Mark 9:42-50

Jesus is in Capernaum teaching His disciples when He grabs a child and says in verse 42, "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown in the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck". Jesus is exspressing the idea that if we cause anothere brother or sister to sin it is detestable, especially if they are a child since we are to be examples for them and are to be pointing them towards righteousness. The idea of having a millstone tied around your neck gives the image of a person with so much weight that they could not swim and would certianly die. Small millstones still weigh over hundreds of pounds, having a large one tied to your neck furthers the idea that if you cause a child to sin your punishment will be great.

In verses 43-49 Jesus begins to give problem-solution examples of different parts of the body sinning. While Jesus does say that we should "cut off" or "pluck out" the parts of our body that cause us to sin, I do not believe this is to be taken literally. When God created us He said that we are, "Very good". Why then would Jesus want us to literally cutt off parts of us that He called very good? Instead, I believe that Jesus was intending us to remove the parts of our body from the things that are causing us to sin. If we can not control our eyes on the computer, then have a friend set up a parental control on it. If our hands can not be controled when with the opposite sex, then do not be alone with them. Your cutting off the ability to be put in those situations that cause you to sin. This is the key; do not even let the situation present itself and the sin will not occur.

What is salt? Scientifically salt is Sodium Chloride. To the everyday chef or just the general food eater, salt is a flavor enhancer. Salt obsorbs the flavors around it, boosting that flavor. In verse 50 Jesus questions, "how can you make it salty again" after salt looses its saltiness. The answer: you can not. As a result, Jesus gives us the challenge to always have salt in ourselves and to be at peace with each other. We are to always have saltiness and are to always be uplifting our brothers. We are to magnify each other's strengths and use them to further God's kingdom. Jesus also commands us to have peace among us. We lose our effectiveness, our saltiness, when we are against the people we serve with. In order to further the Kingdom effectively we must be at peace with the ones we serve.

God today let us not be a stumbling block the people around us. Let us always seek to be uplifting in our speech and actions. God give us a saltiness from You. Let us enhance our brothers and sisters to better serve You and to fulfill Your plan God. We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.