The Gospel According to Mark (Part 33)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 33)

Good Morning and Welcome to Jesus Church

We are on the back half of the Gospel of Mark

• And with each week the intensity of Jesus ministry is building
  • As he knows he is nearing the end of his life
  • His time is short and he still has so much to do and teach
• Last week we talked about coming to the Kingdom as a child
  • How Jesus wasn’t saying bring the qualities of a child to get in
  • Jesus meant that a child had nothing to bring
  • So with nothing but yourself is how Jesus calls us to his kingdom

And there’s a contract last week to this week

• Where last week it was all about people who had nothing at all
  • This week is about a man who has everything

Mk 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?” Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. 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.”

Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said. God sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 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. The disciples were even more amazed and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 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 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. But many who are first will be last and the last first.

[PRAY]

Story – Pavement into heaven

A very rich man was coming to the end of his life. He was distressed b/c he had worked hard for his money and wanted to be able to take it with him to Heaven. He decided that every night he would pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth to Heaven. An angel heard his plea and appeared to him. “Sorry but you can’t take your wealth with you.” The man begged the angel to speak to God to see if He might make an exception. The angel reappeared and announced that God had decided to allow one suitcase. Overjoyed, the man found the biggest suitcase he could and filled it with pure gold bars and placed it next to his bed. Soon afterward the man died and showed up at the gates of Heaven. An angel met him and seeing the suitcase said, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!” But the man explained that he had received special permission to take one suitcase with him when he died. After getting on the phone he verified the exception but asked the man what he would think would be worth bringing from earth to heaven. The man with a big smile on his face opened the suitcase to reveal it was packed with pure gold bars. The angel seemed to be just staring at the contents for a few moments and the looked up at the man is asked, “Why in the world would you bring pavement to heaven?”

Our story today starts with a man who finally asks the big question

Mk. 10:17

… “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

• Now that question is different than what many think today
  • In our world we read this as “Go to heaven when I die”
  • 1^st century Jews separated history into 2 ages
    • This present age
    • The age to come
• This age: Was marked by evil/injustice/demonic/disease/death
  • The age to come: The future world remade in a NEW EDEN
  • And people in Jesus day were waiting for a Messiah to come
  • He would raise the dead and judge the righteous/wicked
    • And then usher in this age to come
• This rich man is asking… what can I do now to stand before God
  • And be put with the righteous and not the wicked
  • So don’t think he wants to go off to a place called heaven
  • No he wants to stay here on Earth when God reigns as king

Mk 10:19 (Jesus replies)

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 and honor your father and mother.

Reason Jesus is stating all of these commands of bad things people do

• Jesus is asking this man how he made his money
  • This guy is rich… so he’s in the 2% not living in extreme poverty
  • There was no middle class (Either very rich or very poor)
• And most of the very rich got that way by injustice & oppression
  • So Jesus is asking how did you make your money
  • Did you lie… cheat… steal… defraud…

Mk 10:20 (but the guy responds)

Teacher, all of these I have kept since I was a boy.

He is claiming he’s a good, law following Jew

• And Jesus doesn’t argue the point
  • All 613 commandments of the Torah he is blameless
  • He observes the feasts and gives the sacrifices
  • He has money and access to get to Jesus through the crowds
• It seems like he has it all
  • But the feel in the story is that he is still missing something
  • Something seems to be restless in his soul
  • Saying: I have it all… but still haven’t found what I’m looking for

And this part is interesting… It says: Jesus looked at him and loved him

• Looked (GREEK) – Em-blepo (To examine or see inside of a person)
  • Jesus is looking into the mans heart… and loved him
  • This is only place in Mark’s Gospel it says Jesus loved someone

Mk 10:21 (But he responds with this)

…One thing you lack, go and sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.

