Kingdom Blessings - Mark 10:28-31

 

Kingdom Blessings

Mark 10:28-31

Introduction: What does it mean to follow Jesus? In our context in Mark, the Lord has cautioned would-be followers to consider the cost of discipleship. Scholars are fairly convinced that Mark is writing his gospel to Roman Christians who are experiencing persecution. What we know about the brutality of Nero makes it clear that believers there would experience cruel and barbaric treatment at his hands. They knew there was a cost to discipleship – they were seeing and experiencing some of that every day.

       During this final trip to Jerusalem, Jesus has been teaching His followers about the cost of discipleship, but they seem a little slow to grasp what he is saying.  Even as He explicitly told them in chapters 8 and 9 about His approaching rejection and death (along with the promise of His resurrection), they seem incapable grasping the plain sense of His words. It was too much of a contradiction for them to process it seems—the Messiah was to be a deliverer, a savior, how could His revealing end in death? It didn’t add up. They couldn’t yet understand, but they would, in time. But now Jesus balances the “theology of suffering” by inviting the disciples to consider the already / not yet kingdom blessings that come to those who follow Him.

       What you might leave behind when you follow Jesus is real and could be difficult or even painful. In our context in Mark, for the Rich Young Ruler, it was too high a price when Jesus exposed his love for his possessions. The disciples knew only in part what it would cost them to follow Jesus. They had left their livelihood, the close connections with families and friends, but, even though they had been warned by Jesus, they didn’t know what still lay ahead, in terms of persecution, suffering, exile, and even martyrdom.

The Context: The departure of the rich, young ruler gave Jesus an opportunity to warn the disciples against the idolatry of materialism.

The BIG Idea: The high cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the blessings that are, and will be ours, as kingdom citizens. We’ll look at this from three perspectives:

1) Consider the Cost (28); 2) Count the Blessings (29-30); and 3) Christ our example (31).

I. Consider the Cost: There is a cost to consider if we would follow Jesus (28).

“Peter began to say to him, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you.’”

       As we have been working our way through Mark’s Gospel, he has selectively chosen events and teachings from the life of Jesus to answer for us three life changing questions, questions every Christ follower must come to grips with: 1) Who is Jesus; 2) Why did He come; and 3) What does it mean to follow Him?  In this section, chapters 8-10, the third question has come front and center as Mark draws out aspects of discipleship.  The rich, young ruler rejected the call to follow Jesus, unwilling to come to Jesus on His terms.

       Look back a few verses in Mark to set the context of Peter’s statement in 10:28. The young man who came and knelt before Jesus, asking about what He yet lacked, was unable to cope with the answer Jesus gave him. He was devastated when, with a single requirement, Jesus exposed the idol that had grown in his heart: “Sell all that you own and give it to the poor, and come, follow me and you will have treasure in Heaven…” He had great possessions, give it all up? He went away, despondent, saddened, because he knew, at least at that moment, he was unwilling to trust Jesus and to let go of what he probably didn’t realize until that moment had enslaved him. The cost was too high.

       One of the most difficult things for us when we accepted the call to go to Brazil was the prospect of separation from our extended family. For us the cost of international flights was high and we realized that it would likely be years between times when we saw some of our family again—if ever. I had, taped in the front cover of my Bible, this quote from Max Lucado’s book, No Wonder They Call Him the Savior. It refers to times when it may be necessary to leave for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, as when missionaries are sent to a foreign field…

It seems that goodbye is a word all too prevalent in the Christian’s vocabulary. Missionaries know it well. Those who send them know it too. The doctor who leaves the city to work in the jungle hospital has said it. So has the translator who lives far from home. Those who feed the hungry, those who teach the lost, those who help the poor all know the word goodbye.

     Airports. Luggage. Embraces. Tail-lights. “Wave to Grandma.” Tears. Bus terminals. Ship docks. “Good-bye Daddy.” Tight throats, ticket counters. Misty eyes. “Write me!”

     Question: What kind of God would put people through such agony? What kind of God would give you families and then ask you to leave them? What kind of God would give you friends and then ask you to say goodbye?

     Answer: A God who knows that the deepest love is build not on passion and romance but on a common mission and sacrifice.

     Answer: A God who knows that we are only pilgrims and that eternity is so close that any “Goodbye” is in reality, “See you tomorrow.”

     Answer: A God who did it Himself.

       Separation was something we experienced being thousands of miles from family. It was difficult when Mary Ann’s mother broke a hip, and her health began to deteriorate. Though we got to visit her some months before she passed, it was difficult to not be there when she died. It is hard for people who are rejected by their family when they recognize who Jesus is and choose to follow Him. For Muslims or Orthodox Jews, it might mean being considered “dead” to the family, complete rejection. In certain countries and cultures it might cost them their lives. There will be a cost to following Jesus – Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33).

      Peter, on seeing the departure of the young man and hearing Jesus’ teaching about the poverty of riches, responds to Jesus’ words. Mark says that “Peter began to answer and said to Him…” Again, as often has been the case, Peter is the one who speaks up. (Remember, according to tradition, Mark is writing his gospel based on the teaching an reminiscences of Peter). I don’t think Peter is questioning in an argumentative way (one translation says “Peter began to argue with him…” but it seems to me that is reading too much into the text). He seems to be searching for confirmation that he and his “band of brothers” are on the right path. He essentially asks, “What about us?”

       Peters says, “Look! We have let go of everything and have followed you!” It’s like Peter is saying, “Sure that guy walked away, he wouldn’t let go of his wealth and follow you, but here we are, we’ve left everything behind!” It is interesting that though Peter says that, he does seem to still have a house and a fishing boat (1:29; 3:9; 4:1,36; cf. John 21:3). So, it seems, Peter hasn’t literally left everything to follow Jesus. We know that later, after the resurrection, Peter does decide to “go fishing.” That scene in John 21 is when they again encounter Jesus, and the Lord asks him three times, “Do you love me?” Here Jesus doesn’t question Peter’s statement. It reminds me of the rich young man’s declaration, “all these things I have kept from my youth…” There, Jesus didn’t challenge the rich man on his failings, he loved him.

