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Luke 9: 49, 50 (Mark 9) > He who is not against us

He who is not against us

Luke 9: 49 - 50 ( King James Version )

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.

verse 50 > And Jesus said unto him, "Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

same story in Mark

Mark 9: 38, 41 ( King James Version )

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

v. 39 > But Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

v. 40 > For he that is not against us is on our part.

v. 41 > For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."

Text Quoted in Spirit of Prophecy

On another occasion his brother James and himself had seen a man casting out devils in the name of Jesus, and because he did not immediately connect himself with their company, they decided that he had no right to do this work, and consequently forbade him. In the sincerity of his heart John related the circumstance to his Master. Jesus said, “Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part” ( Mark 9: 39, 40). { SL 56.2}

On another occasion, his brother James and himself had seen a man casting out devils in the name of Jesus, and because he did not immediately connect himself with their company, they decided that he had no right to do this work, and consequently forbade him. In the sincerity of his heart, John related the circumstance to the Master. Jesus said, “Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” { RH February 15, 1881, par. 11 }

There are many true Christians, not of our faith, with whom we come in contact, who live according to the best light that they have, and they are in greater favor with God than are those who have greater light, but who have not improved it by showing corresponding works. At one time the disciples found a man who was doing a work in Christ’s name, and John, relating the matter to Jesus, said, “We forbade him, because he followeth not us,” but Jesus rebuked this spirit, and told his followers that “he that is not against us is on our part.” The Way, the Truth, and the Life, will be clearly revealed in the words, the spirit, and the deportment of those who believe in and learn of Jesus. Parents and teachers should manifest the tenderest interest and sympathy for those who are not believers in the truth. They should never, either by word or action, wound a soul, the purchase of Christ’s blood. If the older ones manifest a cold, harsh, unsympathetic spirit, the children will manifest the same, and their characters will not be moulded after the divine model. We must patiently educate the children and youth to feel that they are required of God to be missionaries, that they are not to be selfish, narrow, and bigoted, but broad in their ideas and sympathies. If all work in love and manifest Christian courtesy, they will be winners of souls, and will bring precious sheaves to the Master. { SSW January 1, 1889, par. 9 } { TSS 32.2 }

This lesson was not lost upon John. He saw his character in a new light. An act was brought to his mind which he had supposed was right, but which he now began to question. “Master,” said he, “we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him.” James and John had thought that in forbidding this man to work miracles in the name of Christ, they had had their Lord’s honor in view; but they began to see that they had been influenced by wrong apprehensions and a jealous desire for self-preferment. They acknowledged their mistake, and meekly accepted the mild reproof of Jesus: “Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” { ST January 15, 1885, par. 5 }

On one occasion the disciple of John came to Jesus, saying, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. Or he that is not against us is on our part.” Mark 9: 38-40 { 1888 1560.1 }

Luke 9: 49, 50 quoted

If you see things to find fault with, remember that Christ said to his disciples, “Come ye apart and rest a while.” And in this place of retirement they told him all about their labor, and Christ instructed them how to work. They said, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.” And Jesus said unto them, “Forbid him not; for he that is not against us is for us.” { GCB April 22, 1901, par. 22 }

When the youth do wrong, do not be rough with them. Take them apart. Christ did not correct his disciples before the multitude. He said, “Come ye apart.” They had just returned from their first missionary tour, and had made many mistakes. They came to him and told him what they had done. One said, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.” Christ told him that that was not the way to do. “Forbid him not,” he said; “for he that is not against us is for us,” although he may make no definite profession. { GCB April 25, 1901, Art. A, par. 19 }

Comment: The disciple John reported, we met someone who was
"casting out devils in thy name"
they thought, you are with us and Jesus
OR
you are NOT with us and Jesus.
when he did not follow them, they forbade him to continue working

Jesus introduced a third option, he can be with me, and not be with you

A Pastor presents this in a video about the Reformation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mRuj23Y39k&feature=youtu.be
between 30 min 30 seconds and 33 minutes

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