Mark 9:30-50

Mark 9

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection Again

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know this, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.”

³² But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask him about it.

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ³⁴ But they remained silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.” ³⁶ Then he took a little child and placed him in their midst. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not just me but also him who sent me.”

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

³⁸ John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not try to stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil about me. ⁴⁰ Whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Amen I tell you: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward.

Do Not Cause Little Believers to Fall Into Sin

⁴² “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall into sin, ^[1] it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around his neck. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed, than to have two hands and go into hell, ^[2] into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴ ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ^{[3] 45} If your foot causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, ^{[4] 46} ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁷ If your eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ^{[5] 48} ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good. But if the salt loses its flavor, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”