       The idea here probably is that they had indeed done what Jesus had asked of them.  They had left their fishing boat with their father and the hired hands, or left behind their tax booth or whatever previous occupations they had, and followed Jesus, committing themselves to learning from Him and about Him. They heard His voice, and they followed Him. Remember a vow of poverty isn’t required of followers of Jesus. He isn’t going to ask many of us to sell everything and give it to the poor. Money or possessions aren’t a problem, unless they come between us and God. It’s the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. He knows our hearts. Are we willing to love Him more than the idols that vie for our attention? The Big Idea here is: The high cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the blessings that are, and will be ours, as kingdom citizens.

II. Count the Blessings!  Whatever we must leave behind when we turn to the Truth in Christ, will pale in comparison to what we gain in Him (29,30).

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.

      There is unquestionably a high cost for those who would follow Jesus. We should not minimize what Jesus himself taught about the cost of discipleship. Sometimes, it is not that we “leave” people behind, whether family or friends, but they leave us when we choose to follow Jesus. It isn’t personal. The world is at enmity with God, and if God is in us, they may withdraw… there is too much light! Jesus doesn’t minimize the cost, nor should we. Sometimes we can give the impression that once someone decides to follow Jesus, everything is going to be smooth and easy. Peace and joy and love. Yes, but let’s not forget to tell them that they are going to war! In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus said,

³⁴ "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  ³⁵ For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  ³⁶ And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.  ³⁷ Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it…

Jesus didn’t hide the truth, neither should we!  But he does tell the disciples that other side of the story. Yes, you will lose some things, even some people, in this fallen world because the world is at enmity with God. Yes, there will be persecutions (see Mk 10:30, “…with persecutions…”). But you will gain a hundred times more.

       First, you become part of a new family that is bigger and deeper than you can imagine. You become a child of the King, and somehow, a joint heir with Jesus.  As a part of that family, we have a foretaste of the kingdom blessings that yet await us. Have you ever experienced that when you have traveled? You visit a new city (or another country!) and meet someone on the street or in a church, and find they are a believer in Jesus—and immediately there is a connection, you have found a brother or a sister! That is God’s design, after all, we have the same Father! We are children of the King, He is Lord of the universe! There was a lot of attention and celebration connected with a certain coronation across the pond this year (I wasn’t invited!). Think of this – you have an engraved invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb! We have “family blessings” now, a foretaste of the future, and in the age to come, eternal life.

       Matthew includes the detail that Jesus told the 12 that they would sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt 19:28). Paul told the Corinthians that they should be able to handle civil matters between themselves, didn’t they know that one day they would judge angels? Paul said to the Romans, “The suffering of this present age is not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in [to] us…” (Rom 8:18). *That is the Big Idea: The high cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the blessings that are, and will be ours, as kingdom citizens!

III. Christ the Example: The stunning reversal in the age to come will exalt those who have come to Christ in humility and faith (31).

[Jesus said] “But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

       In the near context, following this event and Jesus’ third explicit teaching about His impending betrayal, death, and resurrection, Jesus will teach again about humility and service. We will read in 10:42-45,

⁴² And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

       Mark has shown that Jesus came as the Suffering Servant. Christ is our example. Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus. Are we called to suffer if we follow Him? For a season, yes. Should that surprise us? We live in a fallen world, surrounded by people born sinners, in rebellion against God.  Satan himself has blinded the minds of the unbelieving. The world rejected Jesus and put him to death. In the upper room Jesus warned the disciples, “Don’t be surprised if the world hates you. It hated me first!” Be assured, if we call Jesus Lord and seek to live in obedience to God’s revealed truth, we will experience persecution at some level. In some parts of the world, it could mean your life to declare faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. But look at what He did for us!

       Ironically, Jesus’ willing self-humiliation, His submission to the eternal plan of the Godhead, also became His vindication and exaltation. And so, in John’s Gospel, we see the double entendre of “lifting up” as both suffering (on the Cross) and exaltation (as His messianic identity is confirmed, and His death becomes the means of saving a people for himself).  He came in humility as the Suffering Servant. He will reign in power as the King of Kings. One day, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!  Jesus’ victory means hope.

       Do we sometimes wonder if God is good, and if God is all-powerful, why is there so much injustice in the world? Why do good people suffer and the unrighteous seem to prosper?  We need to step back and see the bigger picture. Remember the story that Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus? It begins…

¹⁹ "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  ²⁰ And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,  ²¹ who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.  ²² The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,  ²³ and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.  ²⁴ And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'  ²⁵ But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish… (Luke 16:19-25).

Complete reversal. The first, last. The last first. We see the same idea of reversal when we realize that eternity is at stake, and after 10,000 years the suffering of this present age will not compare to the blessings God has for those who love Him.

What is God saying to me in this passage? The high cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the blessings that are, and will be ours, as kingdom citizens.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Could it be that the story of the rich, young ruler, and the teaching of Jesus that followed, has shined light into your own heart, and exposed some area of your life that you are holding back?

1) The invitation is to treasure Jesus more than anything. It is not likely that the Lord would ask you to sell all that you have and give it to the poor. But He does want you to follow Him, and He will not tolerate idols.

2) Consider today what we gain when we entrust ourselves to Jesus! Eternity, Heaven yes, but even now the abundant life for which we were created! Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all of these things will be added onto you!   

Do you believe Him? Do you trust Him? Then, follow Him!  AMEN.