Matthew 19-20; Mark 10; Luke 18

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Of Good and Evil

I'm going to do a short walkthrough of Mark 10. The main theme is 'what is the price to truly be good?' 

The rich young man comes to Jesus and calls him 'Good Master'

Christ responds 'there is none good but one, that is, God'

Whenever we get these kind of strange isms in the gospels, it is Christ making a point. Here we have the rich young man asking for eternal life. What he does not realize is that eternal life is something that will require him to give everything he has. It will also require Christ to give everything He has. This is not a light topic. When Christ reminds the young man that only God is good, He is prepping the man to realize just how much is required to be 'good' and what it will take.

Christ can tell that the rich young man is trying and very sincere. He does a checkin: are you doing all the right things? The rich young man is doing them. This is great news.

Then Christ says essentially that the rich young man needs to do much more. Its time to shake the blanket and become a true follower. Its time to shake the cocoon and emerge ready to fly. Its time to give everything, take up the cross of Christ, and follow Him.

And then the man realizes that despite all his sincere desires and efforts, his heart is still in the wrong place, nestled in Babylon.

The gospels don't give the rest of the story of the rich young man, but I believe it worked out for him. the man was very sincere, he just needed a little shake from the savior.

So Christ looks around and reminds his disciples 'how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!'

The disciples can't believe it. Who can be saved.

Christ qualifies ''how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of god.(ref1)

It doesn't help. The disciples still can believe it.

They look around them and wonder who can be saved. This is the disciples' turn to realize how truly narrow is the way and how truly strait is the gate.

And they are right. with just this side of the equation, no one would be saved. Jesus even agrees - he tells them its impossible...

But not [impossible] with god: for with God all things are possible.

This underscores just how much we need to rely on our Saviour. It was the rich young mans day and the disciples day to understand this. Today should be our day. It was put in the scriptures for such a purpose.

Peter, yes, the peter we all know and love, 'began' to say - we did it, right? we gave up everything :D 

Well, Peter dear (ref2) its a great beginning. In my understanding, Jesus says essentially 'you are on the right track, but there is still a very long way to go. And you don't even realize that distance yet either.' those are verses 29-31.

It seems as this was laying the groundwork to break to the disciples what Christ Himself was willing to do for the salvation of all. Based on how they reacted when it happened, they still didn't get it. Also the fact that right after this, James and John asked to sit on Christ's left and Right hand. That request probably did not age well when they looked back on what Christ was trying to tell them just before.

the discussion closes with that great mystery Christ teaches: 


43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The most Significant verse

The most significant verse to me in chapter 10, really the first few words, mean everything for our salvation if we read it in context:

"21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him..."




Ref 1: side note, I think this verse cleans up the controversy about money being the root of all evil vs love of money being the root of all evil. 

Ref 2: yes, I do realize that Peter will take part in my judgement, so hopefully he is laughing at his question by this point and is okay with me having a little fun with it too.

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