• Sell it all – Everything… house/money/assets
  • And this was crazy even from a Rabbis perspective
  • 1: Rabbis would say never give away more than 20% to the poor
  • 2: The standard answer to this question – Keep the Torah
• Which Jesus agrees with… but says it isn’t enough
  • He says what is missing is DISCIPLESHIP to me
  • To leave reliance on things of this world… rely on God alone

And if you do that – You will have “TREASURES IN HEAVEN”

• Now lets make sure we understand what that means
  • In the NT… Focus of Heaven wasn’t a place you go when you die
    • Focus was on God’s dwelling place in here and now
    • And Heaven was God’s bank/storehouse for the future

One Theologian said…

Heaven is the place where God is storing the Earth’s future

NT Wright

When Jesus says you will have treasure in heaven, he doesn’t mean the young man must go to heaven to get it. He means that God will keep it stored up for him until the time in the age to come that all is revealed. The reason you have money in the bank is not so you can spend it in the bank, but so you can take it out and spend it somewhere else. The reason you have treasure in heaven (Gods storehouse) is so that you can enjoy it in the age to come. When God brings heaven and earth together at last.

• So Jesus isn’t saying you will have a treasure someWHERE else
  • As much as it will be someTIME else
  • Jesus invites this guy (and us) to invest in future over present

Mk 10:22

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad b/c he had great wealth.

• That word sad in original language… more like grieving
  • He went away grieving because he had great wealth
    • Because to him… money wasn’t a gift from God
    • It was his god – Center of his identity/desire

Jesus is noticeably disappointed… but uses it as a teaching point

• Starts with: How hard is it for the rich to enter the kingdom of God
  • Which causes the disciples to be amazed… why
    • B/C in Jesus day the thought was Money = Gods Blessing
    • Teachings said $$$ was Gods reward for keeping Torah
  • We hear the same today… Prosperity Gospel use 2 be novelty
    • Random person on TV with 1” of makeup and 10’ hair dew
    • Now we see it in mainline church theology
• And while yes Jesus provides for us… we have favor…
  • If wealth is a sign of Gods favor… what is poverty a sign of
  • Is poverty a sign of God’s disapproval
  • If wealth is a reward of keeping Torah (commands of Jesus)
    • Is poverty result of not keeping Torah/Commands of Jesus
  • In a world where over 2 billion people live on less than $2/day
    • 100’s of millions who follow Jesus (Africa/India/China)
    • How can we say ALL OF THESE PEOPLE are out of His favor

Truth is Jesus doesn’t have a simplistic view when it comes to wealth

• Not as simple as money equals injustice & oppression so its bad
  • Or that that money equals God’s blessing so its good

Mk 10:24-26 (Jesus continues)

“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (Rich/Poor either way it is not easy) 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 Heaven. The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “who then can be saved?”

Now some think this was an actual gate in Jerusalem…

• Comes from a commentary in the 12^th century that mentions a gate
  • However there is no archeological proof of this gate
  • And original language… all 3 gospels gives diff words for needle
  • If it was a gate – one wouldn’t say “surgical” and other “sewing”
• Instead what Jesus is saying here is hyperbole… its actually a joke
  • But it gets serious fast b/c now question is: Who can be saved
    • If I can’t enter the Kingdom by keeping the laws
    • Camel was the largest animal in a Jewish persons world
    • I guess I have no chance to enter the kingdom

Mk 10:27-28 (To which Jesus says… You’re right… you can’t)

With man this is impossible but not with God, all things are possible with God. (and of course Peter has something to say about this) “We have left everything to follow you!”

• And its true that they did give up everything
  • Peter and Andrew were actually very successful
  • Matthew made a ton of money
  • James/John had a boat and fishing business
    • They left family… friends
• And not like now where people leave everything to find themselves
  • If you left everything to start traveling to the ends of the world
  • The only thing that would happen – Find yourself dead
    • They really did sacrifice to follow Jesus

Mk 10:29 (And Jesus response is perfect)

Truly I tell you no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields (agrarian) for me and the gospel 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.

That’s the beauty of the kingdom of God when you are obeying him

• You leave your house… end up with a place to stay in every town
  • Ex communicated from your family: Brothers/Sisters in church
  • If you have to leave your carreer… God will bring you better
• But its no utopia… Jesus follows that with “along with persecution”
  • I love how honest Jesus is…
    • We’re all searching for a life free from hardship (just me?)
    • Doesn’t exist… will 1 day… but not this side of resurrection
  • And I love how honest Jesus is
    • He doesn’t say “Sell everything… just kidding come back!”
      • Just start tithing and we’re good
      • Says rich or poor its hard to enter kingdom
  • Jesus doesn’t sugar coat or lower bar EVER… no sales pitch
    • Just here I am: Do you think I’m worth it
    • If so follow me… believe me & my Kingdom are worth it

