³⁸ John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For the one who is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.” – Mark 9:38-41 ESV

Jesus has just addressed the disciples’ desire for power and prominence, yet they seem to have missed the point. Their internal squabble over who was the greatest among them led Jesus to declare, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35 ESV). In His Kingdom, greatness was not measured by the significance of one’s role but by the humility of the heart. Jesus, as the Son of God, was the second member of the Trinity, yet “though he was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7 ESV). As Jesus later told His disciples, “even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 28:20 ESV).

But as Jesus wrapped up his object lesson on leadership in the Kingdom, the disciples again failed to grasp the vital lesson He was trying to teach them. This time, John spoke up, not the ever-impulsive, quick-tongued Peter. The topic John raised at that moment reveals that he and his companions had failed to understand what Jesus was telling them.

“Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” – Mark 9:38 NLT

John’s words carry an air of exclusivity and arrogance. He was irritated that someone outside their circle was performing miracles in Jesus’ name. In fact, this imposter was casting out demons. From John’s point of view, this was unacceptable because Jesus had given that kind of power and authority only to His 12 disciples (Mark 3:15).

It’s important to remember that all this talk about greatness in the Kingdom began immediately after the disciples failed to cast a demon out of a young boy. The boy’s father came seeking Jesus’ help, but when he found Jesus wasn’t there, he turned to the B-Team.

“Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” – Mark 9:17-18 NLT

The disciples had failed. Despite the power and authority Jesus gave them, they couldn’t cast out the demon. But that small setback didn’t stop them from arguing over who was greatest among them.

John shared their concern with Jesus about competition from outside; whoever this individual was, he was operating without a license. From John’s perspective, this exorcist was infringing on their trademark rights. He had no business performing signs meant to be the disciples’ purview alone.

Mark does not name the individual casting out demons on an “unofficial” basis. By leaving out the man’s identity, Mark almost places him in the same category as the young child whom Jesus held in His arms. The unknown man was one of the least. By casting out demons in Jesus’ name, he was doing the will of the Father, not for personal gain or glory. Jesus gently rebuked John and the others for their prideful attempt to stop the man from casting out demons.

“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” – Mark 9:39-40 NLT

In a sense, Jesus was telling the disciples that they were all on the same team. This man was doing good, and he was doing it in Jesus’ name. He was not in it for fame or personal gain. By casting out demons, he demonstrated the power inherent in the name of Jesus. His efforts displayed the superiority of the Son of God.

This entire scene reminds us of another encounter recorded in the book of Acts. Philip traveled to the city of Samaria to preach the good news about Jesus. While there, he also performed many signs and wonders.

Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. – Acts 8:7-8 NLT

But in the city, a well-known and revered magician saw Philip’s actions as unwanted competition.

A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. – Acts 8:9-11 NLT

Simon began to follow Philip, watching his every move, likely to learn and steal the secrets of his power. But in time, “Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed” (Acts 8:13 NLT).

As Simon watched Philip and the other apostles, he wanted the power they displayed.  He wanted in on the action.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” – Acts 8:18-19 NLT

But Philip, aware of Simon’s motivation, rebuked him.

“May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” – Acts 8:20-23 NLT

Simon, once called “the Great One – the Power of God,” was anxious to regain some of his lost prestige, and he was willing to pay for it. He was jealous of the apostles’ power and sought to restore the position of prominence he had once enjoyed.

This does not seem to be the case with the man who was casting out demons. He remained anonymous and unknown throughout Mark’s account, and Jesus presents his actions positively, not negatively. It was the 12 disciples who displayed jealousy and an unhealthy dose of envy.

They saw this man as competition, but Jesus insisted that he was on their side. He was doing what they had failed to do, and he did it for Jesus’ glory. Jesus points out that this man’s actions showed kindness.

“If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.” – Mark 9:41 NLT

Jesus compares casting out a demon to sharing a cup of water. One act was spectacular and supernatural, while the other was simple and seemingly unimportant, but both were acts of service. When done in humility and with a servant’s heart, any action brings glory to God and a reward to the servant. But when pride and a desire for prominence motivate what we do, we show the heart of Simon the magician.

Jesus sternly warns all who would do great works in Jesus’ name for self-glorification.

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” – Matthew 7:21-23 NLT

The disciples struggled with a need for recognition and the desire to be great. They were obsessed with significance and resented anyone who might rob them of potential glory. But Jesus wanted them to understand that their true calling was to mirror His attitude and actions. As servants, they would be called to sacrifice their lives for the Kingdom. Later, Jesus told the disciples a parable to illustrate the life of service and sacrifice that marks the life of a Christ-follower.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” – Matthew 25:34-40 NLT

Slowly but steadily, the disciples learned the invaluable lesson of true greatness. As Paul described to the believers in Philippi, true greatness is best seen in Jesus’ life, and we are to follow His example.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. –Philippians 2:3-5 NLT

The disciples had mistakenly identified leadership with power, prominence, significance, and greatness. They had spent their entire lives in anonymity and obscurity, and, if Jesus truly was the Messiah, they hoped to benefit from their relationship with Him. But Jesus showed them that true greatness is marked by humility, obedience, service, and a desire to do God’s will.

Jesus discussed this in His Sermon on the Mount, warning His listeners not to confuse notoriety and the praise of men with God’s blessing.

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1 NLT

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.” – Matthew 6:5 NLT

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.” – Matthew 6:16 NLT

He summarized His remarks by encouraging them to pursue anonymity and humility, rather than notoriety, adding, “Your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:18 NLT). 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.