The Disciple John knew that he and the other disciples were part of the official group of Jesus. He knew that he was part of the "us" in "Jes-us," but that other man was not a member of the 12 disciples, so John thought "He is not one of us," so John didn't think he was part of Jesus. However, Jesus said that the man was working in the Name of Jesus, so that gave him permission to cast out demons and proclaim the Gospel. Jesus warned John that by excluding the man, and others like him, they were making stumbling blocks. These stumbling blocks would drive people away from Jesus and away from salvation. Rather than be a stumbling block, it would be better to remove yourself from the problem, by jumping into the sea so you would be removed far away from making a stumbling block -- or it would be better to cripple yourself in order to prevent yourself from driving someone away from Christ. Jesus says that would be better than hell, because it would be hell for not just the offending disciple, but also hell for the person who is cut off from the Gospel through that such actions. To be against anyone who lives by the power of the "name of Jesus" -- to put a "stumbling block" before (no matter what their age is) the "little ones" who believe in his name -- is to be against Jesus himself. The disciples gave the appearance of following Jesus, but in reality they were against him, betraying him, anything but trusting in him and his name.
To be excluded from Jesus is to be excluded from the Kingdom of God, and that is being "thrown into hell," into the unquenchable fire. When I think about that, it is very difficult to mention it, even in a sermon. It helps to speak about it in the grammatically passive tense, "to be thrown into the fire." When we use the passive tense, we do not have to say who does the throwing. But it is clear, it is God. This is the judgment of God. This justice of God is called "salt." "For everyone will be salted with fire" (v.49). "Salt is good," he says, that justice is good and right. But this justice means damnation, so the salt has lost its saltiness as something we look forward to.
And the justice of God came upon hisown Son, Jesus Christ. The salt of justice sent Jesus to the cross. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the salt of justice has become a special kind of justice. It gives mercy, grace, forgiveness, and the promise of resurrection. In the cross and resurrection of Jesus, the justice of God itself is now transformed into the forgiveness of sins. In Jesus, the impossible has happened. The salt that had lost its saltiness has had its saltiness restored. Justice becomes mercy; the grave produces new life. And the love of God brings peace so that there is new salt, so that Jesus can say, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
We live now in the power of "Jesus' name." No matter what our age is, we are the "little ones" who believe in him. Christ is defending us so that we will not stumble. We are the ones who receive the "cup of water," and we are also the ones who give it.
Becoming one with Jesus in faith unites us to all other believers as we are united to Jesus. The "us" in Jes-us is a much bigger group than just the "us" that we can see around us in church this morning. The "us" is all who speak the "name of Jesus" in prayer and faith. It is whoever gives a cup of water to all who bear the name of "Jesus."
Today we celebrate the unity of all Christians no matter what denomination they are affiliated with. In two weeks we will celebrate the Reformation, which is often a celebration of "US" as the true church. There will probably be sermons that say only Lutherans will go to heaven. Personally, I think the Lutheran Church has the best doctrine. But I also personally know many wonderful Christians in so many churches, and many who are not in churches, who have the name of Jesus. They are like us, they are "us" as we are all in "Jes-us."
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
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