The Lowly, The Law, The Last of the Kingdom.

Mark 10: 13-31.

outline

V:13-16 Jesus’ Preaching of The Lowly of the Kingdom

V:17-22 Jesus’ Preaching of The Law of the Kingdom

V: 23-31 Jesus’ Preaching of The Last of the Kingdom

Introduction

Two Questions in this text that center us on what Jesus is talking about:

1. Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (V 17) - Rich young ruler

2. Then who can be saved? (V26)- Disciples

Before get to those two questions we must first frame the discussion Jesus has with this man known as the rich young ruler and how he answers the question of his disciples.

Recapping the Theme of Mark

Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The word Gospel is used only 8 times in the book of mark and 12 total in all of the gospels, the other 4 are in mark. For books referred to as the gospels you would think there would be more references to the word Gospel. 64 x in the rest of the new testament.

Gospel is a main content in all of scripture of course when it comes to our salvation and we know that the gospel means The good news, the person and work of Jesus Christ, Specifically His life, death and resurrection.

However, when Jesus spoke, the main term that He used was the Kingdom of God.

In the Gospels, the word Gospel is used my Jesus 8 out of the 12 times, the term kingdom or kingdom of God in comparison is used 126 times.

This is Jesus’ preferred term when choosing to proclaim the good news, that exist within a larger theme or structure known as the Kingdom of God or in Matthew’s gospel the kingdom of Heaven.

Why is this important for our text here in mark 10:13-31, Jesus is yet again teaching about how to get into His Kingdom. Mark 10:15, Mark 10: 25.

Jesus uses the Kingdom of God 5x in 18 verses, which is the most of any chapter in mark.

Jesus however never gives us a definition of the Kingdom, but instead describes what the Kingdom is like, by using metaphors, like a mustard seed, leavened bread etc.

Here it is kept to specifics such as how to enter into the Kingdom, i.e. salvation.

V 26 the disciples ask “who then can be saved?”

Their question should be our question today, maybe even better is not only who, but How can someone be saved?

Much can be said about the Kingdom of God, however, our purpose is to answer the question how does the gospel of salvation apply one who wishes to enter in?

The kingdom of God used here in these passage applies to the heart of man for salvation that requires a sovereign (supreme ruler) over a people.

With the kingdom as the framing, the picture is Christ, the gospel, the good news we return to Marks thesis statement in Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15 (ESV)

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

What does entering the Kingdom require?

repent

believe (faith)

Two points about these two requirements of the Gospel before we get going

1. I urge you to commit these two to memory as we go through the text in order to apply them to all three encounters Jesus has with.

2. If this is the mission statement of Jesus’ preaching ministry and it is, what must we assume about the nature of man if Jesus must preach to a people to repent and believe?

There must be something we need to repent of

There must be something we need to believe in

Thesis:

With those two assumptions in mind about Christ’s goal of His preaching that there must be something to repent of, and something to believe in, I will argue that we typically lean heavy on preaching what to believe in (Good news/Gospel) and hardly do we lean on preaching repentance.

1. Jesus’ Preaching The Lowly of the Kingdom (V:13-16)

Mark 10:13–16 ESV

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Not only what but how to believe

V 15 Like a child

Childish or Child Like?

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Colossians 1:28 ESV

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Lowest of society, bringing nothing to the table, no possessions, and no status, just trust

2. Jesus’ Preaching of The Law of the Kingdom (V:17-22)

Mark 10:17–22 ESV

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

V 17 “Good Teacher, What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Matthew 19:16. What good thing must I do?

Besides the fact that Jesus can see the hearts of men and we cannot. John 2:24,25.

Im going to argue that the reason Jesus answers this man differently than everyone else is two words that can be noticed in his question that reveal that he has a poor understanding of Jesus, and a poor understanding of man.

“Good”

Does this fit Jesus’ goal of preaching ministry in Mark 1:15?

If the requirement of the Gospel is repentance and faith, what is the requirement of the Law?

Moral perfection, and you cant get into the kingdom without a holy and just righteousness.

Are we as followers of Christ prepared to preach, and or evangelize in a way that results in some walking away sad?

Matthew 19:16. What good thing must I do?

Jesus answers the question by the standard it was asked. my the standard of the law/commandments, the standard of righteousness, and holiness.

When the weight of that moral perpetual perfection is laid upon the man, he claims self righteousness.

Jesus replies, “Finally, you have no idea how long I have been looking for you, since you have nothing to repent of and have lived a perfect life, we can skip that icky repentance part and get to the good news! I came to save you! even though you don’t me for anything, Ill just tell the father you’re coming, you” Oh your bible doesn’t say that? me neither,

and yet, the pervasive belief in our day when asked do you think you’ll go to heaven is, “Ya Im a pretty good person, and do more good things and bad things, Ive never murdered anyone, never stolen anything, Im not as bad as most people”

Belief in Works righteousness instead of Christ-Righteousness

3. Jesus Preaching of The Last of the Kingdom (V:23-31)

Mark 10:23–31 (ESV)

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Disciples reframe the question with salvation in mind.

Conclusion