Ready to Suffer

Introduction

Read Mark 10:28-31

Recap rich young ruler//contrast with William Borden

Left family (no reserves), landed in Egypt (no retreats)

Peter is responding to the man who didn’t leave everything

According to Matthew, he wants to know what he’ll get in return

3 things I notice in this passage

The Great Cost

Following Jesus takes sacrifice.

We have to admit how much Peter really did give up.

This isn’t limited to the 12 disciples. Barnabas sold his field and put the money at the feet of the apostles. (Acts 4:37)

This kind of radical selflessness is the sacrifice that led Jesus to be able to say we’d have 100x more fields/land

Late being cursed by Muslim guy and almost dying in a car accident

Easton’s honesty — “I just don’t want to”

Side note: so much of our fear of sacrifice is from a scarcity mindset

Like the people hoarding toilet paper during COVID

Like an atrophied “sacrifice” muscle that needs to be worked out

Matthew 6:21 — “Where your treasure…” action comes before want

The best way to want to give up everything for Jesus is to give up the things you don’t want to.

The Great Ironies

Jim Elliot martyred by the Aucas. He spent more time prolonging his marriage so they could get to the mission field than he did married. People called his death at 28 a tragedy.

The irony: the rich young ruler might’ve ended up losing it in the fall of Jerusalem in his lifetime (if he lived 40 more years and was celebrating Passover), but of course he lost it either way.

Over 1.1M died, according to Josephus, because so many were present for Passover

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” — Jim Elliot

Jesus lists persecution with the rest of the blessings.

Matthew 5:10-12 — “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake…”

1 Peter 4:13 — Rejoice in your persecution

Why? Phil. 3:10 — We come to know Christ by participating in his sufferings with him

It is a blessing, but for anyone in it for the wrong reasons, they realize it’s not a “get rich quick” scheme.

The thing we’re trying to avoid is the thing Jesus says we want.

Like how wealth was the thing we want that Jesus says we should be worried about

“The Great Reversal” - Joel Marcus

Verse 31 can be either an encouragement to Peter who has given it up, or a caution. It could be a caution if Peter is thinking that he is superior for giving things up unlike the young ruler.

This is the great reversal, though, because Jesus is not just saying this to Peter; he’s thinking about his own life as he heads to the cross.

Jesus gives up being first (Colossians 1:15) to become last for us (Gal. 3:13) and ends up first again (Phil. 2:8-10).

So there’s a great cost, but the great irony is that we’ll lose those things anyway. But there’s also a “great reversal”. Because Jesus laid down his life for us, we can lay down our lives and and become “last” knowing that we’ll become “first”.

Conclusion

Main point: We don’t get to share in the reward without sharing in the suffering. There is no crown without a cross, but if you pick up your cross there is always a crown.

William Borden

William Borden landed in Egypt to learn Arabic, caught spinal meningitis, and died one month later at 25.

no reserves, no retreats, no regrets

I have never regretted choosing Jesus. Time of reflection before closing prayer

What’s that area you most need to honor him in? What practical step can you take this week to give that to him?

Pray