TGBC Monday, 25 Jan 2021. Mark 9:33-49 rope-a-dope
Mark 9:33-49
New International Version
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “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.”
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Causing to Stumble
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they 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 with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where
“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
++++++++++++
Long day starting early, so I'm not energized to deal with this morning's passage this afternoon, sorry (not really sorry, it's just what we say when we aren't going to do something whether you like it or not).
The disciples' arguing about which of them was the greatest is always eclipsed in my heart and mind by the memory of watching Cassius Clay (later Mohammed Ali) on black & white TV at the officers' club in Yokosuka, Japan that day. Ali was a charming, innocent, absolute delight to watch and get to "know" and a blessing to have shared the world with. He was indeed The Greatest and I'll never stop missing him!
Hearing him chant that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". He was 22, this braggadocious young boxer, insulting his opponents by shouting that he was going to use his rope-a-dope to win the fight, when I was 27, watching him stun the big and scary. It was worth living in the 20th century to be able to see him!
RSF&PTL
T+