Mark 9:41 Commentary and Bible Study

This is part of Christ’s answer to John about the man referred to by John, who has cast out the demon. It implies that this man is a believer. ‘For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, Verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.’ If God forgets no true act of righteousness, even something as small in our estimation as giving another believer a cup of cold water, he cannot disregard one who does the much greater good of casting out a demon in Christ’s name. If this is genuinely done, then it is a good work which God will reward. But of course, we take account of the fact that these were sign miracles, given to the apostles and to those in close association with them. The seventy were sent out personally by the Lord and he gave them also these powers, by which they were authenticated as those sent by him. We are not given power to cast out demons today, so if we come across a genuine case of demon possession, we will simply pray for the relief of that individual.