Mark 9:49-50 … All of us salted with Fire (04/12/17)
“For everyone will be salted with Fire and every sacrifice will be cleansed with Salt. Salt is good, and yet when salt loses its taste, how can one restore its saltiness? Have Salt in your selves by being at peace with one another.” ~ Jesus (Mark 9:49-50)
First & foremost, it is crucial to realize that “fire” was seen by Jesus (and many others of his day) as a purifying agent, not as a punishing one — a fact that was intimated by John the Baptist when he noted that Jesus’ spiritual teaching (i.e. his “baptism”) was going to come not via water but “in the Holy Spirit and fire” (see Matthew 3:11 & Luke 3:16) … And it is good that this is indeed the case, for otherwise Jesus would come across as far less than Loving (and actually quite hypocritical) when he said “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49) …
Second, please note that “salt” was a highly valuable agent of purification & preservation in Jesus’ day. Salt was used to cleanse burnt offerings (Leviticus 2:13 et al) and salt was used to preserve food (the metaphorical sustenance of the Soul) …
Third, note that the final phrase of this verse admonishes us all to “have salt in yourselves (i.e. be internally purified by thoughts of gratitude and humility) and be at peace with one another (i.e. be externally purified via selfless acts of Love).”
Remember, Jesus came to bring a message of repentance – the Greek word “metanoia” (Strong’s #3340) that meant not self-criticism or self-judgment, but rather a radical change in behavior; a change that first requires that we undergo a painful cleansing process. It hurts immensely to let go of fear & desire; it hurts immensely to let go of the arrogance & the intolerance that makes us feel special; it hurts immensely to set aside our certainty in our own personal salvation and adopt a stance of purposeful humility instead (see Matthew 18:3-4). Indeed it “hurts like Hell” to do so – even though to do so is the only way to enter Jesus’ Kingdom of Heaven (see John 13:15-17 & John 15:1-6). Indeed, we can only know true Peace ourselves once we choose to make powerful Peace with others (see John 5:28-29) …
Fourth, note that even Paul inadvertently “got it” in this regard when he said, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; and that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; though the builder will still be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3 11:15)
As such, let us all “be salted with Fire” – the great cleansing that comes from being deathly afraid and yet reaching out to Love the source of our fear – of being steeped in desire and yet reaching out to give to another that for which we most yearn.
Amen … Let it be so.
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