MARK 10:13-16
Two sections of Scripture
to cover but the first section of three verses (13-16) are a go-between regarding
Jesus' previous focus -- divorce -- and what's to follow -- entering the kingdom
of God.
First, the children. I
believe the author of this gospel intentionally placed these verses here even
if this event didn't happen exactly at that precise moment. In the first
century, children had no legal rights (like women under the law of divorce).
Both were powerless in the eyes of men. Not so with Jesus.
Why did the disciples shoo
the little children away from the Christ? Given the increased tension as they
travel toward Jerusalem, given Jesus has returned in a land ruled by a king who
has no qualms in cutting off a man's head, the disciples may have been
protecting their leader -- or so they thought. Why waste the Messiah's time and
energy on mundane things? And on children no less!
But Jesus makes it very
clear. Children are important, and should be viewed as such. "Don't push
them away."
Children don't typically
view the world from a point of science or philosophy. They have an openness to
accept. To feel. To not over-think. To trust. To go on faith. The example of
children applies to all of humanity.
His line of simplicity --
accepting / receiving the kingdom of God like a child -- radically shifts
thoughts of religion and God. It's another reminder that position plays no
role.
Moving forward…
to a narrative that is the only instance in the four Gospels where someone refuses
a call to follow Jesus -- verses 17-31. The young (Matthew 19:20)
ruler (Luke 18:18) refuses
to enter the kingdom of God as a little child. …But I'm getting ahead of the
story.
This excited man runs up
to Jesus, greets him with great reverence and asks a serious question. "What
must I do to get eternal life?" To the man who seemingly has it all --
young, rich, and a ruler in the synagogue most likely -- something is clearly
lacking in his life. Otherwise, why ask the question?
Note when Jesus replies
"You know the commandments," he doesn't name all ten commandments. He skips the first four. Why? Maybe because of the young man's
"official position" as a ruler in the synagogue. It would be a given
(those first four), or so it would seem. So Jesus lists five outside of the
man's position. The enthused ruler exclaims, "I've kept them all!"
Does Jesus refute the
man's claim that he has kept them all? No. He takes this ruler at his word that
he's done no harm to anyone. And Jesus genuinely loves him so much.
Now comes the kicker,
because it will be the moment of truth. If Jesus had stated the tenth
commandment using the neighbor (as written), the rich man would’ve probably
said, "I've kept that one, too! I've not taken advantage of anyone to
obtain my wealth." Yet there's a twist to the commandment.
The tenth commandment is
one of covetousness. Yes, it involves one's neighbor but Jesus turns it around
to get the heart of the matter. "With all your possessions, with all your
wealth, with all that you could give away, what positive good have you done for
others? How much have you gone out of your way to help and strengthen others as
you might have done?" [i] You've "not
done" so I ask you to "do" something for your neighbors. Jesus
centers the attention not on "taking away" but on "giving."
Coming from a culture
where wealth was seen as a blessing for moral behavior, the ruler would have a
belief system where God has justly rewarded him with prosperity. Jesus has made
it known wealth isn't a sign of God's favor. Yet, does Jesus have a problem
with someone who is rich? No. Having money isn't wrong. However, when money
becomes your god, it is a barrier between
you and God. How are you using that which has been given to you? That's the
true "take-away" for us.
I like what Timothy Keller
wrote in Jesus The King, with Jesus
speaking to the young man:
'"I want you to
imagine life without money. I want you to imagine all of it gone. No
inheritance, no inventory, no servants, no mansions -- all of that is gone. All
you have is me. Can you live like that?" How does the man respond to
Jesus' counseling? "He went away sad." The word sad translated here is better translated "grieved" -- he
grieved. …When Jesus called this young man to give up his money, the man
started to grieve, because money was for him what the Father was for Jesus. It
was the center of his identity. To lose his money would have been to lose
himself.' [ii]
Here, I believe Jesus
grieves, too. The young man has walked away with a heavy heart. Jesus turns to
his disciples and says, "Those who think they have it all, who you may think have it all, this young ruler shows us how difficult it is to enter
the kingdom of God like a child." "It's easier for a camel to go
through a needle's eye than for the rich to get into God's kingdom."
Did You Know…?
"The Persians
expressed impossibility by saying it
would be easier to put an elephant through the eye of a needle. This was a
Jewish colloquial adaptation of that expression denoting impossibility (the
largest animal in Palestine was a camel)." [iii]
"This is crazy! If he
can't get in, then who can?!?" is what the disciples asked, being
flummoxed. Jesus replies, "You can't make it about you. Let it go. Let God
be God, and allow him to work through you." To which Peter replies, "Lord,
we let it go! We've given up everything to follow you these past three years."
Jesus knows this to be
true. It's not easy to follow the Christ. Nevertheless new bonds have been
formed when taking this step. Your natural family has been replaced (or added
to) with a wonderful, large community of disciples -- more than you can
imagine. What a blessing!
However, Jesus makes it
clear,… persecution follows the follower of Christ. If you follow Jesus, it
won't be easy and it'll cost you.
His last statement is one
for reflection. Will greatness put us first? Or wealth? In whose eyes? Not in
God's. Be careful of pride. We must search our hearts. We must search our souls.
Because what makes up heaven and the kingdom for God is not what makes up the
earth in the eyes of adults. Let us receive it as a child.
NEXT
"Lord, I humbly request you do exactly what I say."
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