Mark 10
FortnerMark 10:1-16
CHAPTER 42 The Master Teaches About Marriage and Children “And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” (Mark 10:1-16) It is ever the ploy of unregenerate religious men to attempt to trick God’s servants and his people into saying things they can use against them. Crafty followers of the Serpent, in a pretense of sincerity, try to ask leading questions, which will cause us to give answers they can turn against us. You do not have to experience their craftiness many times before you are able to hear the hiss of the Serpent in their speech. When we meet with such people, the best way to send them slithering back into their own slime is simply not to answer them. I learned long ago that if you get into a spitting contest with a skunk, though you may win the contest, you are sure to come away smelling like a skunk. Here in Mark 10 our Savior had just such an experience with the Pharisees. They posed their question about divorce in such a way as to try to get him to speak against Moses and the law so that they might pretend to have a basis upon which to accuse him of being an antinomian, against the law. Our Master was too wise for them. Rather than answer in his own words, he answered them from the Word of God. The things taught in these verses are of utmost importance. May God the Holy Spirit teach us that which he inspired Mark to record in this passage. Christ’s Example “And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again” (Mark 10:1). — Our Lord Jesus Christ was an exemplary, faithful, fervent preacher of the gospel. How faithful, patient, and persevering our Lord Jesus was as a preacher. “Unwearied in all his services,” wrote Robert Hawker, “with zeal to his Father’s glory, and his people’s happiness, the sun watched his path by day, and the stars witnessed to his communion by night.” In all things he was the example of what we ought to be. But his exemplary conduct as a preacher and the demands it places upon those who follow him in the work of the ministry are often overlooked. Wherever our Savior went, he was always about his Father’s business. From the opening day of his public ministry, to his last breath upon the cross, our Lord Jesus Christ labored for the good of men’s souls for the glory of God. He threw away no opportunity. We do not read in the entire history of his earthly ministry that he spent a solitary day in idleness. He “sowed beside all waters” (Isaiah 32:20). “In the morning he sowed his seed, and in the evening withheld not his hand” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). What an example to preachers he was.
He was untiringly, unceasingly fervent and faithful. When he came to the farther side of Jordan and the people gathered around him, he did “as he was wont. He taught them.”Those men who conscientiously devote their lives to the labor of the gospel ministry are often urged, by well meaning friends and people who love them, to slow down, not to take the work so seriously, and to preserve their energies. Let none heed such counsel. When we open the Book of God and see the kind of preacher the Son of God was, we should pray, Savior, give grace to your servant to follow your example. It is far better to burn out than to rust out! I am sure one reason why our Master was always “wont” to preach and teach the gospel was the fact that he knew the urgency of his work. No one else understood this. His mother didn’t. His friends didn’t. His disciples didn’t. His apostles didn’t. No one understood the urgency of his mission but him. He knew that the time was short. Therefore, he redeemed the time. The Lord Jesus was faithful, fervent, and zealous in his work, always ready to preach the gospel, even though the vast majority of those to whom he preached refused to believe his message. His miracles were popular, but not his doctrine. For the most part, his words fell upon deaf ears, unheeded and ignored. Those who did not ignore him despised him. Once in John 6 he preached to the great multitude who saw the miracle of the loaves and fishes, many of whom ate the bread and the fish. But when he preached to them the message of God’s free and sovereign grace, they were offended and walked away. In that passage our Lord Jesus proclaimed that the only way a sinner can please God is by faith in his Son (John 6:29), — That Moses spoke of him (John 6:32-35), — That the only way any sinner would ever believe on him unto life everlasting is by the effectual work of God’s irresistible grace (John 6:36-40; John 6:44-45; John 6:63-65), — That the singular object of faith is his obedience and death as the sinners’ Substitute (John 6:53-58), and — That salvation is according to God’s sovereign election (John 6:64; John 6:70). When they heard these things, the multitude turned and walked away. That which is required of all who would, like the Lord Jesus Christ, serve God is faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). We are not to give up our labors because we do not see the results we desire. We are not to relax our efforts because we see no fruit from them. Let us always labor fervently, understanding that it is our duty to do what we have opportunity and ability to do. The results are totally up to our Master. It is not to the good and successful servant that the Master will say, “well done”, but to the “good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
