Mark 10:17-52 - The upside down kingdom
29/1/23
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Scripture
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The rich young ruler
This story is told by Matthew [19:16-20], Mark [10:17-21] and Luke [18:18-21]. Matthew tells us that he was young [19:22] and Luke that he was a ruler [18:18] and, hence, the popular description of him as “the rich young ruler”. It must have been quite something to have achieved authority and wealth [v 23] at a young age. He was also a many who kept Torah as taught by the rabbis according to the Talmud1.
17 And as he was setting out on his way, one individual ran up and knelt down before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?” 18 So 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 give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed 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 the proceeds to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” 22 But he looked gloomy at the statement and went away sorrowful, because he had many possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!”
Jesus was the ultimate rich ruler. Jesus is God. God the Father created everything through him. He ruled with God in the highest heaven. What was Jesus willing to do that the young man struggled with so deeply? Can a Christian be wealthy? What is the challenge for us whether we are rich or poor?
24 And the disciples were astounded at his words. But Jesus answered and said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter into the kingdom of God!
Why does Jesus suddenly call the disciples children [9:33-37, 42-50; 10:13-16]? How do children contrast with rich young rulers?
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were very astounded, saying to one another, “And who can be saved?”
In Jewish theology, even to this day, riches and authority are seen as the blessing of God on a person. The disciples clearly think in these terms even though they were not rich. Perhaps they thought Jesus would give them wealth and authority in his kingdom.
What sort of person do you think of as blessed? What it the marker of a person who has eternal life? Perhaps it is not riches because you are living in a different time and place.
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With human beings it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “Behold, 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 fields on account of me and on account of the gospel 30 who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, together with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Is it worth giving up our “riches” to follow Jesus? What are your riches?
Jesus predicts his death and resurrection a third time
32 Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going on ahead of them. And they were astounded, but those who were following him were afraid. And taking aside the twelve again, he began to tell them the things that were about to happen to him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
According to John, Jesus has around this time raised Lazarus for the dead at Bethany [11:38-44], which is very close to Jerusalem, and the Jewish leaders were plotting to have Jesus [11:45-57] and Lazarus [12:9-11] killed. It is people from Bethany who have probably joined this last part of the journey up to Jerusalem. They are afraid [v32]!
Does Jesus do anything to allay their fears? What is going to happen to him? Would you have been afraid?
A request by James and John
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want that I do for you?” 37 So they said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when they heard this, the ten began to be indignant about James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their people in high positions exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be most prominent among you must be the slave of all. 45 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.”
How is it possible that James and John are still thinking like gentiles? What is Mark by carefully selecting certain material, trying to show us? Why cannot even some who would be apostles understand?
A blind man healed at Jericho
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was setting out from Jericho along with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many people warned him that he should be quiet. But he was crying out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up! He is calling you.” 50 And he threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered him and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may regain my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” And immediately he regained his sight and began to follow him on the road.
The Aramaic Rabboni is an elevated form of Rabbi similar to Αγαθός Διδάσκαλος [“Good Teacher”] of v17. The poor Bartimaeus stands in antithesis to the rich young ruler. Why is Bartimaeus is healed [v52]? What is the marker of someone who will inherit eternal life?
More
‘Talmud’. In Wikipedia, 27 January 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talmud&oldid=1135845431.