Message

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HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES

 

Mark 9:30-50

Key Verse:9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

  Last week we studied how everything is possible for him who believes. Indeed everything is possible for him who believes. Around 40 years ago at the initial stage of our UBF church, people thought that Pioneering SNU (Seoul National University), known as the Harvard of Korea, was impossible. It was because SNU students looked too high-minded and smart to accept the gospel of Jesus. But, UBF people did not think so. They believed the word of Jesus that everything is possible for him who believes. They met together and prayed day and night. Soon, God opened the hearts of many SNU students to accept the gospel of Christ and raised them as influential spiritual leaders in Korea.  When we believe in Jesus’ word and pray, everything is possible. Last Sunday, Sam testified that it was true that Jesus changed water into wine. It was because everything is possible for him who believes. I pray that each of us may experience the power of faith when we trust in God and pray. Amen.

  In today’s passage Jesus predicts his own death and resurrection to his disciples again. Then, he teaches them who is the greatest in the kingdom of God. Mainly Jesus teaches them how to grow as influential spiritual leaders for their generation.

First, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection again. (30-32) As we have studied, Jesus was transfigured on a holy mountain and showed an original image of the Holy God to his disciples. Jesus showed his glorious image before the eyes of his disciples so that they could understand the meaning of his death and resurrection. Through the transfiguration of Jesus, his disciples ought to have believed that Jesus would suffer many things and die on the cross for our sins and rise again for our eternal life in the kingdom of God. Jesus wanted them to believe that he came to this world as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Jesus wanted them to believe that he would rise again after he overcame the power of death.

Jesus wanted them to accept his death and resurrection as God’s divine will for world salvation.  Still his disciples didn’t get it. They did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. So Jesus repeated about his death and resurrection on the way to Jerusalem. Look at 30-32. “They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”

  Then, what is the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection to us? There was a pretty girl who thought that her life was her own and that she would be happy if she did whatever she felt like doing. So she coaxed a boy and slept with him. But, she was not happy at all. She felt miserable the more she had deeper relationships with men. She wanted to get out of her miserable life, but she couldn’t. It was because she had become a slave to her sinful desire. But, through Bible study, she came to know about Jesus who came to this world to save sinners like her. She humbly accepted that Jesus died for her sins and rose again for her new life and eternal life. Now she experiences real freedom, joy and happiness in Christ Jesus.  There was a handsome man who thought that life was meaningless since death is the end of everything. He had no desire, no motivation and no purpose of life even though he studied at a prestigious college. But, through Bible study he learned that Jesus died for his sins and rose again for his eternal life. While studying about Jesus, the young man came to know that life comes from God and that all lives go back to him. He had the hope of a glorious resurrection and eternal life in the kingdom of God. Since then, he has decided to live his life for Christ Jesus as a bible teacher for many wandering souls on campus. Jesus’ death and resurrection taught him the meaning and purpose of life.

Second, who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? (33-37) Look at verses 33-34. “They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.” The question about who is the greatest among men has been a big issue in human history. Historically people have added the title “Great” after the names of those who have lived extraordinary lives such as Alexander the Great, Peter the Great, and so on. Once Muhammad Ali, the heavy-weight world boxing champion, said, “I am the greatest.” Jesus’ disciples were not an exception. On the way to Jerusalem, they had argued about who was the greatest. They might have measured their contribution and position in the upcoming Jesus’ earthly messianic kingdom.  Especially, after Jesus took the three top disciples, Peter, James and John, to the holy mountain, the remaining nine disciples became more sensitive and attentive to the hegemony among them. “Who is the greatest among the Twelve? That is a question.”

Jesus did not rebuke them by saying, “How foolish and selfish you are! How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” But, he accepted their desire to be great and taught them who is the truly great in the kingdom of God. Indeed, all men and women want to be great since we are created in the image of God who is great. All men have the innate nature to become number one. No one wants to be nobody, but everybody wants to be somebody. But, in the spiritual world the concept of being great is different from that of this world.

Jesus taught his disciples who is the truly great in the kingdom of God. Look at verse 35. “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Generally people compete with each other to be first. Yesterday I read an interesting article from the Internet that a South Korean woman broke the world record for non stop singing with 76 hours in a Karaoke bar. In America there is a hot dog eating contest on the fourth of July in New York so called, “Nathan’s hot dog eating contest.” One skinny Japanese guy competed and became a world champion by eating 59 hot dogs within 10 minutes. This world is filled with competitors and rivals who want to be first. Jesus’ disciples also competed among themselves to be first. Peter might have thought that the other disciples should recognize him as top leader among them and that he should be served by them. James did not think so. He thought that he should be first because he was the most handsome man in his own eyes. Even Bartholomew would not withdraw himself in regard to be first among the Twelve. As long as they argued and competed with each other to be first, there always remained in them tension, jealousy, anger, hatred and despair.  

