WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?

J.D.Sarver, Youth Minister - Guest Preacher

Can you remember as a child being on the playground or the neighborhood “sand lot” or maybe at the local YMCA basketball court and it came time to “choose the teams”. You know – 2 people would be selected to start choosing players for their respective teams. Were any of you like me – not wanting to be chosen last and, hopefully being selected by the “winning team”? Because, you know, the winning side was always already known right after the selection process – way before any ball was thrown or goal or basket scored. Because, inevitably, one side was “stacked” with all of the really good players.

Well, this morning we are going to take a look at “Whose side are you on”.
Our focus text for this week is the Mark passage. In the 1st part of the text – verses 38-41 – John begins by telling Jesus that the disciples had seen someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name. But, the disciples tried to stop him because he was not following the disciples. “He wasn’t on their side” so to speak. And, Jesus tells them not to stop him. Because, as he says in verse 40 – For he who is not against us is for us or as some scriptures say “on our side”.

Aren’t we just like John and the other disciples still today? We hinder Christ’s work by focusing on what other religious activities Christian people are doing and how they are doing them. Trying to determine if it is the “right” way or not. Here’s an example: One might say “Well, they can’t have Church on Thursday night or certainly not on Friday night. After all Friday night is for football games. Don’t they know that? Church and worship services are supposed to be on Sunday.” Or, as another example: You can’t go and worship in Church without your Sunday best clothes on. You’re supposed to be dressed appropriately to enter God’s house aren’t you?

As you know, I could go on and on with numerous other examples of how this is played out. But I won’t.

And then - can’t you hear Jesus’ words as he told John and the other disciples – Don’t hinder them – for whoever is not against us is on our side. Our struggle and battle on this playing field of life is not and should not be with each other. No, our battle is against evil in the world. The one who John and the other disciples saw casting out demons in Jesus’ name. He was battling evil, and, the disciples actions hindered his work and turned the focus of the struggle on other unimportant issues. That is why I think Jesus completes his statements in the final verses in this chapter of Mark the way he did. His words and comments help the disciples and us change the focus. Instead of looking at or criticizing how or what someone else is doing, he reminds us to consider our own actions in this struggle or battle. He tells us our actions in this life have consequences attached to them.

The way we choose to live and participate in this game of life has an effect not only on ourselves, but also on others. Therefore, Jesus tells us to play this game, fight this battle, participate in this struggle of life carefully as to not stumble. But, as we look at the way Jesus states this we see that He knows we will stumble. He says if your hand causes you to stumble, if your foot causes you to stumble, if your eye causes you to stumble, as if He was saying when you stumble…When we stumble? What do we do? We get up!! And, we continue on in the game. But how? We continue on knowing as the Psalm passage states because GOD is on our side. Look again at that 1st line of Psalm 124… “Had it not been for the Lord who was on our side…” See, without the Lord God on our side, we would not survive. And, oh by the way, as I mentioned at the beginning…when I was a child, I always wanted to be chosen by the winning team. Well, what better side to be on than GOD’s!!

So, I leave you with this final question “Whose Side Are You On”??