"[We] forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us"
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"For whoever is not against us is on our side. "
I was reading about this Sanskrit word, Muditā. It’s defined as a selfless joy one derives from seeing and experiencing the success of others.
There was this incident in the Bible where a man was performing miracles in Jesus’ name.
The disciples who were with Jesus got a bit hubristic and protested,
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side. For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. Mark 9:38-41 mi (WEB).
The disciples were under the illusion that they had a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, like many religious groups today. but no, God and Christ are greater than any religious denomination and we can see the working of the Spirit on many individuals, irrespective of the denomination. Jesus, not the religious group is “the way the truth and the life.”
And therefore Jesus celebrated this man who was on his side.