WHY it matters//
When we become a Christian our identity is found in Jesus. This statement is easy until we are challenged to rid ourselves of former idols. It can be easy to misplace our identity or gain our worth from things outside of Christ. Often these things can be hard to recognize. Jesus always knew the right questions to ask to get straight to the heart of the matter. We have the Holy Spirit who asks us these same questions today and we have the opportunity to respond.
WHAT it's talking about//
The Gospel of Mark is an account of the life of Jesus. It was written by John-Mark (Acts 12:12) sometime between 50AD- early 60’s. It was likely written to the gentile believers in Rome. A young wealthy man encounters Jesus and is confronted with an opportunity. Jesus extends an invitation to follow him, but the cost must be weighed. This encounter is a picture of the cost of following Christ and the level of Lordship that we must submit to in order to walk with Jesus.
Mark 10:17-31 NLT
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?”
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.”
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.
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.”