Mark 10_13_31

Mark 10:13-31 “A Question to be Answered”

Intro: I heard the sad news the other day (Thurs. 9/8/22) that Queen Elizabeth II passed away. She was Britain’s longest reigning Monarch, and now her family as well as the world is face to face with her death. It is front page news. When we are faced with death we are face difficult questions, eternal questions. We see that life is temporal and we ask ourselves what happens after life on earth is over. Let me answer that question for you, it is eternity in heaven if your are saved or eternity in hell if you die lost. This poses another question, one that we see in our text today, how can I be saved?

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world and to be risen from the dead by the power of God to bring victory over sin, death, and the grave. Salvation is based on the finished work of Jesus, nothing more and certainly nothing less. As He travels to Jerusalem He ministers and teaches others about His Kingdom and how it can be entered. Some parents bring their children for Jesus to bless and He certainly blesses them. A Rich young ruler runs up to Him earnestly seeking eternal life in the Kingdom of God yet turns away without blessed salvation.

Today we have what two pericopes brought together by a common theme, the Kingdom of God and entrance into it. If you have ever pondered the question, “how can I be saved” then today we will answer that question and pray that you make the right choice!

CPS: You can be saved only through total dependency on Christ Jesus my Lord!

If you want to go to heaven then depend on Jesus to get you there 13-16

Jesus is most likely still in Perea, people began to bring their children to Jesus for Him to bless, in the Greek “bringing” is in the imperfect tense meaning they kept on bringing. For some reason this struck a nerve with the disciples, perhaps they were trying to protect His privacy or enable Him to rest, but they rebuked them from bringing the children and when Jesus heard He got angry and told them not to hinder the children from coming. Jesus tells them that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Salvation is by Grace through Jesus

Mark uses the Greek term paidion (3x), which means children of varied ages. But the context tells us these children were small enough for Him to hold in His arms. Notice how the children came, they were brought to Jesus. The small child can do nothing to earn Jesus’ blessing. They were brought to Him and were held in the arms of the gracious Lord. Likewise is the one who is saved, He can do nothing to earn salvation it is freely given by God. Eph. 2:8(a) tells us by grace have you been saved!

Salvation is for Everybody in Jesus

Jesus became indigent when the disciples hindered the children from coming. Jesus was angry that anyone should think children were unimportant! However, in much of the world children are seen as unimportant. While in Malawi Africa I noticed people of all ages making professions of faith in Jesus. Yet, the native missionaries only counted the adults. Jesus came to save all those who would come to Him regardless of age, race, sex or status! Everyone is in need of salvation and anyone can be saved including a little child!

Salvation is through faith (depend) in Jesus

Notice the simile that is used, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as (LIKE) a little child, he shall not enter in. Jesus’ message reaches farther out than the children in front of Him. He is telling the disciples that anyone who is to be saved but receive Him like these children are receiving Him!

Their receptivity

A child receives people with open arms. My little niece Millie crawls around the store and will allow you to pick her up without hesitation. To receive salvation you receive Jesus as a child who has her arms wide open waiting in anticipation for you to reach down and pick her up.

Their dependence

A child is dependent for all things. She is carried by her mother, fed by her father, protected and cared for by those who are around her. A child cannot do much of anything for themselves. So is the one who is saved. Eph. 2:8(b) tells us that Salvation is through faith. Faith is the Greek noun pistis meaning the state of complete dependability. A child is not hesitant or afraid to rest her whole wait upon the arms or lap of her parents because she KNOWS she will not fall! This is the epitome of faith.

Salvation is Eternal (in His arms) in Jesus

The word Salvation is not used in verse 16 but it is certainly implied, and in this we see a picture of our eternal security. A child blessed and being held in the arms of its savior. John 10:28-30 tells us “I will give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.

Salvation is a gift from God, free to us but costly to Him who died for us. It is available to anyone who comes to Jesus in total dependency and that person is safe and secured in the arms of God, sealed until the day of redemption. Salvation is total dependency on Jesus to save. Not only does Jesus offer Salvation but He carried out Salvation as He died on Calvary’s cross then arose on the third day for you. I love the story of the little boy in Sunday school, he was asked if he was saved. The little boy proudly answered yes! His teacher asked how was he saved, and he responded I did my part and Jesus did His part. The Sunday School teacher asked the little boy what he meant, he answered I did the sinning and He did the saving!

If you want to go to hell then depend on yourself and your possessions to get you there.17-31

As Jesus leaves the area we see a man on a mission to inherit eternal life chase Jesus down. According to the world’s standards he had much going for him. He was young, ambitious, powerful, and had great wealth. He had manners and morals, and there was enough desire in his heart for spiritual things that he ran up to Jesus and bowed at His feet.

This is one of the great tragedies in Scripture. The young man came at the right time to the right person; asked the right questions; got the right answers, but chose the wrong thing.

The Rich Man’s Desire

Notice the man’s question, “Good Master (teacher), what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” As a rich man he was afforded the option to sit under whatever teacher he desired, but he understood Jesus was different as he bowed to Him and addressed Him as good which was not customary for Jews to do. But his question proves that he had a shallow view of salvation, sin, the Scriptures, and the Savior. He thought He could do something to earn eternal life. Charles Spurgeon once said, “If we have to put one stitch into the garment of our salvation, we shall ruin the whole thing.”

Work based salvation was common then and it is a common now, many think that God will add their good works and their bad works; and if their good works exceed their bad works, they will get into heaven. But Jesus puts the man up to the measuring rod of God, the commandments. Specifally the 6 that deal with man’s relationship between each other. The rich man says that he has kept them from his youth up (from 13 when every Jewish boy became bar miṣwāh (“son of the commandment”). But the Jewish idea of keeping the Law is an external conformity but God’s design of the law required inner obedience, which no man could comply with.

The rich young man was sincere yet far away from Salvation. Mark tells us that Jesus felt love for him then pointed out where he falls short (lack, hystereō). He didn’t love his fellow man as much as good as he thought and he had another god, it was his wealth and the false sense of security that it brings.

Jesus’ Invitation

Jesus gives him an invitation, (1) sell all you posses, (2) give all the proceeds to the poor, (3) and follow me. The man became sad (downcast) and went away grieving (sorrowful and distressed) because he owned much.

The man trusted in his riches, in his capabilities, and in his own goodness but ends up falling short. The Bible teaches that all have fallen short of the glory of God and if you are here today and trust in anything but Jesus alone than you are trusting in the wrong thing. The man had the proper position bowed before Jesus but his heart was set on the wrong things the world and what it had to offer.

It did not please Jesus to see the man walk away, The Bible tells us that God desire for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Jesus tells His disciples twice how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God. They are surprised because for the youth they had been taught that the wealthy were blessed of God and if those who are blessed by God will not enter into the kingdom of God than who can enter into His kingdom. Jesus’ answer is the children, those who totally depend on Jesus for their salvation, those who give up their reliance on the things of this world and trust completely in Jesus. Because salvation is imposiible with man and only possible with God. The God who loved us enough to come to earth and make appropriations for our salvation, who spread out his arms to prove His deep and undefiled love for us while we were still sinners!

Conclusion: Have you given up all things? Jesus tells us of the great blessings of those who totally depend upon Him through faith that though they may give up a lot 100 times will be credited to their account along with persecutions but at the end of their days eternal life awaits!

Jesus again tells of the order in the kingdom of God, the first will be last and the last will be first. Will you surrender all today?