Bottoms Up

Opening

Mark 10:28–31 “Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and have followed You.” 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 farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.””

Christ says that at the last judgment “many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Mark 10:31). This overturning of expectations is not due to divine whimsy or irrationality, but to the fact that the judge of all the hearts of men will judge according to truth. Because of this, many confident expectations will be overturned. Many seemingly pious people will be rejected while many that are seemingly impious will be received.772

Paul Helm, The Last Things

Paul Helm

PRAY

Explain:

Peter thought that since they left everything, things would be easy. Actually, the contrary is true. Because they left everything for follow Jesus, they would face good and bad times.

Jesus explained that, yes, you will leave things and family behind to follow Him, but you will have more in Heaven.

We have to keep the bigger picture in mind when serving the Lord. This is backwards thinking for us.

Luke 13:30 “And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.””

Back then, people thought that if you were truly blessed and close to God, you would be rich with many possessions.

Jesus was teaching everyone that this isn’t always the case. The financially poor may be the richest in spirit and vice versa.

I like how this said the word, “Some”. Because there are some rich people who are still saved and serve the Lord. There are also some poor people who hate God and do not know Him.

Matthew 5:2–12 “And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

This entire passage is backwards to what the belief was in those days. Everything seems to contradict each other.

This is what Jesus came to do. He came to straighten out our way of thinking.

Mark 10:41–45 “Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with James and John. Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant; and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.””

Matthew 19:23–26 “And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””

Matthew 22:37–40 “And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.””

Matthew 5:20–48 ““For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not b…”