|
Mark 10:23–31 (ESV)
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult 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 person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
If you’re like me, you’ve probably had several experiences where you discovered that you were totally wrong and not just a little wrong about something, you’re way off track. It might be that you had the wrong date or time for a meeting, and you showed up early or forgot to show up at all. It might be that you took a wrong turn and got totally lost. It may be that you misjudged someone’s character and you hurt a relationship. Or it might be that you had the wrong idea about a subject, an event, or a worldview and when you recognize your error, it changes the way that you perceive everything moving forward.
That’s what happens here in our passage today as Jesus totally turns the world of the disciples upside down. Our passage is part two of the larger section of verses 17-31.
Remember before the passage, Jesus has had an encounter with the rich young ruler. Jesus lovingly told the young ruler that he lacked one thing and that he should sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.
When the young ruler hears this, he goes away and is sorrowful because he has great possessions, and what Jesus said turned his world upside down.
Then Jesus turns His attention to the disciples and completely turns their world upside down when He tells them that it’s difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
The disciples are completely astonished by what Jesus just said. They figured (as did anyone in that context) that people who were prospering, who were wealthy, and powerful were the ones that God favored.
But now, Jesus tells them, the kingdom of God looks completely different from their presuppositions. Those who they assumed would be first in God’s kingdom will be last, and those they considered would be the last, would be the first.
And in the process of sharing this shocking news, Jesus circles back to His call for discipleship. It’s the call that the young ruler heard and rejected just before this passage, and it’s the same call that the disciples heard when Jesus invited them to follow Him.
It’s the same call that you and I have as missional disciples of Jesus. We are invited to receive the kingdom of God and follow Jesus wherever He leads. In doing so, we will have amazing life, both here and now, and in the age to come. I’m not saying that following Jesus will be without its challenges and difficulties, Christians are not exempt from life’s storms. But it is good beyond anything this world can offer.
So the question that comes to mind for me this morning is where is Jesus asking you and me to follow Him? I’m not just thinking about the big picture, but the small daily one as we pursue our relationship with Jesus every day.
Where do you need to trust Jesus and follow where He leads? Is it with your finances, at work, or at school? Perhaps it’s with your relationships; family, children, your spouse, your co-workers, or classmates? Where is Jesus asking you to follow Him, to trust Him, and to step into the reality of God’s kingdom, full of love and grace, which completely turns not only your world upside down, but the world of all who see Jesus’ presence reflected in you?
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott
|
