Mark 9:33-50

The Test Of What Men And Women Are Is Determined By What They Do In His Name (9:33-50).

Jesus now gives a number of illustrations of what it means to act in His Name as the Messiah. He gives three examples of those who are ‘for us' and one example of those who are ‘against us'. In all cases it has nothing to do with seeking greatness, but with seeking to serve in genuineness and lowliness. Thus:

a The one who receives little children  in His Name  does the greatest work of all (Mark 9:37).

b The one who genuinely operates  in His Name  to relieve the need of others is to be fully appreciated because he is clearly on Jesus' side (Mark 9:38).

c He who is not against us is for us (Mark 9:40).

b The one who gives them a cup of cold water  because they are the Messiah's  will not lose his reward (Mark 9:41).

a The one who causes even the littlest  who believe in Him  to stumble will lose everything. And this last is so awful that desperate efforts must be made in order to avoid it (Mark 9:42).

Note that in ‘a' to receive little children is to receive Him, while in the parallel to fail little children who believe in Him is to be in the greatest possible danger. In ‘b' the one who operates in His Name to relieve others is to be appreciated, and in the parallel the same applies to the one who gives a cup of cold water in the name of the Messiah. Centrally in ‘c' the one who is not against them is for them.