At another time during their early evangelistic labors, James and John met one who, while not an acknowledged follower of Christ, was casting out devils in His name. The disciples forbade the man to work and thought they were right in doing this. But when they laid the matter before Christ, He reproved them, saying, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that 544 can lightly speak evil of Me." Mark 9:39. None who showed themselves in any way friendly to Christ were to be repulsed. The disciples must not indulge a narrow, exclusive spirit, but must manifest the same far-reaching sympathy which they had seen in their Master. James and John had thought that in checking this man they had in view the Lord's honor; but they began to see that they were jealous for their own. They acknowledged their error and accepted the reproof.

En anden gang under deres tidligere arbejde for evangeliet mødte Jakob og Johannes et menneske, der, skønt han ikke var en bekendende discipel af Kristus, dog uddrev djævle i hans navn. Disciplene forbød manden at gøre dette og mente, at de handlede rigtigt herved. Men da de forelagde Kristus sagen, bebrejdede han dem og sagde: "I skal ikke hindre ham; thi der er ingen, som gør en undergerning i mit navn og snart efter kan tale ondt om mig." Mark. 9,39. Ingen af dem, som på en eller anden måde viste Kristus venlighed, måtte afvises. Disciplene måtte ikke give efter for en snæversindet tankegang, men burde lægge den samme vidtrækkende medfølelse for dagen, som de havde set hos deres Mester. Jakob og Johannes havde ment, at de ved at standse denne mand havde gjort det til Herrens ære; men de begyndte at forstå, at de skinsygt vogtede over deres egen ære. De erkendte deres fejltagelse og tog imod irettesættelsen.