This morning I have been reflecting on Mark 9, and thinking about Jesus' closing comments about salt. I did a study 8 years ago on the Salt Covenant, and it was one of those things I had never heard of previously, and based on the number of times that topic has been read from my blog, it seems that there is not much on the subject. It was an interesting study, and although related, today the theme is just salt.
Anyway, I was thinking about the last two verses of that chapter - Mark 9:49-50 NIV:
[49] "Everyone will be salted with fire.
[50] “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.”
For an interesting perspective about salt losing its flavor, see my blog at the following link:
http://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/2012/03/you-are-salt-of-earth.html
So the question is what is Jesus referring to in these two verses? The verses immediately preceding these have to do with sin, with eternal judgment, and the fires of Gehenna. Jesus clearly isn't talking about them here, for He is talking about salt as something good, and says we will be salted with fire. In my study of salt, as a sign and part of the salt covenant, I understood salt to stand for endurance, purity and permanence, all good things.
As I was thinking through these verses this morning it occurred to me that Jesus was possibly referencing the coming fire of the Holy Spirit. John spoke of Jesus as baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire - see Matthew 3:11. I was thinking that the Holy Spirit coming and empowering the disciples was what really caused them to stand out, and to make a difference. The Holy Spirit's visitation and residence in someone's life is considered the proof of God's permanent acceptance of the person, a seal of redemption, if you may. Paul wrote the following in his letter to the Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession---to the praise of his glory."
We see Paul encouraging Timothy in the following verses from his second letter to him - 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
There are several other verses that I could quote, but suffice it to say that there is a correlation between fire and the Holy Spirit and His gifts. There is also a correlation between salt and fire as described here by Jesus, and thus we might make the logical conclusion that there is a correlation between salt and the Holy Spirit and His gifts, for clearly He is a seal signifying our permanent and eternal redemption by the Lord. David prayed the following in Psalm 51:10 NIV:
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Our call as Christians is to live our lives in such a way that those who see us, see God in us. Peter encouraged the church as follows - 1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV:
"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. [12] Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
However, our call is also much more than just living good lives, filled with good deeds, we are called to preach the Kingdom, and to demonstrate the Kingdom realities, and God's presence. Jesus' sent out the disciples with the following instructions - Luke 9:1b-2 NIV:... "he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." For all of us, these instruction are impossible to do without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Paul wrote of his own ministry - 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 NIV: "I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. [4] My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, [5] so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power." Paul, who was probably the most capable speaker and writer of all the Apostles, didn't depend on his human abilities to share the Gospel, instead he relied on the Spirit's power.
Looping back to the original verses, as I look at being salted with fire, and salt losing its saltiness, I wonder if Jesus wasn't speaking about a Holy Spirit-less church? I heard one preacher say that the problem with many churches today is that they could have a wonderful church service whether the Holy Spirit was present or not. Is it possible that we have lost our saltiness, the very thing that is supposed to make us stand out, that which distinguishes us?
Jesus continues speaking and says the following, "Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Is is possible that He is calling us to encourage one another in the pursuit of, and growth in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? The gifts of the Holy Spirit, in addition to fueling evangelism, are meant to help the Body of Christ grow, mature, and function correctly. Without the Holy Spirit guiding and leading the Body of Christ, we will fail. Additionally, peace is one of of the Holy Spirit's fruit (Gal 5:22) and the fruit of the Holy spirit in our lives is meant to bear witness in our lives and lives of those around us to our relationship with the Lord. Paul further writes, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
In summary, it seems to me that the Lord, although speaking somewhat cryptically, is indeed encouraging us to press into all that He has for us, especially into the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. He desires that we fulfill the ministry He started, which is the preaching of the Gospel to all the world, and demonstrating this Gospel through our lives and through the power of the Holy Spirit (fruit and gifts). If we lose our reliance on the Holy Spirit, we being to look just like every other well intentioned group of people, and while that is good, we are meant for more!
I finish with this prophecy and promise of Jesus, speaking about his followers, found in John 14:12 NIV: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Oh Lord, I pray that we might be restored to our rightful place, to our right-mindedness concerning the absolute need of all the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives! We pray that we might be salted with Fire! That we might encourage one another deeper in You, in Holy Spirit, that our preaching might not be with wise an persuasive words, but rather a demonstration of the Spirit's power!!
Amen and Amen!
May you be salted with Fire today, empowered by Holy Spirit! May your life be a light, a fire of passion for the one who saved you, redeemed you and put His seal upon you!
Sam
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