Pentecost 22
– Proper 24
October 21, 2018
Mark 10:23-31
Self reliance might be the American way but not so
with Jesus
By the
voluntary poverty of Christ, we enter into the kingdom of God.
Almighty God,
all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor
You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to
Jesus Christ, our Lord.[1]
Our gospel lesson is a continuation of last week’s
conversation. The rich young man went away sorrowful. Jesus takes the opportunity
to educate His disciples. He schools them. Concerning the temptation. Which is
to trust in riches. And every stumbling block. He will strip away.
Next Sunday, we will sing with vigor and gusto the
words of that great Reformation hymn, ‘And
take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife. Let these all be gone. Our
victory has been won.’[2]
Really?
Jesus said it twice in a span of three verses: “How difficult it will be for those who have
wealth—for those who are rich - like us! Americans —To enter the kingdom of God.” Unless you can find a very big needle,
or a tiny camel, it’s going to be an awfully tough road ahead for you.
C.S. Lewis reminds us, the camel has to die! The
biggest animal - passing through the smallest hole. “All things, (e.g. a camel’s journey through a needle’s eye) are
possible, it’s true. But picture how the camel feels, squeezed out. In one
long, bloody, thread, from tail to snout.”[3]
For these disciples, the common wisdom of the day was
that if you were rich, you were righteous. And if you were poor. It was your
sin that caused it. (Sound familiar?)
Yet Jesus told the wealthy man that to enter the
Kingdom he needed to sell what he had. Jesus then commented to the disciples
that being rich actually made it harder to enter the Kingdom. This completely confused
the disciples. Who thought material blessings were evidence of God’s blessings.
The apostles got their attitudes from a society in
which wealth was seen as an indication of God’s favor. Those who were blessed significantly
and financially were viewed as having done something right. They found favor in
God’s eye. God doled out the good life to some. And, as for others. They
reasoned. He withheld His blessings. Health and wealth meant you were living
right. Illness or disability or poverty indicated there was some sort of black
mark on your record with God. That if they just trust God enough; if they just
have enough faith. And prayed right. Their financial problems would be a thing
of the past. If they would just dig a little deeper. And give more. Their disability
or their sickness would simply go away.
The amazement of the disciples at Jesus' words
reflects their cultural background. They placed a great emphasis on the
privileged position of the rich. To be wealthy was believed to be sure and
certain evidence of having the blessing of God. If you prosper God must be
smiling down up on you was their thinking. But with His penetrating spiritual
insight, Jesus saw how wealth could hinder someone from putting their trust and
dependence in God.
“How hard it
will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The
disciples were shocked! ἐξεπλήσσοντο
“Panicked” “Astounded” “Amazed” “Who then
can be saved?”
For the rich to enter the kingdom of God - Simply
because of their wealth - Is indeed impossible. Jesus’ word was not lost on the
disciples. “Children, how hard it is to
enter the kingdom of God! (Vs.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.”[4]
And their question, "Who then can be
saved?" shows that they completely understood.
These words from Jesus point to a tension that many of
us feel. We are commanded to love the Lord our God, “with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.” [St. Mark 12:30]
Yet it takes a lot to gain wealth. And, it can take even more to maintain that
wealth. To what degree does our focus on wealth take our focus away from God?
The disciples declare that this is hard to do — Perhaps, even impossible. Jesus
doesn’t disagree with them. He leaves them to struggle with this. Yet He offers them a word of hope: “With God all things are possible.” As we
struggle with conflicting loyalties in our lives, may this struggle lead us
closer to faithfulness. And may the love of God lead us closer to peace.
It is impossible. Not
only for the wealthy. But for anyone to earn His salvation by any means. Even
good works. “Who can be saved?” they
ask. Who indeed? No one can. If you rely on yourself. It is only by God’s grace
that anyone can be saved. Yet all things are possible with God.
Jesus, the greatest teacher who has ever lived points
us to the solution. His answer makes clear that “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible.”(V.27)
Peter does not boast of his sacrifices but continues
to panic about the difficulty of securing eternal life. What hope is there for
him? In response, Jesus explains that He does not call people to hardship, but
into a new community with its own benefits. He reassures Peter that poverty is
not the hallmark of God's kingdom. Rather a trust and reliance upon Him. Come
what may.
Notice, Jesus reminds us that persecutions accompany
such a life. As if it were not difficult enough on its own, a life of authentic
discipleship also runs contrary to the world's values and may arouse the
world's ire.
All this comes with many persecutions. μετὰ διωγμῶν Persecutions, or the
contempt of the world, and bodily sufferings on account of their allegiance to
Christ, they "must" meet. Jesus did not conceal this. Rather He
consoled them. He comforts them. Jesus wants His disciples to understand and
expect suffering. Godliness brings suffering. Expect it!
That which you may have to give up is physical. But,
that which you receive is spiritual. - And, many times greater!
In the centuries since Christ's death, many dedicated
disciples have found fulfillment in these words in their own lives. They have
had to "leave" their people and possessions in order to follow
Christ. But, for every fleshly relationship lost - They gained hundreds of sisters
and brothers in Christ. For every alienated parent – There are hundreds in
God's family to care for them. For every
possession lost – There are spiritual blessings, many times greater.
Christ’s righteousness can only save you. Yet, you may
be left to suffering that you didn’t deserve. Your prayers will be answered.
But not in ways you might expect. God may bless you materially. But what if your
material blessings actually stand between you and Christ? Are you willing to
part with anything which stands in His way?
What you are called to do is trust. Trust the nature
of Christ. Trust the love of Christ. Trust the justice of Christ. Trust the
mercy of Christ. This God whom we worship is worthy of our trust, even when all
the rules we thought we knew seem to fail before our eyes.
And this trust — “My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is followed by “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” As
He died. Jesus trusted. And so must you.
Look around you. And see the sisters and brothers, the
mothers and fathers that God in Christ has given you. A family. A hundredfold.
They are relationships not of Law. But of Gospel—Relationships in the shared
good news that Jesus has brought you into the kingdom. Where even the poorest
are made rich. He who was the richest
made Himself poor. For your sake.
With membership in this family come persecutions, It’s
true. But these persecutions. Like all worldly suffering. And all the worldly
things that we set aside. Or re-dedicate to the glory of God. Are passing away.
Into the age which is to come.
Does all this seem impossible? Yes! Impossible it is! For
you. Yet with God. All things are possible.
Words –1,490
Passive Sentences – 4%
Readability – 77.2%
Reading Level – 4.8
[1] Prayer
for the proper use of wealth, Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[2] A
Mighty Fortress is our God, stanza 4, Lutheran Service Book ©2006 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
[3]
From his work “Parables”
[4] A
ninth-century interpreter made up the idea of a low gate into Jerusalem called
"the eye of the needle," through which camels could pass only if they
stooped. Presumably, then, Jesus criticizes only the proud rich, or only the
rich who are not extremely determined to enter the kingdom. Unfortunately, no
such gate ever existed.
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