Mark 9:41

41 Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.

Mark 9:41 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:41

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink
Not only one that does a miracle in the name of Christ, but he that shows the least respect, or does the least kindness to any one of his; (See Gill on Matthew 10:42); is to be reckoned a friend, and is so accounted by Christ; and will be sooner or later taken notice of by him, especially, if what he does, be it ever so little, is done on his account:

in my name, because ye belong to Christ;
or as the Syriac version renders it, "on account that ye are Christ's"; are his disciples, are called by his name, are partakers of his grace, bear his image and likeness, are loved by him, interested in him, given to him, redeemed by him called by his grace, and shall be with him:

verily l say unto you, he shall not lose his reward;
(See Gill on Matthew 10:42).

Mark 9:41 In-Context

39 Jesus wasn't pleased. "Don't stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down.
40 If he's not an enemy, he's an ally.
41 Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.
42 "On the other hand, if you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.
43 "If your hand or your foot gets in God's way, chop it off and throw it away. You're better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.