Not all of God’s servants are reapers. Some plow, some sow, some water, and some reap; but it is God who gives the increase. In this, as in all other spiritual matters, we must judge nothing by what we see. Every faithful servant of God is a successful servant of God.Marriage and Divorce “And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery” (Mark 10:2-12). Our Lord’s teaching with regard to the dignity and permanence of marriage is crystal clear. In these verses our Lord Jesus Christ answers the question put to him by the Pharisees publicly and then answers the question put to him by his disciples privately. This is our Master’s teaching about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Two other passages that are very important in understanding what our Savior taught on this subject are Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:3-9. “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32) “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:3-9) These three passages of Scripture show us what the Lord Jesus Christ taught about the dignity and permanence of marriage. Other aspects of the privileges and responsibilities of men and women in marriage are found in Romans 7:1-4, 1 Corinthians 7, and Ephesians 5. I have no interest in debating with anyone about these issues. I do not, for a moment, think that I am going to change the thinking of godless people about the dignity, importance, and permanence of marriage. I am addressing myself to you who reverence God and his Word, to you who seek to honor him and do his will. The things I have to say are for you. I hope you will all read these lines with careful attention. In these verses our Lord teaches us that marriage is for life. The marriage union of a husband and wife is never to be dissolved. It cannot be broken, except for very specific and very serious reasons. The importance of our Lord’s teaching cannot be overstated. The well-being of nations, the happiness of men and women, the moral strength of society, and the welfare of God’s church in this world greatly depends upon the strength of families. And family strength, family values, and family wholeness depend upon a proper understanding of and respect for the teaching of God’s Word about marriage. During the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry, when the Roman Empire was at its zenith, moral decadence was much the same as it is in western society today. Divorces were almost as common as marriage. Marriages were dissolved at the drop of a hat, even among the Jews, for the most frivolous and trifling reasons. Mark did not record the Pharisees question quite the same way Matthew did. In Matthew 19:3 Matthew tells us that the Pharisees asked the Lord Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” It is true, because of the hardness of men’s hearts, to prevent them from abusing and even killing their wives, Moses did permit them to divorce their wives, but not “for every cause” (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). Yet, by long tradition and laxity, that which Moses permitted, men and women commonly practiced. Marriage had become, as it is today, a whimsical thing, regarded by most as a bothersome burden. The disciples’ comment in Matthew 19:10 will give us some idea of just how bad things were. — “His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” When they heard the Lord Jesus say, “No you cannot put away your wives for every cause,” they as good as said, “If a man cannot get rid of his wife whenever he wants to, he would be better off not to marry.” When men and women abandon God’s law and look contemptuously upon marriage, they produce a generation of children who are utterly without conscience (Malachi 2:14-16). Marriage is a relationship of greater importance and greater influence than any other earthly relationship. It was established by God in the garden for the happiness and well being of man before sin entered into the world (Genesis 2:18-25). Marriage was chosen by God to be typical of the relationship which exists between Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:25-33). Marriage is a relationship superior even to the relationship of parents and children (Ephesians 5:31). Marriage involves commitment — devotion. A man ought to be committed to his wife, like Christ is committed to his church. A woman ought to be committed to her husband, like true believers are to Christ. Marriage involves sacrifice — self-denial. Husbands are to sacrifice themselves to their wives and families, just as Christ sacrificed himself for us. Wives are to sacrifice themselves to their husbands, just as believers sacrifice themselves to Christ. Marriage involves love. Husband are to love their wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. Wives are to reverence and obey their husbands, as the church reverences and obeys Christ in love. Love is giving, never taking. Love is yielding, not demanding. Love is unconditional, not qualified. Marriage necessarily involves the dissolution of all other relationships and a blessed isolation to and with one another. Again, it is a blessed isolation to and with one another, like the isolation of Christ to and with his church. It is a growing isolation, like the isolation of the church to Christ. In a word, our Lord Jesus teaches us that this blessed relationship of marriage is a life long union. J. C. Ryle wrote… “He refers to the original institution of marriage at the creation, as the union of one man and one woman. He quotes and endorses the solemn words used at the marriage of Adam and Eve, as words of perpetual significance: ‘A man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.’ He adds a solemn comment to these words: ‘What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ And, finally, in reply to the inquiry of his disciples, He declares that divorce followed by remarriage, except for the cause of unfaithfulness, is a breach of the seventh commandment.” These days, very few people enter into marriage with the determination — “This is forever, no matter what.” Multitudes write out prenuptial agreements in anticipation of divorce. Many do not even bother with having a wedding ceremony. They just shack up like wild animals until someone more attractive comes along. — “From the beginning it was not so.” — “What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” All who violate God’s Word in this matter are guilty of adultery and cause those who are recklessly abandoned to do the same. This lifelong marriage union can be dissolved lawfully, biblically, only for extreme reasons. Though Mark omits it, in Matthew 5:32 and in Matthew 19:9 our Lord cites fornication as the singular basis for divorce. The word “fornication” is the word from which we get our word “pornography.” It refers to all sexual perversion. As used in relation to marriage, it speaks of any form of sexual infidelity. Our Lord does not teach that men and women ought to get a divorce if one or the other commits an act of sexual infidelity. We ought to forgive!
