Mark 9:31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.” NHEB
Jesus tells them He is going to Jerusalem to die but in their search for glory, they are preoccupied with debating who is the greatest among them.
In Mark, every time Jesus talks about His destiny, He then talks about ours. In chapter 8, the discussion is about us taking up our cross and following Him. Here the discussion is that being a disciple means servant-hood rather than glory.
Mark 9: 36 He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, does not receive me, but him who sent me.” NHEB
The mention of a child here tells us that there are more people in the group than just the twelve since the child is close by. Luke also gives us a glimpse of the group by mentioning the names of several women who are traveling with them (and footing the bill). The disciples are worried about their status when Jesus puts a child in the middle and says this is who you should worry about.
We don’t know who the child is but the early church made the claim that it was Ignatius. Ignatius was a student of the Apostle John and the third bishop of Antioch. (Antioch and Jerusalem are the two main centers of early Christianity. When Jerusalem falls, the power shifts to Antioch and then later the Rome). Ignatius is one of about five people of the period immediately after the apostles whose writings still survive to this day.
Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. 25 So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. 26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves. BSB
The kings of the Gentiles are the Roman leaders. These teachings will be heard by people who have a preconceived notion of what power (and the exercise of power) looks like. For example, an emperor riding in a chariot versus Jesus riding on a donkey.
Mark 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in My name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to the Christ, truly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. NHEB
Exorcism was a familiar ritual in the first century, especially among Jewish exorcists. First century Judaism had a sense of good and evil as well as the powers that relate to both. When the scribes see Jesus doing it, they view Him as a rival who was undercutting their authority. Here the tables are turned as an operative has realized that the name of Jesus is effective so he starts using it. This teaching ties in to how we relate to people who are new to the faith (or even of different denominations). It also illustrates the concept of servant-hood that Jesus has introduced earlier where even an act as small as giving a cup of water in His name will be rewarded.
“we learn that the humblest acts of Christians – the lowest service that is rendered – will be graciously noticed by Jesus and rewarded. None are so humble in his kingdom as not to be able to do good, and none so poor that he may not show attachment to him. The feeblest service will be accepted, and acts of love that may be forgotten by man, will be remembered by Him, and rewarded in heaven”. (from Barnes Notes on the Bible)
As one of the Sons of Thunder, John is ready to go full out Elijah and wipe out these people yet Jesus (likely to John’s surprise) doesn’t dismiss them. He notes that these people are doing good and if it runs its course, even though these people may not currently understand who Jesus is, they ultimately will. The exorcists are religious professionals who aren’t concerned about who or why it works. Their only concern is that it does work so that they can put it in their toolbox. It is also possible that that the disciples are jealous because this person is outside their group and thereby (no pun intended) stealing their thunder.
Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guards and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. BSB
In Galatians 1, Paul is concerned about people preaching the wrong Gospel. In Philippians, it isn’t that they are preaching a different Gospel – it is their motives that are the problem.
Mark 9:42 Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. WEB
Jesus is starting to hammer home a point. “Little ones” could refer to children or it could refer to people who are new to the faith, i.e., physical immaturity versus spiritual immaturity. It is really both as these are the people who are spiritually vulnerable and easily misled.