In my seminary degree program this Spring semester I studied the Gospel of Mark. Each week we had a focus text, Greek words to research, commentaries to read and thoughts to ponder. One particular week our text was Mark 10:17-31; I do not want to turn my blog into a Bible study, but I was pondering a lot this week; so ponder with me and what does it mean for you to 'go sell everything, and then come and follow'? How would you respond if Jesus were on this earth today and asked you to 'go sell everything, come and follow,'? What implications can this parable teach us as Christians in this world today? Think about how you live your life as a Christian, as a disciple of Jesus in this world. We are called to live in response to the Love and grace of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all people. How are we responding to this grace and love?
The Rich Young Man
17As 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?" 18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'[a]" 20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." 28Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29"I tell you the truth," 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 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