However, he does teach us that in such cases the marriage union may be dissolved. It is permitted because of the hardness of men’s hearts. The apostle Paul, writing by divine inspiration, also allows that abandonment also dissolves the marriage union (1 Corinthians 7:15). In such cases the person abandoned, or the person against whom the infidelity was committed is free to marry again in the Lord (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). What about those who have already experienced divorce and remarriage? How do we deal with those believers, or those who are converted by the grace of God, who are already divorced, or who are already divorced and remarried? We are to deal with them as we are to deal with any other redeemed, forgiven sinner, — as redeemed, forgiven sinners, just like the rest of us. If they are believers, if they are washed in the blood of the Lamb, they are forgiven of all sin, free from all condemnation, and are new creatures in Christ (Romans 8:1).[6] Here are three words of instruction that will benefit all who heed them: [6] 1 Timothy 3:2 has nothing to do with divorce and remarriage. In that passage Paul is dealing with the matter of polygamy, which had to be dealt with in receiving Gentile converts into the churches. It would be insanely ludicrous to tell a converted man who had many wives and children by them before God saved him (as do many of our African brethren) that he must choose one woman and her children and throw out the rest. That would be barbaric. However, a man with more than one wife cannot be pastor of a church. That is the teaching of 1 Timothy 3:2.When you marry, marry only in the Lord. Do not expect too much from your husband or wife. Marriage is the union of two sinners who need constant forgiveness, not the union of two angels. Seek, with constant earnestness, one another’s spiritual good. Our Example As in all things, the example to be followed is Christ himself. Our blessed Savior refuses to put away his wife, the church. He who inspired the Apostle Paul to write, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them” (Colossians 3:19), has never been and can never be bitter against his wife. He who teaches every husband to love his wife as his own body, ever nourishing and cherishing her (Ephesians 5:28-29), so loves, nourishes, and cherishes his wife as his own body. Robert Hawker, commenting on this passage, wrote, “As no man ever hated his own flesh; even though covered with sores and wounds, so Jesus loved his Church, though leprous and unclean. Oh, precious, precious Lord Jesus!” How blessed it is to hear the Lord God of Israel say that, “he hateth putting away” (Malachi 2:14-16). Let all who worship and serve him hate it as well. How we will praise and give thanks to him in eternity when, after all the treacherous departures of his church, in all her spiritual adulteries, the Lord Jesus presents her “to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 19:5-9). Little Children “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-16). These little children were brought to our Lord just like other sick and diseased, that he might lay his hands on them and bless them. There is no more and no less in the text than that. It is ludicrous beyond imagination to suggest as J.C. Ryle and many others have, “to teach how much encouragement there is to bring young children to be baptized”. That is just nuts! There is not a word in this passage about whose children these were.
There is not a word in these verses about baptism, much less sprinkling! And there is not a word here about baby dedication services. Here our Savior teaches us that all who enter into his kingdom must do so as little children. These verses of Holy Scripture are given to us by the Spirit of God to teach us three things.If we would do our children good, we must bring them to Christ. — The text simply tells us that these people brought their children to the Savior, just as they did their sick, that he might lay his hands upon them. Let us do that for our children, and we have done the very best we can for them. Bring them to Christ in prayer.
Ask that he may lay his hand upon them, the hand of his saving grace. And leave them in his hands. The Lord Jesus humbled himself to serve the needs of little children. What a tender hearted man he is! How accessible he was and is to needy sinners! If we would be saved, we must come to the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and King, as little children. — Like little children, we must be brought to the Savior by someone stronger than ourselves, by God the Holy Spirit. We must be humbled as little children. We must be made like little children, inoffensive and totally dependent upon him. When we think of what a preacher should be, let us look to Christ. He is the pattern. When we think of marriage, let our hearts be drawn first and foremost to Christ. Be married to him! Those who are first married to him make the best husbands and wives. When you see a child, embrace it, care for it, take a little time for it, and ask God to make you as a little child before him.
