Following: Fame or Faith?
Mark 10
The Rich Young Ruler
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.”
“For this man wealth is an actual danger, as it doubtlessly is for most disciples, for it prevented him from doing the one thing necessary for salvation.”
- JE
- Who Then Can Be Saved?
- Jesus, in fact, answers the disciples as he did the father of the demon oppressed boy,
“‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
We must not miss that the man was invited by Jesus to follow Him.
- He could not follow Jesus and treasure all his stuff.
- Jesus loved the man but the man couldn’t love him back.
He could not and we cannot have two masters. He despised the one who loved him.
Rewards?
- The reward of eternal life makes the sacrifices of discipleship look insignificant in comparison to the lavish blessing of God.
First and Last
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.“
‘Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
“It takes from those who follow Jesus things they would keep, and gives to them things they could not imagine.”
Leading the Way
32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear.
Discipleship is always and ultimately following Jesus, who here goes toward suffering.
Jesus is talking to us about following Him in marriage (v1-12), with children (v13-16) and with possessions (v17-31).
Next, we’ll see it exemplified by Bartimaeus actually following Jesus along the road with the faith and the restoration that Jesus provides.
Eduard Schweizer:
“Here he is the Master who goes before his disciples, whose responsibility it is to follow him.”
- When it comes to humility and suffering, Jesus does not only teach: he leads the way.
Mark 10.32
Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him.
33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans.
34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”
- Jesus is going toward trouble and I’m following Jesus, I’m going toward trouble, too.
- What are we to think about what James and John are thinking in the next interchange?
- Jesus tells us plainly what the brother’s state of heart and mind is after this third passion prediction.
- Mark 8.31; 9.31, and 10.33-34.
Mark 10
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
36 “What is your request?” he asked.
37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
39 “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.
40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
42 So Jesus called them together and said,
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Jesus tells us that the structure of God’s kingdom is because of love, service, and sacrifice.
- It’s not just how things are, it’s the reason that there’s even disciples!!
- They are following a leader who provides everything for them to follow.
- The only way they can follow is through the redemption that Jesus is providing by his love and sacrifice.
- When we meet Blind Bartimaeus, we’ll hear Jesus ask the same question again:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
James and John asked for prestige, position, and fame.
Bartimaeus asks for faith.
Bart wants to use what Jesus gives him to follow Jesus. James and John want a seat in glory.
Mark 10
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.
47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”
50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.”
Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
