BE SALTY!

BE SALTY!

In chapter 9 of Mark’s gospel Jesus ascends a “high mountain” where “he was transfigured before them” (9:2). While up there, Peter found himself terribly uncomfortable with Jesus’ transfiguration and the appearance of Elijah and Moses. So Peter did what any well-intending Christian would do; He ran his mouth. “Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (9:5).

There is a great serenity in communion with God. Things may be as glorious as beholding the transfiguration of Christ or as horrific as being strung up by piano wire (Dietrich Bonhoeffer), but there is no worry or fear because our relationship with Christ is unaffected.

As Peter, James, and John came down the mountain with Jesus, the LORD “gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (9:9).

In the ensuing narrative, Jesus’ other disciples had been confounded in their efforts to heal a boy who was “possessed by a spirit” (9:17). Jesus heals the boy at the father’s request, and at the close of this section we read in vv.28-29, “his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

In the next section we read, “They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest” (9:33-34).

At first glance the narratives of chapter 9 in Mark’s gospel might seem completely disconnected: transfiguration, demon possessed boy, Jesus predicting His death, causing others to stumble… but all of these are connected.

At the end of chapter 9 Jesus says, “Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Everyone will be salted, i.e. made useful and productive, via fire, i.e. the trials and circumstances of life.

Salt that isn’t salty is like candy that isn’t sweet, like passion that isn’t passionate, like fire that isn’t hot, or like water that isn’t wet. The category for those kinds of things is not only useless, but in Ancient Near Eastern, i.e. Jewish thought, something that didn’t function for its intended/created purpose actually ceased to exist in their minds. Existence went well beyond a mere physical/material existence to what the Bible refers to as being “sanctified” or “holy” (being set apart for the God’s intended purpose).

Everyone is salted through the trials and circumstances of life, but not everyone allows those circumstances to be the crucible of redemption and sanctification for God’s glory.

Peter was being “salted” on the mountain top. His response was to run his mouth and want to build a shed for God Almighty.

The disciples were being “salted” when the father brought a demon possessed boy to them. Their response was to rely upon their own efforts and skill - most likely trying to one-up each other, but ultimately looking like a bunch of sophomoric fools. Jesus came down and said, “This kind only comes out through prayer.” What other kind is there? They’d forgotten obedience to, and total dependence upon, God and wanted to show off their super powers while Jesus was away.

The disciples were being “salted” on the road to Capernaum when they had the opportunity to discuss, praise, worship, and glorify God, but all they could do was argue “about who was the greatest.” So Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

Jesus seeks to make us “salty,” i.e. useful, through the opportunities, circumstances, situations, triumphs, and plights of life. When we simply pray for deliverance, extrication, or mind-numbing comfort rather than to be made salty/useful, then ultimately we reveal our desire for autonomy and reject God’s divine decree, authority, providence, and sovereignty.

In the midst of your circumstances pray that God would teach you, lead you, and set you apart for His divine purpose. If you’re only praying for deliverance, extrication, and personal comfort - then you elect to be salt that has lost its saltiness, i.e. useless.

Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are God’s handiwork, created anew in Christ Jesus for the good works God prepared for us long ago.”

Salt that is no longer salty is useless. That is not God’s handiwork. That is not regeneration and transformation in Christ. That is the rejection of - rather than willful participation in - the good works God prepared for us long ago.

Isaiah 55:11 reads:

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

The question isn’t “Are you being salted?”

The real question is “Are you salty?”

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com