Salted with Fire

Well, as a Steve has mentioned, he and I are the short elders and I were working together today, and in the service. Now is the slide indicates I would like to to talk today about a saying of Jesus, that's given in Mark chapter 9 verse 49. And their Jesus says, I'm I'm leaving now from new revised standard for everyone will be salted with fire.

It's quite a striking image. I mean you can think about some a salt shaker being held over you and shaking out and what's coming out as fire.

Wow, what it? What did Jesus mean? There's more than one possible explanation.

And I'm going to talk about two explanations. Both of them have important lessons for us. And of course, it's a good thing when there's more than one possible explanation because then you get multiple lessons from the same verse. It's very economical.

So this passage has always raised questions. And one indication of that is that at some point over the first several centuries of Christianity. An extra Clause was added. By someone to verse 49, verse 49 s is for, everyone will be salted with salt and that Clause ads and every sacrifice. And every sacrifice will be salted with salt. Everyone will be salted with fire and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. That second Clause is not in the oldest manuscripts. And so, modern translations will give it in a footnote. Now, that doesn't mean that the Clause doesn't belong. If you got a King James, you don't have to cross it out. You can put in parentheses if you want, but I don't think you didn't have to do that. Remember that? We trust God to have given us the information we need and so this well could well be an inspired addition to the to the text. Right, so, they can Mark himself, didn't write it, but it could come to us. Come to us from a long history. Come to come to us from God. Know that extra Claws and every sacrifice will be salted with salt, making a reference back to Leviticus chapter 2, which is a no readings for today. So let's go back to Leviticus chapter 2.

Why we read about what's called a grain offering and the chapter starts. When anyone presents a grain offering to the Lord, the offering should be a choice flower. The worship worship or oil on it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. After taking from it, a handful of the choice, flour and oil with all this frankincense. The priest shall turn this token portion into Smoke On The Altar. An offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord. And what is left of the grain offering still be for Aaron and his sons, a Most Holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord? So grain offerings involved, find flower meaning either of finely ground and or of the finest quality, probably both.

Along with oil. And another ingredient that was always. There was salt and we actually read that later in the chapter.

In verse 13, you shall not emit from your grain offering the salt of the Covenant with your God with all your offerings, you shall offer salt.

And then a part of this offering with if this was not a cooked grain offering frankincense was added and a portion of the offering including all the frankincense, which was an edible was a burned. So, this offering involved both salt and Fire? Like this often with salted, and it was also had a portion that was burned. So, salt and fire were both involved here, right? So this could well have a connection with with what Jesus was saying.

So a portion was was burned. The rest was used as for a flower for food, for bread, for the priest.

Now, the Hebrew word for this, kind of offering the grain offering is Minka. And mean car has a a broader meaning of going Beyond sacrifices. The word more more broadly refers to a tribute or a gift given to show reverence or submission. So for example, a gift that you bring to a King.

When Jacob was meeting, Esau after so many years came back from labor and he's going to be the Esau and gives remember he gives you. So I gift. And in Genesis, 32, that gift is called, I mean car. Do you think about it? He's sort of you know, he wants to appease Esau. He's saying I'm your servant right? He's doing that kind of a gift. So when somebody is giving this kind of an offering, they're showing their dependence on God. Their submission to God their loyalty to God acknowledging him as a king.

Now, what about the salt? And remember, I read and verse 13. It says it's the salt of the Covenant.

And elsewhere in in the Bible. There's some more discussion of that salt, you know, has different kinds of symbolic meanings that we'll talk about. In numbers 18, for example.

Is talking about donations portions of offerings, that went to priests and Levites?

And verse 19.

Numbers 18:19.

