Mark 10.23—31
“Three Compelling Truths”
Today’s Gospel is a continuation of last week's
reading. After the rich young man went away sorrowful, Jesus takes the
opportunity to educate His disciples in the barrier that great wealth poses to
one's salvation.
The temptation is to trust in the riches, rather than
the rest of them.
In fact, 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? None can! If he relies on himself. It is only by God's grace that anyone can be saved, yet all things are possible with 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.[2]
Jesus predicts His trial, execution, and resurrection
for the third time, while walking boldly to His death. Jesus goes to die the
sinners' death, accepting the Law's penalty in our place.
Faith looks to Christ crucified and risen and says, "For me!" Luther asks. - "Who is this "me?" It is I, an accursed and damned sinner, who was so beloved by the Son of God that He gave Himself for me." (AE 26:176)
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.
Some still preach what may be called a “health and wealth gospel,” claiming that
God always rewards his people with prosperity in this world.
However, in the Bible, wealth is no indication of
God’s favor. Neither is poverty an indication of God’s punishment. Rather,
Jesus teaches, “[God] makes his sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the
unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).
Nevertheless, with His penetrating spiritual insight,
Jesus saw how wealth could hinder someone from putting their trust and
dependence in God. Today we consider three compelling truths…
For the rich to enter the kingdom of God simply
because of their wealth is indeed impossible. The proverb Jesus quotes 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.” As their question "Who then can be saved?" shows that
they completely understood it.
-C.S Lewis reminds us, the camel has to die! “All things, (that is, 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]
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 with God.”(V.27) We affirm three compelling truths.
1. Salvation is totally the work of God.
A. There are two things we have in common. We are
sinners. Because of Adam’s fall, we find ourselves fallen people, living in a
fallen and broken world. Why do bad things happen? We’re living in a broken
world outside of Eden. We’re living in a sinful world. We’re living in a world
that has gone astray. Because of this broken world filled with lost and broken people,
we cannot come to God by ourselves.
That’s why we teach our children a simple yet powerful
hymn: “In Adam we have all been one, one
huge rebellious man. We all have fled that welcome voice that sought us when we
ran.”
B. It is God alone who is totally responsible for our
salvation. We don’t wake up one day deciding to turn our life over to Jesus. He
is the one who chooses to redeem and save you. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
(Romans 5:10)
Jesus became personally responsible for the sins of His people. He paid for their sins once for all on the cross of Calvary. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5-6).
Transition: Salvation is totally the work of God. We need His grace to fulfill it.
2. Apart from the grace of God, it is impossible for anyone to enter God's kingdom.
A. Recall the explanation to the 3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed. I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but he Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”
B. Thank God for His amazing and life changing grace. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6 8)
Transition: Salvation is totally the work of God. It comes to us by grace and grace alone. That is why God alone receives the credit.
3. Humanly speaking no one can be saved by his or her own efforts; but what we can never do for ourselves, God does for us.
A. John in his
Gospel explains it this way, “And the word
became flesh and dwelt among us.”(John 1) Jesus broke into time and space
to be your savior. He took on flesh to bear your sin and bring us to salvation.
“He bore our sin in His own body on the
tree that we might die to sin and live unto righteousness.” 1 Peter 2:24
B. This is the story of the Gospel. That’s the story
of God’s amazing grace! What we cannot do for ourselves the LORD does for us.
In the end – God wins!
Indeed, it is impossible for man, yet “all things are possible with God” (Mark 20:27). Thus, the Rich Man, Jesus Christ, has made Himself poor and has gone through “the eye of a needle,” through death and the grave, “to enter the kingdom of God” on your behalf (Mark 20:24–25). He is the “great high priest who has passed through the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14), so that we may now enter His Sabbath rest by faith in His forgiveness (Hebrews 4:3–9).
With man, this is
impossible, but not with God; all things are possible. May the Lord so use you
to do the impossible. With Christ at the center, all things are possible!
Passive Sentences – 2%
Readability –76.7 %
Reading Level –5.7
[2] Proper use of wealth, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
[3] – C.S. Lewis, Poems
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