Mark 10:17-27
CHAPTER 43 “Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him” “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:17-27) We have before us the story of the rich young ruler. It is recorded three times in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark and Luke were inspired by God the Holy Spirit to write it out in detail for our learning. The threefold repetition of the simple facts recorded in this story is intended to make us aware that the lessons taught here are of immense importance. May God the Holy Spirit inscribe upon our hearts those things, which he would have us to learn from this story. Were it not for the grace of God, we would all make the same choice this rich young ruler made and perish with the world. Three Common Delusions “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth” (Mark 10:17-20). There are many things about this young man, which, at first sight, appear to be commendable. He was earnest and zealous. He came running to Christ. He was reverent and respectful. He kneeled to the Savior in a respectful, reverent, if not worshipful, manner. He was thoughtful of his soul and eternity. And, at least in his outward behavior, he was a very moral man. Any mother or father looking for a young man for their daughter to date and perhaps marry, if this rich young ruler were around, would urge her to set her hat for him. But this rich, moral, zealous, religious man was deluded by his own self-righteousness and pride. His delusion was the common delusion of all men since the fall of Adam. It was a threefold delusion. First, he thought salvation could be obtained by something he could do. This is the delusion of all lost men, in all ages, the delusion of all human religion, and the delusion of antichrist. All men think that salvation comes as the result of something they do. Few deny grace altogether, or deny that God has something to do with salvation. This young man acknowledged that eternal life is the inheritance and gift of grace; but he still thought it was to be obtained by something he could do. Being ignorant of God’s righteousness, he went about to establish his own righteousness. And anyone who seeks to establish righteousness for himself will not and cannot submit to the righteousness of God in Christ (Romans 9:31 to Romans 10:4). — “It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy” (Romans 9:16). — “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). — “By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). To every self-righteous person who asks, “What must I do?”, I answer in the words of James Procter… “Nothing, either great or small, Nothing, sinner, no; Jesus did it, did it all, Long, long ago! When He, from His lofty throne, Stooped to do and die, Everything was fully done. Hearken to His cry: – “It is finished!” Yes, indeed, Finished every jot: Sinner, this is all you need. Tell me, Is it not? Weary, working, plodding one, Why toil you so? Cease your doing, all was done, Long, long ago! Till to Jesus’ work you cling, By a simple faith, Doing is a deadly thing. Doing ends in death. Cast your deadly doing down, Down at Jesus’ feet! Stand in Him, in Him lone, Gloriously complete! This man’s second delusion was that he thought the law of God only had to do with outward behavior. When you read Mark 10:19-20, do not be so foolish and ignorant as numerous learned theologians, and imagine that the Lord Jesus was teaching that there really are two ways of salvation, that a man can either be saved by grace or by works. That is not the case at all. This man asked what he could do, and the Master told him what he must do. If you want to be saved by your works, all you have to do is keep the law — ! — “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). Our Lord’s purpose was not to teach salvation by legal obedience, but the impossibility of it, and to expose this man’s sin to himself. Painful as it is to experience, no one will ever be saved until he is made to see himself as he really is, a vile, hell bent, corrupt, ungodly wretch. This self-righteous Pharisee was, like all lost religious people, totally ignorant of the spiritual nature of God’s law. He thought the law reached no further than outward deeds. He never took into consideration the fact that the Lord looketh on the heart. He thought that adultery was intercourse, not lust, — that murder was killing someone, not anger, — stealing was taking something that belongs to another, not covetousness, — that bearing false witness was openly lying about someone, not insinuating or thinking evil, — that fraud was taking another person’s property, not wanting it, — that parental honor was saying “Ma’am” and “Sir”, not reverencing his parents’ name, honoring their wishes, and taking care of them in their old age. His third delusion was that he thought he had actually obeyed God’s law and thus was worthy of God’s acceptance in and of himself. — “And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” I never cease to be amazed by the fact that even the most base, profligate, sensual men and women of this world are really very proud and think so very highly of themselves that they brazenly presume they are good enough for God! That is really the root of all unbelief. Everyone in his own humble opinion is too good to need the grace of God and blood and righteousness of his dear Son. May God the Holy Spirit continually teach us who and what we are and who Christ is, lest we perish in our proud delusions of self-righteousness. Christ’s Compassion Next we are told