TAG: Now lets insert ourselves into this story

• Where we’re no longer the spectator but the participant
  • What happens when we realize we’re the rich ruler in the story
    • And Jesus is asking us to give something up for him
    • When Jesus looks at you and LOVES you
    • Will u walk away mourning… or like Peter leave everything

A couple of conclusions we should draw/not draw

There is no doubt that Jesus has his opinions on money/wealth

• Jesus never teaches on money in a positive light
  • For each word Jesus speaks about sexual immorality…
  • There are 10 words about money
• And I don’t think that Jesus is saying we have to live in poverty
  • But he is questioning if wealth is the ideal way to live
  • Because Jesus sees the good in simplicity
    • It makes us humble… reliant… not obsessed with what
    • AW Tozer: The tyranny of things
    • And Jesus sees the danger of wealth
      • It can make us arrogant… obsessive… lead to bondage
• And how do you know if money is a problem for you
  • You can’t give large amounts away
  • You think about how much you have to give… not can give
  • The more you make… lower percentage you give
    • And no matter how much money you get – Want more
    • Your scared to have as much as you’re use to having
    • Afraid you won’t be as happy

Now I also don’t think Jesus is against having or using money

• Many of Jesus followers were wealthy
  • Jesus would eat their food… stay in their houses
  • These are the people who supported their ministry
  • And the ministry of the early church
• I think about Jospeh of Aramthea or story of Good Samaritan
  • I think of Lydia – Rich business woman that works with Paul
  • Chloe who supports the local church with her wealth
• I think Jesus teaches us that money as useful but dangerous
  • The question is: Does money serve us or do we serve money
    • Do we own our stuff or does our stuff own us
    • Answer lies in the ? – Why is what we have never enough
  • Sociologists talk about the Hedonic Treadmill
    • Says the more you get the more you… want
    • And it convinces you that if you get more you’ll be happy
  • 1 study done on happiness said…
    • Diff b/w someone who gets 5k & 50k per year is huge
    • B/W nothing & bare essentials (homeless or a roof)
    • Diff b/w someone making 50k & 50 mill is almost nothing
  • My point is most people believe making 50 million
    • You would be far happier… but its not true (it’s a lie)
    • Yet we still believe it

If problem w/ money (not enough) temptation is it will buy happiness

• And by happiness what I really mean is solve all our problems
  • Because honestly that’s what most of us really want
  • And yes… money can solve some of our problems
  • But it cannot satisfy ur soul – which is the biggest problem of all
• We live in a unique point of existence
  • It’s the overlap of the ages… b/w this present age/age to come

Paul says to church in Corinth

Those who buy something, do so as if it were not theirs to keep, those who use things of this world, as if not to be engrossed in them. For this world in its present form IS PASSING away.

• This world/reality is currently passing away (not someday… now)
  • And that’s the danger with money and stuff
    • It anchors your heart to this present age
    • While we’re commanded to usher in the age to come
• This life is nothing but a vapor… and age to come is forever
  • So if that is true (we believe that it is)
  • We live in a time to invest for the future… not the present

Disclaimer: If u think “He just wants me to give money to the church”

Yes that’s exactly my goal… no I haven’t said a single thing on that

• Of course – I believe in giving to the local church… tithing…
  • I pray that as you start to obey Jesus teachings on money
  • You will give to local church – We believe tithing is biblical
  • But also to ministries outside the church… tons right here

But that not the point of what we are reading today…

• Point of what Jesus says here is ETERNAL LIFE
  • And that’s the life that Jesus wants for you…
  • Not a life tied to things of a world that is passing away
• And the focus isn’t really even money – Can’t just say great…
  • I’m a high school/college kid… make negative money per month
    • So I’ll worry about this in 10 years from now
  • For this guy – Its money but only because money was his god
    • What is it that Jesus is calling you to give up
    • To not hold on to so you are free to the life he gives
• And that doesn’t mean – I will never watch TV again…
  • I’m cancelling my amazon prime subscription…
  • Jesus wasn’t telling this man to never use money again
  • But what he is saying is be free of it

What is God calling you to be free of – Not for his sake… but for yours

[PRAY]