with the song of
every saint from every age, the new song of Christ’s holy people, declaring:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and
might and honor and glory and blessing. (Rev. 5:12)
Within the Lutheran
tradition, the wedding of the Word of God to melody was modeled by the reformer
himself. Martin Luther had a high regard for music and urged the Church to use
it wisely as a vehicle for proclaiming the Gospel. “Next to theology,” he
wrote, “I accord to music the highest place and the greatest honor.” Retaining
the best of pre-Reformation hymnody, as well as adding a great number of new
hymns to the Church’s song, Luther and succeeding generations of hymnwriters
continue to inspire the faithful to lift their voices in praise and
thanksgiving to the triune God… (LSB,
p. viii) Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