All the holy offerings that these are lights present to the Lord. I've given to you the priests and Levites together with your sons and daughters as a Perpetual do It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and your descendants as well. And we reading Leviticus to about how with the grain offering there was a large portion that went to the, I went to the priests, no notice in this first. I just read it talks about this is a Perpetual due to Covenant of salt forever. So numbers 18:19 is emphasizing. The lasting nature of the Covenant. God is committed to Israel. That's not he's not going to change his mind. He is totally committed to Israel. And so, when you're making a grain offering with the salt. You're William. And again, there's a portion that is. Burned, right? That was called the memorial portion Memorial. Remember it's calling for remembrance. so, the offer Is remembering the nature of this commitment that I have, as a member of the coven of people to God. And I'm saying, hey, I'm I'm committed to you. I'm loyal to the Covenant.

And also with this offering root really, there was a prayer and prayers would have been prayed in conjunction with the offering in the offering itself, should have constituted a prayer. That was saying, I know you are the merciful god who's committed to us. Take action on my behalf. Remember us. Remember your people remember me in the situation. I might be in. So, the park, burned up the memorial for such a call to a call to remember and the stalk was indicating, right? This lasting nature of the Covenant.

No salt was used in other sacrifices to, it turns out, for example, later on at the temple, with animal sacrifices. Let's say they were doing a burnt offering of an animal, salt was put into the carcass to soak out the blood. So they're the salt really had up what you would call a purifying effect. Another meaning of of salt is salt prominence that has all sorts of purifying effect. Then the carcass was putting the fire as a burnt offering. And so again, we both got both salt and Fire. Country. I got this different symbolisms of salt. It's indicate something that's lasting. Also connotes purification, and it's a little bit more about that back in Exodus chapter 30, verse 35.

We're talking about the the holy incense that was going to be used at the at the Tabernacle and Temple.

And then verse 34, Exodus, 30 lord said to Moses, take sweets spices and verse 35 and make an incense Blended as by the perfumer seasoned with salt was pure and holy. So, the salt goes with that, with purification with Holiness being set, apart, for God.

now, in

I think that when I'm trying to get at Mark 949 where Jesus said everyone will be salted with fire. Who is the everyone? In context, one of the possible meanings of everyone, I can really be Jesus's disciples because in that part of Mark, he's getting different teachings to his disciples and telling them about what's the nature of discipleship. What are you signing up for having chosen to follow me? Okay. So if the everyone Jesus's disciples,

He is saying for one thing that so they're being scalded. So that means that their sacrifices. So that's one thing that he's telling his disciples, right? You're being salted like a sacrifice. So you're a sacrifice in some sense. Now, that's a familiar New Testament theme. And there are certainly verses that talk about Christians and that way. And we and I'll just remind you about a couple of familiar one. So let's think about the beginning of Romans 12, right? I'll be the one you think of first.

So Romans 12:1 Paul says, I appealed you therefore, brothers and sisters by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice. Holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. I do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. So that you may discern, what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Sao, Paulo saying that we're to offer ourselves as sacrifices to God as the author of The Grain offering. You know, I was thinking, hey, I'm in Covenant with you. We think Jesus, you died for me, you're committed to me. I want to be committed to you. This is a lasting thing. I'm loyal to you. I'm submitted to you. Okay? I'm a sacrifice.

Another example at season 5.

But Paul says, therefore be in two seasons 5 verse 124. This chapter starts.

Potters. Therefore, the imitators of God As You Love a children, And live in love as Christ, loved us and gave himself up for us. A fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. So notice here, he's saying that Jesus is giving all this life was a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. There's that fragrant Aroma, right, that we've been talking about and Paul calls upon us to be imitators of God. And so the idea is that we are giving our lives to this, some meaning fits in with what Jesus is saying, in that section of the Book of Mark. Because one of the things that he's telling them, Telling his disciples is, I'm actually going to die.

A pretty soon and actually I'm calling you to kind of following my footsteps. So for example in the previous chapter, Mark 8 and verse 34.

