Scripture Notes on Mark 10
“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, 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.'” -Mark 10:29-30
Walking with Jesus always has a price, and sometimes it’s more costly than others.
We don’t follow a man who had everything going for Him, who was constantly adored and well-treated. We follow a Savior who was homeless, who was poor, who was crucified. But, just like on the other side of the grave was a glorious resurrection, on the other side of the price there is a great provision!
The first thought for many who read this will be, “Yes, a great provision awaits me in heaven if I can just get through this life on earth.” This is true, but it is not complete. Notice how Jesus speaks of “a hundredfold now in this time…”
This doesn’t mean that every believer who loses their home gets a hundred parcels of real estate down the street. There simply isn’t enough land on the planet for that. It doesn’t mean that every biological family member who rejects a believer is replaced with one hundred more. All the adoption agencies in all the world couldn’t keep up with that. So, what does Jesus mean?
He’s talking about the Church.
It is the plan and purpose of God that His Church should be a people who share with one another generously. We share affection and commitment, support and strength, and even finances and a place to stay when needed.
All throughout history we see examples of how Christians understood that God called them to be a family to one another, and as they opened their hearts and homes to one another in obedience to Christ, they became the fulfillment of His promise.
How about us?
The American spirit is one of rugged individualism. We pride ourselves on doing things on our own, on needing no one, on making things happen for ourselves, and when we do, on keeping as much for our selves and our own families as we can.
But that is not the Spirit of Christ.
May you and I be willing to second-guess the gospel of our culture and be obedient to God by being generous with one another. May we be willing to sacrifice our preferences and pride on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ, because when we do, we’re not just being obedient to Jesus. We’re laying a foundation for others to do the same for us, too.
-Pastor Phillip
