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 “And
John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in
thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.”
(Lu. 9:49)
Answered
what? The word may mean, “began to speak” but Vine says
always “where something has preceded, either statement or act
to which the remarks refer.” The Harper—Bagster Lexicon
says, “in N.T. to respond to certain present circum-
stances.” What “brought on” John’s remarks about the man
he had “forbidden”?
The
preceding verses show that the Disciples had been disputing
about who among them should be greatest, and Jesus had rebuked
them for their pride. (See Mk. 9:33-37) John is not named
specifically, but other passages say James and John accompanied
their mother when she asked Jesus to seat them in high positions
in His kingdom. (Matt. 20:20-f) Was the woman alone in her
desire for greatness? I believe the sons must share the blame
and that John (perhaps James, also) was enough involved in the
arguments about greatness that Jesus’ rebuke carried a special
“sting.”.
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Is
it not a well established trait of human nature that when the
sermon fits, we try to change the subject? Our personal defense
is to launch our own attack upon someone else. If, in this new
battle, we can make our former critic an ally, perhaps he will
forget all about the fault he saw in us. The shoe fits — so we
try to find a different shoe, for someone else.
When
John felt the sting of the Lord’s rebuke to pride, he “answered”
by saying, in effect, “Master, we (James also?) saw this ‘outsider’
doing wrongly, and we really jumped on him. We let him have it!!”
Even
if John’s judgement was right and his actions respecting the
second man justified, this would not remove John’s fault. How
embarrassing to discover he was again wrong. Jesus said,
“Forbid him not. . .“
Will
we never learn — a second error does not correct the first —
we can not grow by causing others to appear smaller — and,
final judgement is on an individual basis, by One who sees and
knows our very thoughts
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