How will we come to Jesus?
Mark 10:1-31
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
- Today we continue to see something very unique to Mark’s Gospel
-- The glory of God is revealed; as is the Christian’s glory in Him
-- In our service to God is where we SEE His glory revealed
- Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely
-- God always allows us to hear from Him at just the right time
- Today we will see three different topics taught all with real-world application
- Read Mark 10:1-12
∆ Point 1 – Divorce and Moses’ Teachings (1-12)
- Let’s deal with the obvious first:
-- Divorce is the ending of a marriage between a man and a woman
-- It is not something celebrated, but allowed by God under specific circumstances
-- Matthew 19:9, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
- Divorce, though not God's desire, is also not the unforgivable sin
-- I stand before you as a divorced man confessing that God is STILL God!
-- IMP: Regardless of the circumstances, all divorced persons who have repented, should be forgiven and allowed to remarry.
- This is the Bible’s teaching and where we need to see our application today
- What we have is the Pharisees coming to test and trap Jesus (v2)
-- Their question is loaded and meant to cause embarrassment or perhaps confusion
-- Jesus however, answers directly back with Scripture
-- “What did Moses say when he commanded you on this topic?
- Why? Why this way? Because they are so bent on following the Law
-- They are so determined to move others to only see their view
-- So, Jesus offers them a straight forward answer (v5)
- This is done for one reason: To reveal to them the truth of God’s Word
-- The sole purpose is to reveal to them He would not go against Moses
- God allows for divorce because you would not repent of your sin
-- The sin is that of unrepentance; refuse to turn to God when forgiveness needed
-- So Jesus reminds them of the need for men and women to be together (v7-9)
- Men and women were purposely created by God to be joined together
-- They literally become one flesh, created in God’s image, to reveal His glory
- It was never God’s intent to allow divorce, but to show the unity we should have
-- The same is made in Ephesians 5: We are to sacrifice FOR one another
-- APP: It does not mean if you’ve been divorced, you are suddenly unforgiveable!
-- IMP: God’s intent is that we would be one willing to give ourselves to Him
- In v10, what the Disciples needed was two-fold:
-- 1) They needed more instruction on this topic, and,
-- 2) They felt that perhaps Jesus was in fact teaching against Moses here
- Jesus’ answer to them was radical in its presentation, and in its meaning
-- He is not jumping on the “if you do this you sin and deserve death” bandwagon
-- What He is actually doing is bucking society’s view of marriage totally
- How? Women were not thought much of in this time and day of society
-- Yet, look at v12 … women are allowed to divorce men? Not so in this time!
-- Remember this? Genesis 2:18, “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
-- APP: Jesus just raised the status of women in this time to equal; partnership
- TRANS: So, let’s talk about the representation of children in the Gospel
- Read Mark 10:13-16
∆ Point 2 – The Little Children (13-16)
- As Jesus continued on His journey, people were bringing kids to be blessed
-- This was often a custom in Jerusalem and the disciples were trying to stop it
-- They’re response to the crowd was almost one on annoyance; intolerance
- And in turn, Jesus answered them in exactly the same manner
- The Bible uses the word “aganekteo”; or a deep, strong feeling of anger
-- God’s revelation here is one of mercy and peace; contrary to Jesus’ response
-- However, most people know God at this time as one of anger and vengeance
- What happens here (v14) is the disciples totally MISSED the ministry
-- They have completely forgotten why they are sent on this journey
-- They’ve decided for themselves (again) who should come to Jesus
-- APP: The warning here is that we do not do the same to exclude others
- Jesus’ response then, in righteous anger, is 100% on the mark
-- In v15 He clearly demonstrates how even you and I come into the Kingdom
-- We come as children, and forever more we will remain children of God’s
-- We come with anticipation, with joy, and with thankfulness
- In that, He blesses these children in what I am certain made the disciples uneasy
-- Why? Because they knew He was doing things completely new
-- APP: Let’s face it, change causes pain because we like to keep things the same
- It’s the same problem John had in Mark 9:38 (look back at this verse)
-- “We know what’s best Lord, and look at us going to work for you …”
- TRANS: Jesus clearly corrects this presumption for them and for us!
