Last Sunday we had the great joy of baptizing two new members into the body of Christ. Congratulations to Daniel Petitt and to Trista Farris, may your new journey be a blessing to you and to all those whom you encounter in this wonderful thing we call life... God's blessing upon you both!
I moved pretty quickly through the scripture below for the sermon, so please take a listen it isn't a long sermon by any means. The last point that I touched upon in the sermon had to do with the whole "salt" thing in verses 49 and 50.
There are two ways that are generally attempted to interpret these two verses (and they are confusing verses to be honest): The first is that there are types of salt (not sodium chloride NaCl) that can have uses as a fertilizer and thus stimulate growth. But here I don't think that's what is intended since Jesus says "how can you season it", so here I believe the second angle is the more preferred. The second direction is that seasoning something with salt or another seasoning can and does bring out the flavor... the good in the food that we consume (salt is also a preservative and that angle can also be explored). Christ is that season in our lives, that seasoning that brings out the very best in each of us.
As we go forth this week, let us be attentive to the seasoning of the Lord in our lives and let us share our 'goodness' with everyone we encounter... in other words...
Be a blessing to someone (everyone) today!
In His Grace & Love,
Roy
Mark 9:38-50 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone[a] casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
Temptations to Sin
42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me,[b] it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,[c] to the unquenchable fire.[d] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.[e][f] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,[g] 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.[h] 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?[i] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Footnotes:
a) Mark 9:38 Other ancient authorities add who does not follow us
b) Mark 9:42 Other ancient authorities lack in me
c) Mark 9:43 Gk Gehenna
d) Mark 9:43 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are lacking in the best ancient authorities
e) Mark 9:45 Gk Gehenna
f) Mark 9:45 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are lacking in the best ancient authorities
g) Mark 9:47 Gk Gehenna
h) Mark 9:49 Other ancient authorities either add or substitute and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
i) Mark 9:50 Or how can you restore its saltiness?
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