But, Jesus said that if anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. What a paradoxical teaching of Jesus! Everyone wants to be first by ruling over others or putting aside their rivals. But, Jesus said that his disciples must be the very last and even become the servant of all in order to be first.  Not only did Jesus teach them how to be great, but he himself also showed them a good example. Jesus is the Son of God, but he came down to this world as a man. Even though he is God in very nature, he served all kinds of people as a servant. (Php 2:5-11) He healed ugly lepers and opened the eyes of a blind beggar. (Mk 1:41,8:25) He became a friend of lonely tax collectors and a father for a Samaritan woman. (Mk 2:15, Jn 4) In order to feed the hungry, he became hungry. In order to serve sinners, he became a man of sorrow and familiar with sufferings (Isa 53:3). He accepted the erring disciples and washed their dirty feet one by one as a mother does for her children. (Jn13:5) He taught them the meaning of his death and resurrection again and again expecting that they might grasp even a hint of meaning in his death and resurrection. Finally, he obeyed the will of God the Father and died on the cross. He gave his own life as a ransom payment to pay the price of our sins and gave us eternal salvation. So he said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mk 10:45)”

 

Through the life of Jesus, we learn that the truly great man in the kingdom of God is the one who humbles himself and serves others like a servant. Mother Sarah Barry is great because she served Korean students as if they were her own children.  Our missionaries and young disciples are great because they are ready to serve others with words of God and much delicious food. You are great when you learn humbleness and servant-ship from Jesus. Jesus taught his disciples the qualifications to be great in the sight of God, which are humbleness, servant-ship and obedience.

Jesus’ teaching continued. Look at verses 36,37 “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” At Jesus’ time, people despised children. But, Jesus asked his disciples to welcome children as they would welcome him. Here children are categorized as the despised and the needy.  There will be the Europe UBF International Bible Conference in Germany this August commemorating the 40^th anniversary of Europe UBF. We will celebrate how the God of Europe has worked in the land of Europe. Then, we must remember that Europe UBF started from a humanly hopeless person like Volk Keller in Germany. At that time, Mr. Keller was physically and mentally too weak to finish high school. No one accepted him. No girls liked him. He was just wandering here and there in despair like a gypsy. But, our Korean missionaries accepted him and served him like a prince. They taught him the Bible, fed him with delicious food and planted faith in his heart. Soon, his soul was restored and by faith he graduated from high school. Then he married a godly woman and became a Bible teacher and the Abraham of Europe UBF. When the missionaries welcomed a seemingly hopeless person with the love of Jesus, God was moved. Then, God sent many young people to the missionaries until their Bible house was packed with many Bible students.  When we welcome seemingly the least person in the name of Jesus and serve them with sincere love from our hearts, God will establish his kingdom in their hearts and in our hearts. God will surely bless our family, our ministry and our nations when we do so. Amen.

Third, whoever is not against us is for us (38-41). In these verses Jesus teaches his disciples to have broad-mindedness and generosity in doing the work of God. Look at verses 38-41. “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” In order to be great in the sight of God, we must learn how to accept others in the name of Jesus and work together. Thank God that in UBF there is no exclusiveness, no racism and no localism.  We are one in Jesus. Those who have generosity and minds as broad as the Pacific Ocean are truly great in the kingdom of God.

Fourth, one who causes others to sin.(42-49) In these verses Jesus teaches his disciples the seriousness of causing others to sin. Let us read verses 42-49. According to Jesus’ word, no one can enter the kingdom of God with a sound body! Someone may enter the kingdom of God with only one hand and one eye. Others may enter the kingdom with even no eyes and no feet. But what Jesus really meant in these verses is that we must be very careful not to cause others to sin. We hear that Reverend Dr. Billy Graham would not do one to one counseling alone with women. That way no one would be tempted to sin.  The cost of causing others to sin is tremendously fatal. So the servant of God should struggle against sin as a matter of life and death.

Fifth, have salt in yourselves. (50)  Look at verse 50. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” In this verse Jesus teaches his disciples to become men of good influence. Salt is good because it prevents corruption. Salt is good because it give flavor and taste to food. Salt is good because it itself melts away to save others. Salt reminds us of our Lord Jesus. Jesus gave his own life to save this world. Jesus sacrificed himself to prevent this world from corruption and destruction. Jesus restored the joy of salvation and the meaning of life to his people. In a word, Jesus became a man of good influence.

In today’s passage, Jesus taught us who is truly greatest in the kingdom of God. The truly great men in the kingdom of God are those who humbly serve others. The truly great men in the kingdom of God are those who welcome the least people in the name of Jesus and with the love of God. The truly great people in the sight of God are those who have broad minds and generous hearts like Jesus. Those who have pure hearts and live as men and women of good influence are truly great in the sight of God. The life and teaching of Jesus becomes salt to the world. Therefore, we must have salt in ourselves. We must have Jesus in our hearts. Amen.

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