Thank you to Ian for this message

Mark ch.10 v.17 – 31

V. 17 – Let’s picture this scene – – As Jesus started on his way, – Jesus had started on his way to Jerusalem – he was out on the public way when – a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him, This was in public view; a man on his knees before Jesus for all to see – this speaks of desperation- he had come running up to Jesus – he was in a state of panic and fear. –

He started with –  “Good teacher,” – This was not the modern way of using the word good but the true, deeper meaning – no darkness but only pure light. What had he seen in Jesus that he called him – “Good” – and then asked the deepest question of life? – he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” This was a man who had everything in this life but was deeply troubled about eternity – where was his place after death? He was insecure and frightened about his eternal future.

V.18 – “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No-one is good – except God alone.” – Jesus knew full well why the man had called him good but did he need to challenge the man in this way to make the man see what had brought him to Jesus; to see why it was to Jesus he had asked his question – what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

V.19 –  Then Jesus made the man look at his life in the face of the commandments – “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultry, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.’” – Of course the man knew the commandments; he was fearful for his place in eternity.

V.20 – “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” This man had been desperately trying to be right with God all his life but he knew there was something wrong in his life – he had no peace within himself – he knew, in spite of all his efforts, there was something he lacked.

V.21 – Jesus looked at him and loved him. – Can we imagine the expression on the face of Jesus – he loved this man and it must have shown. – “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.” Leave everything that you have and everything you are and follow me.

V.22 – At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. – There are many reasons given for this sad answer and I will give you yet another one. Do you know the French tombstone on which is written – “Ne homme, mort epicier” – – Born a man, died a grocer. This man knew that his riches wouldn’t get him into heaven but without them he became a nothing – born a man, died a millionaire – might at least look good on his tombstone but wouldn’t get him into heaven. Everybody knew him as the rich man – it was his identity – take that away and not only did he have nothing-  he became nothing.

What is your identity? Were you born a man or a woman but now you are an engineer – a teacher – an accountant – a bishop – a soldier; what gives you your identity – what should be written on your tombstone – an excellent mother or grandfather – a church leader?  Born a person died a – – – what? Where are your riches? What have you become? None of these things will get you into the kingdom.

V.23 – Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” How difficult it is for us to lose our place of importance in this world and so to enter into the kingdom of God. Is whatever makes you feel important hindering your access to God?

V.24 – The disciples were amazed at his words. – Their culture had taught them that the kingdom of God was only open to the rich and successful. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! You might leave this life as a grocer but you won’t enter heaven on the basis of having been a grocer – or engineer or whatever. Jesus made it even harder –

V.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.” A camel, which is a very large animal, will bend its knees for a man to get onto it but it cannot crawl forward on its knees and, laden or unladen, it cannot get through the eye of a needle. Yes, we know about the needle gate etc. but Jesus was saying that it is easier for the camel to get through – which physically it could not without extreme difficulty.

V26 – The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus seemed to make it impossible for any-one to enter the kingdom of God.

V.27 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – It is impossible for the man, or the camel, to enter the kingdom of God by his own efforts but it is God who makes it possible; it is Jesus who died for our sins.

V.28 – Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

On Peter’s tombstone could have been written – born a man died a fisherman – Matthew’s could have been – born a man died a tax collector  – Luke’s could have been – born a man died a doctor But no – these men had let go of all their personal life and identity to follow Jesus – we don’t really know where their tombstones are but we know they lived and died in Christ. And so we have the promises of v.29 and 30.

V.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

Home – our castle – our place of security

Family – those whom we love and are precious in our lives

Fields – our place of work – of provision

The verb – leave – in both Greek and English – has multiple meanings but, my experience makes me use the meaning – to let go. There is a golden principle in our walk with the Lord – to give to him all that we love, all that is part of our security – and then to walk in trust and faith. I have many times had to let go of – to hand over to God – my family, my job and my home; to give them to God; they do not belong to me; I have to put these things and folk into God’s care. The church and its flock, I have had to let go and give them unto the Lord – we are but servants and I have known that If I hang onto those things I block God’s way both for them and for me.

I can also say from my experience that the promise of V.30 has always been fulfilled – V.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.”

Yes – in this age  – and yes with persecutions – but I have the assurance that in the age to come, I have eternal life.

Then Jesus says – V.31 – But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” – This has nothing to do with time or order of events. To understand it more clearly we go to v.43/44 – “- – whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” – You may well be first, – the greatest –  even in the church – in this age but – if you try to hold onto them – in the age to come you will be last – – unless you surrender them to God and become a servant.

In Nazareth there could have been a tomb which said – Born a man,  died a carpenter – but no – we are left with an empty tomb because the Son of God was born a man – died a servant of God, his Father – rose again and is now with his Father for ever.

What do you want on your tombstone?

Born a person and died somebody of great importance – or

Born a person, died a servant of God and now with him for eternity.?

There are times when we have to set aside what makes us feel so important in this age – those things that we love – those things that make us secure – to follow Jesus – to become a servant – and so inherit eternal life.

Prayer: – Loving Father – help us to have absolute faith in you and place into your hands all that we hold most dear; keep us Lord from hindering your purposes both in ourselves and in those we love; help us Lord to let go and leave them in your hands. – – – amen

I surrender all – – –

I surrender all – – –

All to thee, my beloved Saviour,

I surrender all.


Category: Sermons , The Bridge

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