Jesus said he called The Crowd with his disciples and said to them. If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me for those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel will save it. So this is a serious thing that he's telling about. If you want to follow me, then you're giving your life. You're becoming, you're going to fall in my footsteps and become a sacrifice.

So, we can think about each each of us. He's disciple as an in-car, A Gift To The King. I depended upon and loyal to God.

And that means in particular, that each disciple is precious to God. And that's another thing that so that comes up in this part of Mark. Actually a few, a few verses.

Above verse 49, verse 42. Jesus says, if any of you put a stumbling block before, one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you. If a great Millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. So he's talking about how precious are his disciples to him and to God.

Now, how does so? So we're being scalded. How does the fire fit in? Byers got his own symbolism, right? And there's more than one. You know, what this is. This is multifaceted to, I think. How does the fire fit in? Well, remember the certainly we can think about the fire of the Holy Spirit? A Pentecost, remember an axe to how did the Spirit come upon the disciples there in tongues of Fire? Right, so you could think there maybe they're being salted with fire at that point set apart. I just holy with with fire.

A disciples possess the spirit of God. Another thing about salt is that it enhance it enhances the flavor of me driving in the snow. Faiza, a carcass. The spirit sets us apart dedicates us to. So the starting with fire, could have to do with them, receiving the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Another place where fire comes in that is the part of discipleship is with the fire of suffering and persecution. And that is a fire that can be thought of as having a purifying effect.

One of the features of salt. So, for example, in 1st Peter, there a couple of verses with I'll highlight first in 1st Peter 1 verses 6 & 7

Alright, sir, Peter and in his letter saying, in this, some in this, you rejoice, the Salvation that's of the coming that you waiting, for the return of Jesus. And then she rejoiced, even if now, for a little while, you had to suffer Grace trials. So that the genuineness of your face, being more precious than gold at the perishable, is tested by fire. Maybe found the result in praise and glory and honor when Christ Jesus is revealed.

All right, so that the things that we suffer the trials, it's basically we're being tested by fire.

And further on in. Chapter 4, starting Bruce 12.

1st Peter, 4:12.

Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you as though something strange were happening to you but rejoice in so far as your share in Christ's sufferings so that you may also be glad and Shout for Joy. When his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you're blessed. Because the spirit of Glory, which is the spirit of God is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer. If he for criminal or even as a mischief-maker yet, if any of you suffer as a Christian is a Christian, do not considered a disgrace that glorify God because you bear his name.

So you saying, hey, don't be surprised at the fiery trial that you were experiencing. But this is part of this is part of being a disciple. This is what we're called for. Now, this particular time of year, if you think of that word in late October now, and we're coming for the time of the year when we remember and stand with the persecuted Church.

We know that there are Christians in many parts of the world who are definitely undergoing fiery trials. Are, we can think of Christians living under totalitarian regimes like North Korea and China? Are you think about Christians that are risking their lives having been say, born Muslim, but having converted to being Christians who really put their lives on the line and making the choice that they have. So you think about John was with being a ran right, Iran? Afghanistan, you know, anywhere in the Arab world for their people who are becoming becoming Christians from a, from a Muslim background. There are undergoing that that fiery trial it to at this point. Just before his numbers go in the in the last century there been and I'm probably many times as many Martyrs. Christian Martyrs is there were maybe in all the proceedings and she's put together. So it's it's a very real thing and end. So certainly we should renew our efforts to to stand with the pren to pray for the other persecuted Church.

It may be that this know that their fiery trial is what it what it means to be salted with fire.

So so that's one. Major meaning for Mark. 949. Jesus was thinking about his disciples as sacrifices and their salted with fire in that they're set apart for him with the Holy Spirit. And also where are called. I'm putting him first to undergo, whatever, trials and sufferings, go with us as people who are dedicated to him.

Now, I'm also going to give an entirely different interpretation. Based on another meaning of salting something like in the verses for everyone is it will be salted with fire?

