Mark 10:32-34 - September 16, 2010

Mark 10:32-34 “They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."

Verses 32-34 in Mark 10 are truly fascinating in the context of the teaching that Jesus has just completed giving to the disciples. He has spent an extended time teaching on costly obedience and the rewards associated with that obedience and now He turns the subject towards Himself. Peter has been anxiously inquiring of the Lord as to what reward there will be for those who, like he himself, have forsaken everything to follow Him. In response to this, after providing a measure of reward focused comfort, Jesus now puts this in the context of His own suffering. After having provided some words of assurance to Peter Jesus now points him to the reality of an even higher price!

His words are a sobering adjustment to the focus of Peter and all of the other disciples as He brings them to the consciousness that He will pay a far greater price than what they have done to this point. What is truly impactful is the knowledge that the sacrifice that each of Jesus disciples have made who have left their previous comforts and position behind to follow was made first by the Lord Himself. He left His first state in the eternal glory of the Father for a season as He came to earth. His words of comfort to the disciples are within the context of His own sacrifice that provided the example to them. He. 12:2 provides an insight into the heart and hope of the Lord as He related to the cost of His mission as He laid aside His eternal glory and took the form of man and knowingly embraced a death on the cross; “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,”

Having comforted His disciples with His discourse in verses 28-31 He moves directly into a line of discussion concerning His own coming sacrifice on a much greater scale that as verse 32 says leaves his disciples “astonished” and the multitudes that followed afraid. So many things must have been taking place in this one encounter. On one hand Jesus has comforted Peter concerning the measure of sacrifice that He has made to this point but on the other He shortly thereafter identifies to Him that there is a much greater price still to be paid!

It is clear that the disciples dearly love their master but this direct statement of His coming suffering confronts a series of false beliefs they have formed in their hearts and leaves them astonished while the multitudes who just along for the miracles are left just plain frightened. Within this context of revelation it is interesting to recognize that many times Jesus gives us enough prophetic insight to test our hearts concerning the cost. Jesus only addresses this issue to the depth that He knows they can bear and through the hearts of all are sifted concerning their motives and expectations. Someone who is just along for the ride will not stand in the face of true opposition and great cost. The words of Jesus quickly reveal the condition of each heart!

Mark 10:28-31 - September 15, 2010

Mark 10:28-31 “Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

This passage is for all of those who have paid a price to follow! Throughout the ages Jesus has invited His disciples into a lifestyle of costly obedience. Most all of the great works that have been done in the name of the Lord have come at a great price to the ones who performed them. Every one of the apostles paid a price of persecution and in most cases death to accomplish their mission. In the same way Christians throughout history have been invested deeply in a following at great personal cost. In much the same way as the invitation that Jesus gave to the rich young ruler to put aside all that he had and follow Jesus extends his hand again and again to his disciples inviting them to follow the costly road. The glory of this passage is its focus on the reward of that sacrifice.

Though His words of encouragement in this passage are directed specifically to Peter it was a gracious gift of the Lord to His church to provide an insight into the heavenly view of our sacrifice. We do not take up the cross of Christ in a vacuum. Each person who embraces the nails of Christ’s suffering does so within the context of the attention of both heaven and hell! Hell trembles every time someone turns from the things of this world and embraces the cross and heaven moves as each will surrenders to God’s purpose. With every decision made for God and against the world another portion of the kingdom of God is released from God’s throne into the realms of man!

In Mark 10:28-31 Jesus comforts Peter with the knowledge that the price he has paid is seen. It is marvelous that Jesus, even knowing the future failures of Peter, is still affirming to him regarding the costly obedience that Peter has demonstrated in following the Lord. It is comforting to know that momentary failures do not negate the reality of a life of costly decisions made for God. Jesus affirms Peter with the assurance that the sacrifices that he has made are like a seed that has been sown into the earth. In fact the words of Jesus are intensely reward focused as He exhorts Peter. His words are not limited to the price that Peter has paid but rather to all of us as He declares, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions).”

What good news this is for us! No one who has left something behind for the sake of the Lord will fail to receive reward! There is still more good news in these words of Jesus. Jesus does not limit the focus of His reward to the realms of eternity! Jesus draws Peter’s attention to the fact that there is a NOW reward. Sacrifice for the name of Christ in this life will be rewarded IN THIS LIFE!!!!!

There is only one sense of caution found in these comforting words of Christ concerning the recompense of God towards those who have paid a price to follow. That caution is the issue of timing! Jesus promises reward but He does so in the context of the calendar of God! His final words to Peter on this subject of reward are; “many who are first will be last and the last first!” There is a kingdom principle in this for those who have ears to hear.

Mark 10:23-27 - September 14, 2010

Mark 10:23- 27 “Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

In Mark 10:23-27 Jesus once again demonstrates His capacity to turn each individual experience or encounter that He and His disciples face into an opportunity for the broader life principles that it contains to be brought forth as teaching points. “How hard is it for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” With this response Jesus identifies that this is not an isolated incident. He uses this young man’s struggle to communicate the message that this problem is common to all who possess wealth. Through this Jesus implies the message. It is very difficult to possess wealth without that wealth possessing you!

