You Have To Give Up Everything Series

THE TOUGH SAYINGS OF JESUS

"YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING"

Mark 10: 20-26 July 11, 2010

INTRODUCTION:

Leo Tolstoy once wrote a story about a successful peasant farmer who was not satisfied with his lot. He wanted more of everything. One day he received a fantastic offer. For 1000 rubles, he could buy all the land he could walk around in one day. The only catch to the deal was that he had to be back at starting point by sundown. Early the next morning he started out walking at a fast pace. By midday he was very tired, but he kept going, covering more and more ground. Well into the afternoon he realized that his greed had taken him far from the starting point. He quickened his pace and as the sun began to sink low in the sky, he began to run, knowing that if he did not make it back by sundown the opportunity to become an even bigger landholder would be lost. As the sun began to sink below the horizon he came within sight of the finish line. Gasping for breath, his heart pounding, he called upon every bit of strength left in his body and staggered across the line just before the sun disappeared. He immediately collapsed, blood streaming from his mouth. In a few minutes he was dead.

He gained acres and acres of property but it cost him his life. How much of anything does a man need to be happy? How big a house? How many cars? How many toys? How much stuff?

Most of us have thought…."If only" If only I had more money…if only I got this position…If only this person would love me…

The world says "If you have more you'll be happy" If, you have more you've got it made" "If you have more you'll be content".

We're fed a bunch of lies…and far too many of us believe them so we push and shove to get more.

We try to finagle the numbers to make it happen and deep within we have this feeling that whatever we have is not enough.

We continuously live life with the feeling we lack something…we're missing a piece to the puzzle…we never reach a place where we feel satisfied or content.

1.

Over the next few weeks we're going to examine some of the toughest sayings of Jesus. They are sayings that didn't just amaze the average Joe in the crowd, but astonished his disciples when he spoke them. Maybe you think you know Jesus pretty well--the Savior who was kind, gentle and loving…but when we dig deeper into scripture we'll discover "the Lamb of God" was also "The Lion of Juda" and where are some of his teachings that often leave us modern day followers with more questions than answers. Sometimes "Aslan" roared and his words carried a powerful bite. Like today.

"Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God"

"But his disciples were astonished at his words."

All this begins with a question about eternal life…

I WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

Read Mark 10: 17-20

If you think about it Jesus finds himself in an evangelistic, dreams come true situation.

Jesus hasn't had to host a medical clinic or buy this guy a Starbucks Vente' Café Machiaotta.

This guy comes running to Him, assumes a position of submission to Jesus authority by kneeling down and he opens the spiritual discussion door about as wide as any "seeker" can.

Seldom to you get that kind of opening

[I played basketball at Johnson and we ere "The preachers" after a game one Friday we stopped at McDonald's to spend the hugh $5 per diem we allotted for dinner…we are still in our uniforms and sweats…I walked to the counter to order….and a younger lady with 2 small children looked at me and said "Preacher" What is that…I responded It's a basketball team…ordered got my food, sat down and then the Holy Spirit said "your and idiot"…almost his exact words…I give you an opportunity like that and you tell this young "man…It's a basketball team"]

Some would think…Jesus must have been licking his chops…this young man was primed and ready. All Jesus had to do was tell him about God's plan… get his disciples to baptize him…and his food to go!

But it seems Jesus wasn't just trolling for converts…He was fishing deep for real disciples…Jesus response is baffling. He seems to make it harder rather than easier for this guy.

2.

And this guy wasn't part of the normal crowd that surrounded Jesus. Jesus drew a crowd everywhere he went…He as a miracle worker, a multitude feeder, a compassionate teacher…the majority of the crowd that pressed in on Jesus were the desperate, the poor, the sick, the sinners.