169 THE VULNERABLE AUTHORITY AUTHOR OF THE generally accepted symbolic reading in which children stand for “ social nonentities” (Donahue – Harrington) or “les personnes insignifiantes dans la communauté” (Focant) 26. It would lead us too far to comment in detail on the next pericope 9,38-40 (or 41?), about the stranger, i.e. non follower of Jesus, casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and how it contributes in its own manner to the interpretation of the paradox in 9,35b 27. In summary we can say that the paradoxical teaching of Jesus about serving contains two components: (1) receiving children and insignificant people, and (2) accepting the good actions of non- members of the community. More than in the first paradox we find very concrete suggestions about how to live. One could say that 9,35 is a reversal of the cultural values of Jesus’ time about authority and that it offers another concrete criterion for what it means to lose your life (8,35) 28. As in the first paradox (“to save your life”), there is no concrete description of how the conditional clause (eı tiv ¶ uelei prwtov eınai) will be realized. The emphasis is on the ¥ ˜ ® second part: one has to serve 29. And, as in the first paradox, the foundation for why one should serve this way is found in Jesus himself, as can be seen in 9,37 and 9,38.39.41 (in your name, in my name, because you bear the name of Christ). For more similar interpretations, see SANTOS, “Jesus’ Paradoxical 26 Teaching ”, 21-22. Many commentators see a strong or a weak link between the pericope and 27 the theme of the paradox in 9,35b. SANTOS, “Jesus’ Paradoxical Teaching”, has a very clear position: “Jesus’ vindication of the unknown exorcist reinforces the need to receive or welcome others. This corrective teaching of Jesus transforms ‘receiving a child’ into ‘not hindering a stranger’ who also does the work of God. . . . The basis of this acceptance, which links the two expressions of ‘receiving a child’ and ‘not hindering a stranger’, is the commonality of doing so ‘in the name of Jesus’ (i.e., under His authority and will). Thus the act of receiving a child and the act of exorcizing are both to be done in Jesus’ name” (22). SANTOS, “Jesus’ Paradoxical Teaching”, 23. As mentioned before, he 28 recognizes this theme of authority also in 8,35, but I think it is more appropriate to apply it to 9,35 and 10,43-44. There is no mentioning of any “reward” for those who will be servant of 29 all. In 9,41 the word misuov (hapax in Mk) is used for those who give a cup of ¥ water to the disciples. And in 9,42-48 there follows a description of the punishments for negative behavior.