The Hebrew phrase for salting. Something can also have the sense of to destroy something completely. Tell her I'm going a completely different different direction. And an example of this is back in Judges chapter 9 is busy Sceptre. 945 that I'm

No, here. Abimelech goes against the city of shechem. And it says, in verse 45, judges, nine abimelech fought against the city. All that day. You took the city and kill the people that were in it, and he raised the city, right? He burned it to the ground and sowed it with salt.

So care of them like completely destroys of this place and it says he's sold it with salt, which is kind of a symbolic action indicating your destroyed and I don't want anything to grow here anymore.

So it's that sense of of something being being salted. It sucks. It's been. It's been destruction. It's been destroyed. I did stuff.

There's a gallery of a bit. It was raised, right? So there is Indiana's, both salt and fire in this. In this first, the city burn down and so the salt

Now, this actually does connect with the context in Mark 9, that I haven't read the preceding versus the ones, just preceding that scripture. Go back to Mark 9.

I read verse 42, but let's start in verse 43. What Jesus has some more serious words for for IC says, if your hand causes you to stumble cut it off, it's better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands, and go to hell to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble cut it off, it's better for you to enter life lane then to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble tear it out. It's better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes. And to be thrown in hell where their worm Never Dies. And the fire is never quenched.

And that comes right before I roast and then there's a voice verse for everyone will be salted with fire. So you could read it as everyone that goes into hell is completely destroyed with fire. And that will read that reads verse. 49 is just an addition to the, the passage that we've, that we've just read and of course, Jesus isn't talking about people mutilating themselves. Well, literally, of course, she's saying that we want to be in the Kingdom. If there's something that standing between us and God something that were letting get in the way of that, total commitment that we wanted out of the way. Are you sure? It's a serious thing?

Now, the second interpretation I've given I can mention you can read about it in an article by a scholar named Weston fields. And some Old-Timers say may, remember that name the article article on this appeared in Jerusalem perspective in 1988. Here's some perspective was published by the Jerusalem school, for synoptic research, which was a Consortium of Christian and Jewish scholars in Jerusalem in Israel who work together to understand Jesus in the second temple Jewish setting. Dwight Pryor congregation founder was part of, that was part of that group. And another person who was in it with that was Weston Fields, who is the head of an organization called the Dead Sea? Scrolls Foundation? Okay, so he gives that exclamation. Now that doesn't mean that that's the official explanation of Mark. 949. That's a that weekend horse is a puzzling passage. We don't have official explanations of it. But just by the way, just the connection with our with our history. Yeah, you can find an article in Jerusalem perspective from 1988. It's part of their public domain stuff so you can just find it with a search and by the way, through some perspective has lots of interesting stuff in it and we all have access to it by the way. And you can get the password from Rob, if you're interested and probably for me, if I look it up in my in my email, I've got, I've got it in there somewhere. Alright, so we got two different explanations of Mark 949.

Let's think about how they can come together and what they have in common. Both of these emphasized, the importance of how we respond to Jesus.

Will we be totally committed to him? And The Salted by the purifying fire of the spirit. And I know you sufferings that, that come our way and in the course of that. Or what we reject him and assaulted by the fire of Destruction.

These are, these are the options. This is laying out in this passage. And of course were strongly committed to the to the first of those. But we still pay attention to the to the things that stuff that Jesus is telling us in the in the way of warning enough condition.

Let's let's pray Our Father in Heaven. We're so thankful to be part of your people. Thank you for setting us apart to your spirit. Thank you for giving us the gift of eternal life through Jesus in and certainly yum. You know, nothing compares to the promise we have in you. And so we're prepared to for whatever comes this week as we serve you and also at this time. With our worldwide family, many of whom were undergoing, fiery trials. We lift them up is a memorial portion and ask and indeed that he will continue to be with them. And we pray that they're powerful. Witness would serve a great purpose for us and for the whole world. But we ask this in the name of Jesus. Our savior. Amen.