Luke 9-E “We tried to stop him...”

S = Luke 9:49-50 “John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

O = This is really amazing to me. This other person seems to be manifesting a greater belief than even the apostles at this time. He is successful in driving out demons in Jesus’ name when the apostles had failed. It seems he understood that the power, the authority, was in Jesus not in himself. A lesson the disciples apparently had forgotten. In addition, why does John think this is the topic to bring up to save face after the argument about who was greatest…or does he? My first reading is that John was trying to show Jesus that while they had perhaps missed the point by arguing about greatness, they recognized that Jesus was the greatest and that they were the defenders of his deliverance franchise. If this is John’s motivation, then Jesus’ correction puts an end to it. Imagine thinking that Jesus would be happy that people were being left in their bondage once this man’s “unauthorized” ministry! But I wonder, if perhaps instead of trying to get Jesus’ approval, John is simply coming clean after being convicted by Jesus’ teaching? I would like to hope that it might have been the latter.

A = Do I see the success of other’s in the name of Jesus as a threat? Do I see the Kingdom of God as bigger than my ministry, my congregation, my denomination? I hope so. God’s team is bigger than any one person or group. Within the realm of Biblical orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right actions) there is a vast multitude of committed followers of Christ. We need to get better at working together and not being envious or defensive at the success of others even at a time when we seem to be falling short.

P = O Lord, may I be more concerned about hurting people experiencing your deliverance than how it looks for my own ministry. May I be quick to confess, to come clean, when I realize my motives and actions have fallen short accurately representing your “name” in love, grace, humility, and truth. May I never hinder someone acting on true belief in your power and authority to help those in need. Instead, may I be more like them this week! Amen.