-- The question to explore here is: Why would He do this? Let’s read on …
- I realize we may go over here, but want you to have this to chew on this week
-- Since we won’t have service Wed, can you hang with me for 15 more mins?
- Read Mark 10:17-31
∆ Point 3 – How will we come to Jesus? (17-31)
- Now we’ve come to a pivotal part of the Gospel of Mark
-- For the Christian today, these are verses of great importance and instruction
-- Prayerfully, I will relay them to you in a way that only honors God’s teaching
- This man has approached Jesus in a position of humbleness (v17)
-- He begins to laude compliments on Jesus and asks to inherit eternal life
- But see, there is something off with what he is asking; let’s explore
-- First, he calls Jesus “good” which is immediately questioned by Jesus Himself
-- Why? The word he used is “agathos”: which means intrinsically good
-- This refers to everything in Jesus as good, and Jesus corrects Him on this
- It is not something wrong that he has said, but the way the man has said it
-- Jesus’ reply (v18) is that only God is good; He deserves all the glory/praise
-- This man has come and said I will do anything to follow; which he won’t (v22)
- Mark 8:29 shows us this very question being asked of the disciples, remember?
-- “Who do you say I am?” is what Jesus wanted to know; to bring confession
-- APP: This man here has come claiming he wants Jesus; but intent is off
- Jesus’ listing of several of the commandments in v19 is not as a checklist
-- However, the man is instantly in love with this because he’s all “yes’s” to it
-- His heart knows since he was boy (approx. 13; age of accountability) he’s good
-- However, Jesus’ clarification of his motives is where the heart falls off
- Jesus looked at him and loved him (v21); this reveals Jesus’ heart for us
-- “One thing you lack” … IMP: You have things that matter more to you
-- WOW: Even in our sin Jesus still looks at this man and loved Him!
-- Go sell all you have, give it away if you have to, and then come follow me
-- The man’s reaction is where we need to see ourselves today (read v22)
- HUGE: Will we come like v17 and be corrected by v22 today?
-- This example shows a man who has come to Jesus, but goes away without
-- It is the ultimate altar call for us to respond to, and this man denies Christ
-- He is unable to part with his joy; his possessions; so he leaves empty-handed
- It is hard (v23) for the rich to enter because their worth means more
-- It’s not that having money is bad and you must be poor to enter Heaven
-- Quite the opposite … but your HEART reveals who you are and who you serve
-- Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
- So the disciples, in true fashion, are astonished and ask a pivotal question (v26)
-- Lord, if this man cannot be saved ... then who can? (Is there hope for us?)
-- Thankfully, v27 reveals this very clearly to us if we’ll choose to see it
- It is true; you cannot earn your way in nor buy your way through riches
-- We need to come to God with empty hands, expectantly, humbly before Him
-- Being a Disciple means we all come equal before Him; there’s none greater
- BIG IMP: When we admit our need, then God performs the miraculous
- Now, often it’s natural for us to wonder if we are doing enough
-- It is perfectly honest to admit that sometimes you want a little recognition
-- Peter knows this (v28) and so he is probably prodded to speak up on this issue
- Thankfully, Jesus sees right through the intent of his question (v29)
-- Many people have lost all they have to follow me … but have found new things
-- We’ve discovered new families, new friends, new interests, new desires
-- APP: No one who chooses Christ goes without gaining NEW things from Him
∆ Big Ideas
- Re-read v29-31
- Jesus never offered the easy way; he never gave us a quick-fix solution to life
-- What He did offer is salvation, and a promise to be with us throughout eternity
-- This is why He reminds them (v31) of their need for humbleness
- We come to Christ because of what He offers and has done – as children!
-- Whether we need to be healed and forgiven because of a divorce
-- Or, whether we need to come expectantly as children
-- Or, even if we need to give up everything to follow Him
- IMP: He says is that HE is WORTH it … and we have a choice to make
- We will pick this up next Sunday …
- Pray specifically for salvation and material bonds to be broken
