Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

- Mark 9:30-41

On Saturday we read that when He came to the disciples (from the Mount of the Transfiguration together with Peter, John, and James), He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.  Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.  And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"  Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.  And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.  So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."  He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me."  Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"  And he said, "From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.  And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.  And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"  So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.  For the second time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus predicts to His disciples what is going to happen to Him - His death and Resurrection.  My study bible notes that this shows them that He is going to His Passion freely, and not being taken against His will.   Again, after a dispute (He returned from the Transfiguration to find His disciples disputing with some scribes in Saturday's reading, above), Jesus withdraws, not wanting anyone to know He was passing through Galilee. 

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."   Perhaps because they believe that Jesus' warnings indicate that the manifestation of the Kingdom is near, the disciples dispute (out of His hearing) who among them would be the greatest in the Kingdom, a concern for worldly position rather than a focus on the dire news Jesus has given them.  My study bible calls it a selfish interest in worldly power.  Jesus points to a little child as the model of true discipleship, emphasizing the virtues that are required for greatness in His kingdom.  My study bible names among those virtues humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.   Greatness, in this picture, is the capacity for service, humility, and love without regard for position -- and the capacity to see Christ and the Father in those of the least worldly standing who are received in His name. 

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."   One patristic commentator (Theophylact) suggests that John's comment is a regret, expressed after hearing Jesus' teaching on receiving even "little children" in His name.  On the other hand, St. Ambrose comments that John expects full obedience to accompany these blessings.  But either way, Jesus' response teaches that none of those acting in good faith are excluded, even if not currently numbered among the disciples, my study bible tells us.  Theophylact writes, in a commentary on this story in Luke, "See how divine grace is at work even in those who are not His disciples."   (On those using Christ's name without good faith, see Luke 11:23; Acts 19:13-16). 

It's interesting to think about Jesus' statements here.  First He once again warns the disciples that He will be killed, and on the third day He will rise.  They can't truly take in this news, but somehow they understand its significance -- so much so, that they enter into dispute among themselves about who would hold the greatest position among them.  It's as if the sin of pride, a focus on competition, takes immediate precedence among them.  Even in the midst of bad news, it follows here that humility becomes the foundation for what will come next.  Everything they do must be done in His name, and all received in His name must be received as if receiving Christ Himself, and the Father.  In this sense, while they hear news of His death to come, there is an expansion of His living ministry in the ways in which they will receive those who are to come after His death.  "His name" will expand in even the least who are received, His presence assured in them.  In the teaching that comes afterward, they learn that His name expands to include even those not among their own immediate flock who act in good faith.  This holds true even to the extent that "whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."   The name of Christ, and our faith in the reality of His presence, assures an expansion of His work in the world, His ministry.  Sincere faith works as a network, spreading among us, and in the work of the Holy Spirit.   We note how faith is expressed through mercy, working on behalf of others ("casting out demons," working "a miracle"), extending even a cup of water in His name or to those who belong to Christ.  Through faith we are a part of something that extends without barrier, save where that faith does not exist.  Through faith God's kingdom is within us and among us.   It is in the work of the Holy Spirit, likened to the wind by Jesus, which blows where it wishes, and we cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes (John 3:5-8).   In Jesus' description here, the smallest gesture, done in His name and for one who belongs to Him, becomes a manifestation of grace, of blessing.  In this teaching, then, there is no limit placed on this Kingdom, save the capacity for faith.  Wherever there is the love of Christ, there He is among us and within us.  We carry His name, we extend it to others, we receive Him in even the least of these.  These are the assurances we need to know about His presence, His family among which we may number ourselves and within which we dwell.  Like the true neighbor in the story of the Good Samaritan, let us note that such a life requires only our own initiative, we need wait for no one to invite us in; the door is opened to those who can respond with love and faith in His word.