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John shows how far the disciples were from understanding Jesus' teachings. John complained: "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us" (Mark 9:38). Jesus, of course, rebukes John's narrow outlook and contends: "Whoever is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:40).
Fred Craddock puts this conversation into a larger context when he says "that Jesus had selected twelve to be apostles does not mean that no one else could trust in God as Jesus taught and participate in his ministry. The twelve had been chosen from among many disciples who certainly were not sent home because they were not of the apostolic circle. Exorcisms were performed among the Jews, and it was inevitable that those drawn to Jesus would call on his name for power over evil spirits...
"And why not? Who holds the franchise for relieving human suffering? The twelve, who should have celebrated the fact that the influence of Jesus was spreading, especially in view of their own recent failure, manifest a spirit of exclusivism."
Fred Craddock puts this conversation into a larger context when he says "that Jesus had selected twelve to be apostles does not mean that no one else could trust in God as Jesus taught and participate in his ministry. The twelve had been chosen from among many disciples who certainly were not sent home because they were not of the apostolic circle. Exorcisms were performed among the Jews, and it was inevitable that those drawn to Jesus would call on his name for power over evil spirits...
"And why not? Who holds the franchise for relieving human suffering? The twelve, who should have celebrated the fact that the influence of Jesus was spreading, especially in view of their own recent failure, manifest a spirit of exclusivism."
