Jesus is suggesting the utter disproportionate nature of God's grace in the Mark text when he says, "I assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to me will certainly receive his reward."

In other words, Jesus is saying that we do not even have to be conscious of our discipleship in order to receive his redemptive blessing. Simply giving a disciple a drink is just cause for God to reward/bless that one with his redemptive net.

Hence, Jesus says, "For whoever is not against us is for us." He goes on to suggest that this redemptive purification, like fire, will purify to the point that it will show whether or not a person is either for him or against him.

In antiquity, the symbol of fire is like a two-edge sword. It can either burn and destroy another's illusion of…