Sinful Appendages

Mark 9:38-50

Today I have a confession to make.  I am a sinner.  I have been a sinner my whole life.  I probably should have already cut off my hand or tied a millstone to my neck and been thrown into the sea.  I am a sinner.  You are a sinner, too.  Each and every one of us are sinners.  We live in a world full of sinners.

            Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the fruit from the tree in the garden, which they were told not to eat, humanity has been sinful.  This sinful nature is present in all of humanity.  It is known as original sin.  Sin is that which separates us from God.  The things we think, say, and do that are not in line with God commandments.  Sin is the things that cause us to stumble or cause others to stumble.

            Jesus says, “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.”  The huge millstone refers to a large millstone that could be found in the middle of a village and would serve the whole village.  A donkey would turn that giant millstone and grind the grain, olives, and other foods for people of the village.  So, those who cause others, especially children and other vulnerable people in society, to sin should tie the millstone around their neck and be thrown into the sea.  Not thrown into a wading pool or a pond, where one could get back out.  Jesus says these people should be thrown into the sea with a very heavy object tied around their neck.  This would mean death for these people.  They could not be rescued, found, or saved by a lifeguard or a search party.  Jesus’ words are harsh.  Sin is offensive to God and to other people.  Therefore, it requires harsh punishment.

            Not only is it a violation of God’s law to cause a little one to sin, it is also an offense to sin in any way.  No matter what type of sin it is it is still offensive in God’s eyes.  So in this text Jesus convicts us, each one of us.  “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off!”  “If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off!”  “If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out!”  In saying this Jesus helps us recognize our sin.  Not only does Jesus point out our sin, he goes as far as to tell us how to get rid of our sinful appendages.  This can seem very brutal.  Cut off my hand or my foot, pluck out my eye.  Really, Jesus?  You want me to do what?!

            Hands cause sin.  Hands are used in stealing.  Hands are used in killing.  Hands are used in anger.  Hands are used in abuse.  Hands are used in pointing.  Hands are used in insulting.  Feet cause sin.  Feet are used in trespassing.  Feet are used in kicking.  Feet are used in speeding, breaking civil law.  Eyes cause sin.  Eyes are used in coveting someone else’s possessions.  Eyes are used in lustfully looking at a person’s body.  Eyes are used in cheating.  I could go on, but I think you get the idea.  I am sinful.  You are sinful.  We are sinful.

            No matter what appendage commits the sin, all of our sins originate in the mind.  They originate with our thoughts.  Sin comes from within us, and is often made manifest by our appendages.  In calling us to remove our sinful appendages, Jesus is calling us to repentance.  He is calling us to turn from our ways and cut off the thoughts, words, and actions that make us sin.  Jesus is calling for radical measures. 

            In this text Jesus uses a hyperbole or exaggeration in explaining that we must cut off those parts of us that are sinful.  Jesus’ words about sin in this text show us the seriousness of sin.  If Jesus were to say, “If your eye causes you to sin you should be sorry,” his approach would not seem so drastic and he might not be taken very seriously.  Instead, Jesus is radical in his approach.  Jesus convicts us of our sinful nature and tells us to remove our sinful parts.  If we really stop and think about it every part of our human body has the potential to be sinful.  If we actually cut off our sinful appendages there is the possibility that we may do away with our whole body.  Then, we would die.  Jesus demands that we remove our sinful appendages and die to our sin.

            The good news is that through our baptisms we die to our sin and are given new life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Each week in worship we also die to our sins through corporate confession, “we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.”  The law convicts us of our sin.  Our appendages are metaphorically cut off, as we recognize our sin.  However, it does not end there.  In the same part of our liturgy, the gospel heals us from our sins and we are redeemed.  We are forgiven and freed from the weight of our sin, because of Jesus Christ.  Jesus, God’s only Son, who became human and dwelled among us.  Jesus, whose ministry touched a variety of people.  Jesus, who bore the sins of the entire world on the cross and endured death.  Jesus, who gave his appendages, his entire life, for our salvation and our forgiveness.  Jesus, who rose again and in so doing, conquered death once and for all that we may have everlasting life.  This is the good news of the gospel.  Amen.