Human nature attaches immense pride issues to the possession of wealth and status in our cultures. It has been so for thousands of years as can be seen by the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ statements. They were amazed at these words and are brought to ask the question “who then can be saved?” It is as if they are asking the question: “Can only the poor be saved?” “Must every disciple give everything away?” To this Jesus gives a clear and direct response: “it is difficult for someone with wealth to follow, but not impossible!”

In 1 Cor 1:26-29 Paul speaks of the nature of the calling of God. “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.” When it comes to the issue of those with wealth and stature receiving the kingdom of God it is an issue of not many! God’s intention is that no man can boast before Him and there is such an ego attachment to wealth and position that it is hard for most of those who have these things to humble themselves and surrender control of these things to God. Perhaps if the rich young ruler would have turned immediately in obedience to begin to sell his things the Lord would have stopped him like the angel did with Abraham when he saw that Abraham was prepared to respond with absolute surrender. We cannot know but the test of the heart is in the surrender and the victory is won before the actions are ever taken!

Paul further addresses this issue of pride in 1 Cor 4:7 where he confronts man’s tendency to boast. Paul quickly puts all that we have in both position and possession into its proper context with three short sentences. “Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” James adds emphasis to this principle in James 1:16-17 where he writes “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” We have nothing that we did not receive and therefore a right heart before God in regard to these things is to be able to live the words of Jesus in Matt 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”

It is this principle that the rich young ruler had forgotten or perhaps never knew. It is entirely possible that He was raised, like many of us, in a home that loved and feared God but never acknowledged that the good things we have in life have all come from God and His goodness, not from our hard work and talents. In many homes there is a false concept that “we have done it!” when in reality the truth is found in Deut 8:18 which says “remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

It all comes from God!

Mark 10:20-22 - September 13, 2010

Mark 10:20- 22 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

Mark 10:20 continues the story of Jesus and the rich young ruler, as Jesus continues His attempt at directing this young man in the path of life. It is obvious that this man is a good man, a righteous man. His response to Jesus is that he has kept all of the commands of God since he was a boy. How many of us can say this? It is clear that he has a desire to live pleasing, but there is a deeper root that Jesus discerns.

Verse 21 is a moving verse as it goes beyond the necessary description of Jesus’ response to the boy. In this verse we can see the heart of Jesus being exposed in a wonderful way. It says “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” What a revelation of the heart of Jesus! Jesus sees this young man. He sees the stronghold that is separating him from breaking through into the life of discipleship that will fully realize his desire to belong to God. And yet Jesus looks at him and loves him! Jesus sees the things that are holding him back and yet loves him. This story is for us! Can you embrace the fact that Jesus sees you and everything that holds you back from a deeper, more complete response to God and He still loves you!!!??? He looks at you just the way you are and He loves you! Wow! He is not angry at the young man’s condition. Yes, He is saddened by it. But the young man is not rejected, he is loved! You are loved!

Without verse 21 as the foundation the rest of this encounter cannot be fully understood. The correction of Jesus that He speaks into this young man’s life can only be rightly interpreted when it is interpreted through this lens of love! The correction of Jesus when He finds a good heart is the always rooted in love! Jesus speaks to this young man, in full light of the man’s good intentions and addresses the lack that continues to limit his response to God! “One thing you lack” Jesus says. “Go, sell everything you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.”

Jesus brings this young man to a crisis point that reveals the sticking point in this young man’s life. The wealth that he has always known becomes a barrier to his ability to respond to God. Based upon the encounter that has taken place there are a number of attachments that are associated with the wealth that is holding this young man captive. To let go of a life of privilege and comfort is a challenging shift into a life of faith and surrender. He has grown up having, and to trust Jesus for his future is a bigger step than he is prepared for.

Within this confrontation is also an exposing of an issue of pride. The introductory comments that the boy makes about his life of obedience reveal the possibility of a root of pride that is also attached to this life of wealth. It may have been hard for the young man to conceive of letting go of his material wealth. But possibly even harder for him was the thought of letting go of the sense of identity and false assessment of worth that he has created for himself because of his wealth. Many people measure themselves, their value, their worth, based upon their standing in society, their wealth, their fame. Perhaps it is really this that Jesus is seeking to dislodge from the man’s heart. Perhaps what Jesus is exposing is that this man has wrapped his identity around his position and Jesus is trying to create a new identity for this man. It is as if Jesus is seeking to help this young man break free of his attachment to this life of wealth as the source of his value and being. It is as if Jesus is saying “you are not loved because of what you have, your title or your position. You are loved because you are mine! Give these things away. Break their hold on your sense of who you are. Give those things to the poor who really need them and follow me!”