The Means of Discipleship
May 20, 2023
Mark 10:17-45 | I Peter 2:21-24
[Remember that today’s passage follows Christ’s word that the Kingdom belongs to people the likes of children.]
Possessions. Money. Family. Life itself. Prestige.
Today’s passage tells of the various things that may come to be relinquished if someone is to follow Jesus, “obtain eternal life,” and enter the Kingdom of God. But beware of applying universal terms of discipleship to all people. The temptation we have of establishing boundaries for all or terms of discipleship meant for every individual really isn’t in Jesus’ teaching here.
The question is: What is it for me to follow Jesus?
The man possessed by many possessions needs to relinquish them.
The wealthy one will find it easier to enter Kingdom space by giving up the burden of wealth.
Some will find themselves at odds with the comforts of family or home.
Others (James & John) will need to give up their desire for prestige or authority.
Ultimately, Jesus demonstrates the pinnacle of discipleship in the giving up of his own life. Not all disciples of Christ will find themselves hanging on a cross. But all need to wrestle with what the sacrifice looks like for their own lives and none can say Jesus hasn’t led the way in doing so.
Mark 10:17-45
As Jesus continued down the road, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?”
Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. You know the commandments: Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother.”
“Teacher,” he responded, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions.
Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “It will be very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!” His words startled the disciples, so Jesus told them again, “Children, it’s difficult to enter God’s kingdom! It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
They were shocked even more and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible with human beings, but not with God. All things are possible for God.”
Peter said to him, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “I assure you that anyone who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms because of me and because of the good news will receive one hundred times as much now in this life—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms (with harassment)—and in the coming age, eternal life. But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.”
Jesus and his disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus in the lead. The disciples were amazed while the others following behind were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he told them what was about to happen to him. “Look!” he said. “We’re going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and the legal experts. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles. They will ridicule him, spit on him, torture him, and kill him. After three days, he will rise up.”
James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They said, “Allow one of us to sit on your right and the other on your left when you enter your glory.”
Jesus replied, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup I drink or receive the baptism I receive?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said, “You will drink the cup I drink and receive the baptism I receive, but to sit at my right or left hand isn’t mine to give. It belongs to those for whom it has been prepared.”
Now when the other ten disciples heard about this, they became angry with James and John. Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the ones who are considered the rulers by the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around. But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, for the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.”
I Peter 2:21-24
You were called to this kind of endurance, because Christ suffered on your behalf. He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, nor did he ever speak in ways meant to deceive. When he was insulted, he did not reply with insults. When he suffered, he did not threaten revenge. Instead, he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He carried in his own body on the cross the sins we committed. He did this so that we might live in righteousness, having nothing to do with sin. By his wounds you were healed.
Prayer
God,
I awaken today to the same thing: your call to follow Christ, to follow in Christ’s footsteps, to follow in his example. Grant me the wisdom to realize what this means in my heart and mind and the get-go to actualize it in the actions of my body.
Even as I enjoy the fruits of the creation in which you have placed me - the benefits of food and water and air, the satisfaction of relationship and connection, the comforts of nature and shelter - keep me from idolizing any of these to the detriment of your great love.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.