Sunday 09 01 2024
Part of September 2024 Notes

The Man Who Had It All…most

Mark 10
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

Edwards:
“If we assume that Jesus commends children because of their innocence, purity, or even spontaneity, then we must conclude that the disciples’ acceptability in God’s kingdom depends on similar virtues. But, as Mark’s depiction of the disciples makes repeatedly clear, that is exactly what they are not, nor are we. We are not innocent and eager, but slow, disbelieving, and cowardly. In this story children are not blessed for their virtues but for what they lack: they come only as they are—small, powerless, without sophistication, as the overlooked and dispossessed of society.
Little children are a picture for disciples, for only empty hands can be filled.”

  • By comparison, look what happens next: We will see that Jesus commanding ‘follow me’ does not add another obligation to an already lengthy list of chores, obligations, and responsibilities.
  • Instead, the call from Jesus himself decides that everything that is not following him is wrong, sinful, inadequate for our need.
  • The little babies Jesus spoke about have The Access to the Kingdom of God.
  • This Rich Man turns away from Jesus who welcomed those with nothing, and he turned away sad because he had too much.

Mark 10
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

  • Ran up, knelt down, and sought Jesus’ words.

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.
19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

Edwards @ v20
“The man asks what he should do in order to inherit eternal life (v. 17), which suggests that he understands behavior to be the ultimate requirement of religion.”

Mark 10
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

  • Christian readers often assume that the man was hypocritical in bringing his moral report card to Jesus.
  • That would not seem to be the case, however, for Mark says that “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Jesus did not look on hypocrisy with love.

Mark 10
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”
24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.
25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,
30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

  • The word of Jesus comes to them, as to the rich man, not as a comfort but as an offense. It surpasses human possibility.
  • It drives them inward, where they discover only weakness and inadequacy.
  • The command of Jesus makes them aware of what they lack, as did Jesus’ word to the rich man in v. 21

  • Who Then Can Be Saved?
  • Jesus, in fact, answers the disciples as he did the father, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

  • The word of Jesus makes evident within the disciples what it should have made evident within the rich man—their deficiency. But the deficiency that appears as inability, even futility, appears to Jesus as openness to the potential of God.

  • It is not they who will do something for God or accomplish his word, but God who will accomplish his word within them. What God commands, he also gives.

  • Jesus says in 10:29–30 that the sacrifices of Peter and of all disciples in His name, the name of Christ, will be rewarded a hundred times as much in this world, and with eternal life in the world to come.

For futher study: Matthew 19
25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”

28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Mansits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

  • The reward of eternal life makes the sacrifices of discipleship look insignificant in comparison to the lavish blessing of God.

  • In Christ, all my losses are temporary.

  • Jesus is my restoration, and He will restore me to Himself.

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