Mark 10:17-31 reflection
October 14, 17 2024
Law/Gospel Theme: In our Bible story for today a rich man thought that he could earn and work himself into heaven by doing enough good works. He didn’t understand that salvation comes through following Jesus, And he was disappointed at the idea of giving up his treasures to rely on someone else. What this story tells us is If all we have is Christ, we have more than enough!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and to find in Your our heavenly treasure; for You live and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen
Hymn: # 39 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
Confession/Absolution:
LORD - we pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
In Your compassion forgive us our sins. Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone. And so uphold us by Your Spirit.
That we may live and serve you in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He strengthen you in all goodness. And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Mark 10:17-31
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “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.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” 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 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Hymn: #40 How Firm a Foundation
In our story for today Peter spoke up, and said, “We have left everything to follow you!” Could you do that? Give up everything?
Now, what would you think if someone asked you to give up everything. Including those things that are special to you? If you had to give them away or even throw them away? What if someone asked you to get rid of ALL of the things you have?
That might seem pretty harsh. But it’s actually what happened in our Gospel lesson.
There was a rich man who came to Jesus and asked how he could get himself into Heaven. Well, that was his first problem. He thought he could get himself into Heaven!
Jesus reminded this man of the commandments. Which he said he had kept his whole life. Jesus then invited this man to do one more thing. Sell his possessions. And give his money to poor people. That sort of shook him up. He had a lot of wealth! Why would he want to give it all away?
The rich young man was off in his thinking from the very start. When he asked, What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Inheriting eternal life is not a matter of our doing. It is a gift of grace. Jesus tried to show the man that he could not earn his way into heaven.
Or buy his salvation by directing him to the commandments.
Yet, the young man persisted in his self-righteousness. By proclaiming that he had kept them all from his youth. “This I have done my entire life…” he said.
Still, Jesus looked on him with love and compassion. As a lost and wayward sheep. Jesus directs the man to the First Commandment. By asking him to give up all he had.
But this young man loved the things of the world more than the things of God. And so he went away sorrowful.
How can any person enter the Kingdom of God? Not on his own merits. For with man it is impossible. But all things are possible with God.
So, the man left. And Jesus talked to His disciples about how challenging it can be to have a lot of “stuff.”
He said that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.
What does that mean? A needle…it’s hard enough to get thread through this thing, but a CAMEL? With a hump on its back? That seems rather impossible. Jesus was saying that without God. It would be impossible for anyone—rich or poor—to make it to Heaven.
The problem with the young ruler was not so much that he was rich. But that he wanted to rely on his riches and his own good deeds for support. Rather than on the Lord. He valued his things more than other people or God.
In Christ. God makes the impossible possible. Jesus has truly made us rich. Giving us a wealth that has no fraud attached to it. A wealth that includes the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
But we do not simply possess a future entrance into God’s kingdom. Already now we have been made super-rich. As we possess Christ’s saving gifts. And already now we have entered the kingdom of God by faith. In Christ the impossible has been made possible.
There’s nothing wrong with having things. We need a certain amount of money to survive, after all. But God wants us to depend on Him.
Our help. Hope. And salvation come from Jesus. There’s nothing we can have or do that will do what His death did. He takes away our sins and grants us grace and new life.
We want to remember to share that good news with people, just as we share our things or money with them.
So just remember that no matter what kinds of fun or beloved treasures you have. Nothing is worth more than Jesus. We can appreciate things, but don’t get distracted from the number one thing!
Why don’t we say a prayer to thank God and ask for His help in relying on Jesus?
Lord Jesus, Thank you for blessing us with all we need. Help us to trust in you. And not depend on our things for joy. You are worth more than any treasure!
Thank you for your love and care. Thank you for blessing us with all we need. Help us to trust in you. And not depend on our things for joy. You are worth more than any treasure! 1
Let us cry out to the Lord with our prayers and petitions on this day.
Today we remember those people affected by recent hurricanes and storms. We ask that as relief agencies come to their aid that they may be the hand and feet the fingers and toes of Jesus. May they show compassion, mercy and care for those who are vulnerable. And may we continue to lift them up in our prayers as this is what we are called to do. In Jesus’ name we pray.
The Lord has given us one another and we give thanks for God’s grace and mercy as we offer prayers for the sick and suffering.
The Lord has given us the beauty of worship and the gift of fellowship with one another. We thank you Lord, for gathering us this day.
The Lord has given us life in a nation of opportunities and liberty; with public services such as fire and police protection, ambulances, food pantries, schools, libraries, and hospitals. We thank you Lord, for our national life.
The Lord has given us neighbors, friends, families, and coworkers to share the joys and burdens of this life. We thank you Lord, for the privilege of loving others.
The Lord has given us a world full of creatures that crawl, fly, swim, and climb. We enjoy a bounty of flowers and shrubs, grasses and trees, plants and moss, and rocks and hills. We thank you Lord, for your creation.
The Lord has given us a promise that where He goes, He will prepare a place for us.
We thank you Lord for the gift of life and for giving us to one another for safekeeping. Bring us home when it is time. Lord in your grace, hear our prayer. 2
Words – 1,680
Passive Sentences 2.9%
Readability-85.6%
Reading Level – 3.8
Image: The eye of the needle copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
No comments:
Post a Comment