Mark 9:38-50: a reflection

38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” 39But Jesus said, “Don’t 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. 40For whoever is not against us is on our side. 41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. 42“Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, 44‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 45If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched— 46‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 47If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, 48‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Amid his teaching, Jesus makes a striking promise about the smallest of kindnesses. Whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, he says, because you are Christ's, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. A cup of water is the smallest of gifts, a trifling kindness. Yet Jesus promises that even this, done in his name, for the sake of belonging to him, will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. The smallest kindness done for Christ's sake is seen and remembered by him.

Notice what Jesus says about the small kindness: it will in no way lose its reward. He does not speak of great deeds, but of a cup of water, the humblest of kindnesses; and he promises that even this, done in his name, will not be lost or overlooked. Nothing done for Christ's sake is too small for him to notice and reward; the smallest kindness, given because one belongs to him, is seen and kept by him. He does not measure by the size of the deed, but notices even a cup of water given in his name.

That is an encouragement, for we can think our small kindnesses too trifling to matter. We may feel that unless we do something great, our small acts of kindness count for nothing, and go unnoticed; but Jesus promises that even a cup of water, given in his name, will not lose its reward. No kindness done for Christ's sake is too small to be seen and remembered by him. Do not despise the small kindnesses you can do, thinking them too trifling to matter; even a cup of water, given in Christ's name, is noticed and rewarded by him. Offer the small kindnesses within your reach, done for Christ's sake, knowing that none of them is lost or overlooked; the God who notices a cup of water given in his name sees and remembers even your smallest kindnesses, and none done for his sake will lose its reward.

Lord Jesus, amid your teaching you make a striking promise about the smallest of kindnesses. Whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, you say, because you are Christ's, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. A cup of water is the smallest of gifts. Yet you promise that even this, done in your name, will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. Show me what you say about the small kindness: it will in no way lose its reward. You do not speak of great deeds, but of a cup of water; and you promise that even this, done in your name, will not be lost or overlooked. Nothing done for your sake is too small for you to notice and reward; the smallest kindness, given because one belongs to you, is seen and kept by you. You do not measure by the size of the deed. That is an encouragement, for I can think my small kindnesses too trifling to matter. I may feel that unless I do something great, my small acts count for nothing; but you promise that even a cup of water, given in your name, will not lose its reward. Keep me from despising the small kindnesses I can do, thinking them too trifling to matter; even a cup of water, given in your name, is noticed and rewarded by you. Help me offer the small kindnesses within my reach, done for your sake, Lord, knowing that none of them is lost or overlooked.