Wounding Worshipers

by Pastor Darryl K. Fields |  May 16, 2014

Beloved,
 
Jesus provides an extreme picture of hell in Mark 9:42-48 as a warning to those who would wound people in worship with their actions and attitudes.If we seek God’s promotion we must be mindful not to wound people who have come to God’s House to worship.Jesus paints three extreme pictures to point out the extreme ends we should go to in avoiding wounding a worshipper.
 
Really, Jesus is saying it is better you enter Heaven wounded than wound a worshiper. That’s the extremes in the text.Verse 43, If your hand offends, cut it off.That’s extreme! But, your hand represents what you do and it is better you be maimed here than go to hell.Verse 45, If your foot offends, cut it off.That’s extreme!But, your foot represents where you go and it is better to be halt than land in hell.Verse 47, If your eye offends, pluck it out.  That’s extreme! But, if you can’t stop looking and lusting it is better to pluck it out than find your place in perdition. Jesus is painting an extreme picture of the extreme nature of landing in hell.Get this, Jesus does not want us wounding ourselves, but He does want us to worship Him. Here’s the point, it is better to enter heaven absent your hands, feet or eyes than have your whole body go to hell.
 
Sincerely yours and securely His,
 
Pastor Darryl K. Fields