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!”

Mark 10:17-19 - September 10, 2010

Mark 10:17-19 “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

God is interested in obedience not flattery! This passage in Mark 10 is a story of a well meaning young man who is morally upright but has issues in his heart that are blocking him from moving forward with God. This is a picture of so many people; almost willing. This young man has come to Jesus with an introduction that acknowledges Jesus as a good teacher, but based upon the Lord’s response He discerns something deeper behind the man’s words. It is as if this young man is seeking to gain a favorable response from the Lord through flattery. Seemingly his position as a young man raised in the presence of the rich has taught him a political correctness that knows how to acquire favor through pleasantness.

To this greeting Jesus gives a redirecting response, questioning the boy’s motive in this greeting. “Why do you call me good?” “No one is good but God alone.” It is as if Jesus is brushing aside the pretense of something like a false humility so that He can get to the heart of this young man. Jesus brings the man immediately to the measuring rod of God, the scriptures! It is interesting that Jesus does not ask the young man if he knows the commandments. It is with great certainty that Jesus declares “You know the commandments,” almost as if He is questioning the man’s motives in asking. It is as if Jesus is saying with this answer, why are you asking me? Let the commandments be your measuring rod! It is as if Jesus is exposing the fact that the young man is trying to convince his own heart in his asking.

The response of Jesus addresses a second issue as He deals with this young ruler. The young man addresses Jesus as “good teacher.” To this Jesus answers “why do you call me good?” “No one is good – but God alone.” This question is rich with tension in how Jesus provokes the man. The young man has connected the words good and teacher. Jesus connects the concepts of good and God! In this not so subtle way Jesus communicates the question “who do you think you are talking to?” Are you asking me as a teacher or are you asking me as God!? The man is seeking to be justified before God but he is directing his question to a man. To this Jesus essentially answers “who are you asking… me as a teacher or me as God?” Each one of us must settle this same question in regard to Jesus. Who do you think you are dealing with? Where does your justification come from!? Stand before God and let His word be the measuring rod of your life. God’s standards are clear!

Mark 10:13-16 - September 9, 2010

Mark 10:13-16 “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Oh how I love Jesus! This story falls immediately the telling of Jesus confrontation with the Pharisees over the religious legalism and hardness of heart that was behind their way of relating to the issue of divorce. And whether these stories are truly chronological in occurrence or not they each carry a significant sense of confrontation with wrong heart conditions in regard to the value of religious protocol and traditions versus the value a person! People were bringing their children to Jesus to have Him touch them and the disciples seemed to be focused on protecting Jesus from this inconvenience. Their reaction obviously diminishes the value of children in importance to not being worthy of the attention of Christ! I am so grateful to that He quickly corrects this wrong thinking.

The disciples were rebuking the parents who were bringing their children to Jesus and the intensity of Jesus’ response was so strong that a strong message is sent to the disciples, the parents, the children and to all future generations! The children matter to God! I love the fact that verse 14 says that Jesus was indignant! This is one of the only times that emotions of such strength are attributed to Jesus. In most every other case where Jesus is seen with such intense feelings it is in the face of great religious hypocrisy or in regard to a major offense against the Father, such as when the buying and selling in the temple caused Jesus’ heart to burn with fire. These are rare displays of this intensity and here we see one of them directed towards the treatment of Children.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…” Jesus declares, removing any doubt as to His intention! “Do not hinder them…” How many times have we hindered others from coming to Jesus because we have set up a false religious standard? Jesus raises no barrier to stand in their way. He simply invites them to come and be blessed!

Jesus is a master of using every opportunity to train His disciples. He takes this misconception towards children and uses it to teach the kingdom of God! Kingdom, Kingdom, Kingdom… Jesus constantly brings His disciples back to the kingdom of God! Jesus not only welcomes the children to come to Him, He tells the disciples that we must become like them! The kingdom belongs to them! We cannot receive the kingdom of God without a faith and simplicity like that of a child! We cannot enter without embracing their example. This is the message that Jesus presents through this opportunity!

Many times people hear the words of Jesus and then spiritualize their meaning or twist the words to say something else. Jesus brings a profound closure to His emphasis on the value and heart of children in a delightful way by what He does at the end of His teaching. As if to place an exclamation point upon the things that He has just shared with His disciples Jesus takes the children in His arms and blesses them. He not only conveys acceptance and welcome, He conveys warmth! Oh that we would learn to see the Lord like that. He takes the weak into His arms without hesitance and blesses! He takes that child heart within each of us and He brings it close and defends it from the pain and unbelief of our generation. Jesus wants to protect the child inside of you! Let Him take you into His arms today!.

Mark 10:2-12 - September 8, 2010

Mark 10:2-12 “Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied. 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." 5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. 6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Mark 10:2- 9 is a strong illustration of the religious spirit and its struggle for control of the human heart. The Pharisees in this passage are coming to test Jesus in regard to his commitment to a biblical doctrine. Verse two makes it clear that the foundation of the question that they present to Jesus is a desire to test Him in regard to His doctrine more than a desire to learn truth from Him. This is a sad reality in regard to the operation of this spirit. When this spirit begins to gain influence over the heart of man the focus of a life shifts from living in a relationship with God that is pleasing in His sight to one that is focused on external obedience. It is no longer concerned with heart issues but rather with the letter of the law, a focus that as Paul states in 2 Co. 3:6 results in death, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Jesus’ response to the testing of the Pharisees is to redirect them from their dysfunctional focus progressively to a heart focus. Verses 3-9 are a powerful demonstration of the skill of turning a poisoned question into a heart searching encounter. Jesus does not immediately rebuke the root condition in the lives of the ones testing Him. Instead, Jesus changes the nature of the discussion. The Pharisees ask a legal question and Jesus begins by responding on their own terms. He forms His response by causing them to consider the words of Moses. “What did Moses command you?” Jesus asks them. His response firsts addresses their focus on the law by causing them to provide the foundation for His answer. The Pharisees respond with the words of Moses and Jesus is now free to focus on the heart of Moses!

The words of a God versus the heart of God, this is the chronic tension of the spiritual life! The Pharisees consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the letter of the scriptures without consideration for the heart of the scriptures. When we read the words of God without considering the heart we open the door for a deep deception to begin to damage the heart of God within us. As Paul said, “the letter kills, but the spirit gives life!” The answer of Jesus to the inquiry of the Pharisees goes deeper than they were prepared for. They are seeking to test His commitment to the words of Moses. But Jesus’ answer is rooted in the heart of God behind them! The Pharisees are content to know what Moses said, Jesus is committed to pointing them towards what Moses meant!

In this exchange in Mark 10 the Pharisees provide the legal position of Moses as they discuss with Jesus the issue of divorce. They seemingly cling to this position as grounds for putting away a wife any time she does not meet their expectations. It is as if they are seeking to justify a culture of ownership of a wife with no accountability for the relationship that comes with marriage. Jesus wastes no time in addressing this wrong foundation in verse 5 where He states, “it was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law.” Jesus quickly turns their focus from one of self-justifying legalism to one of heart reflection. Imagine the reality that Jesus is presenting to them in this passage. Moses created a law permitting men to divorce that was not rooted in this being God’s desire for man but rather because man is hard hearted!

The painful reality that Jesus is addressing in His response to the Pharisees is that there is a great distance between the standard of God and man’s heart readiness to live it! The standard of God says that a man and woman become one and should not be separated but the heart of man is so hard and distant from the true spirit of God in so many cases that the through Moses the Father established a concessionary law as it were to allow for man to receive a divorce. This passage should compel every hearer to examine their life in search of those places where we have allowed the letter of the word to be our standard rather than the heart of God behind it!