“Friend or Foe”

Mark 9: 38: “John said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your Name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us.’” Why would a stranger be casting out demons in Jesus’ Name? Who said it was a stranger? John just said, “He was not following us.” This was not a bunch of strangers trying out the latest religious fad, like the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19: 13-16). Notice John’s use of the plural pronoun ‘us’. So the real question is: “Can someone follow Jesus without following our personal group?” And Jesus’ emphatic answer is: “Of course.” Not understanding this keeps the Body of Christ divided.