that our dear Savior beheld this man and loved him — “Then Jesus beholding him loved him” (Mark 10:21). Mark saw a remarkable display of tenderness, love, and compassion in the Lord Jesus toward this young man. It is sickening to read the comments of many on this text. The Arminians rush to tell us, “There, you see, God loves even those who are not saved, even those who go to hell. The love of God is universal.” The Calvinists, imagining that God’s love must be protected and that Arminian fools are worthy of being answered, run to the Greek language and find some far out, outlandish usage of the word “loved” (agape) to prove that the word does not really mean love at all. Take this blessed text just as it stands, learn what it teaches, and rejoice in the great love of Christ for sinners! There are two things to be observed here. First, the Lord Jesus beheld this man. He beheld everything about him. He beheld his present condition. He beheld his heart. And he beheld what he had done and would do for him. Second, the Son of God loved this man. I have no doubt at all that though this man at first chose the world over Christ (just as I did), he was later converted by God’s free grace. I say that because God the Holy Spirit inspired Mark to tell us that, “Jesus beholding him loved him.” Here are four sweet, indisputable facts revealed in Holy Scripture about the love of God our Savior: Those who are loved of Christ are loved by him from eternity (Jeremiah 31:3). Those who are loved by the Son of God are loved by him immutably (Malachi 3:6). Those who are loved by the Lord Jesus are loved by him unto the end (John 13:1). Those who are loved of God are saved by his free and sovereign grace; he has mercy upon those for whom he has compassion (Romans 9:15; Jeremiah 31:3). These four sweet facts of divine revelation tells us that this young man who was loved by the Savior from eternity, and loved by him in his rebellion, was saved by him at the appointed time of love. Sin Exposed The Lord Jesus so loved this man that he graciously uncovered his sin, pulled the covering off his heart, and in Mark 10:21-22 discovered his inward, hidden corruption. “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” The Lord Jesus met this man at his point of rebellion. He always does. Sooner or later, he will meet you at your point of rebellion and demand surrender. This young man’s reigning sin an overwhelming affection for the things of this world. His riches were his idol. His heart was set upon and trusted in his wealth. John Gill wrote… “He was so far from keeping all the commandments, that he had not kept the first; ‘thou shalt have no other gods before me’. There was more than one thing wanting in him, but Christ takes notice of this as the first; and there was no need to mention any other. This touched him sensibly, and fully tried, and sufficiently exposed the vanity of his boasted perfection…Finding that he must part with two things his heart was set upon, his idol of self-righteousness, and his mammon of unrighteousness; the bladder of his pride was pricked, and his vanity and self-conceit were exposed…which were sadly mortifying, and exceedingly disagreeable to him.” What is your point of rebellion? That is where you must do business with God. Did you ever notice how often those two words, “one thing”, are used in Scripture? They are very instructive. — David desired “one thing,” that he might dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalms 27:4). — Mary chose the “one thing” needful, to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear his words (Luke 10:42). — The man born blind, who was healed by the Master, said, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). — Paul said, “One thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). But this proud, self-righteous young rich man was lost, because “one thing” was lacking. Though he felt much, did much, thought much, and believed much, the one thing lacking was faith in Christ. A Blessed Revelation As this rich man walked away, clinging to his riches, the Lord Jesus made a statement to his disciples, which disturbed them greatly and opened the way for him to instruct them and us with a blessed revelation. “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:23-27). Commenting on these verses, Robert Hawker wrote… “The concluding part of this passage is uncommonly beautiful and interesting. While Jesus in strong figures represents the total impossibility of the mere efforts of nature, rising above nature, he sets forth the ease and blessedness with which his redeemed, through his grace, will attain his kingdom. A huge camel might as soon pass through the eye of a needle, as for a rich man; rich in his own fancied goodness, swollen and bloated with his own Pharisaical righteousness, but never regenerated by grace, to enter into the kingdom of God. While on the other hand, every one of Christ’s regenerated family, poor in spirit, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, and who give proofs of the triumphs of grace over nature, leaving all for Christ, will enter with a full tide of glory into Christ’s kingdom being saved, not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to rich, free and sovereign mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, shed upon them abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord (Titus 3:5-6).” There are in Mark 10:23-27 three very important truths, which very few understand, and fewer still lay to heart. The most deceitful, dangerous thing in this world is riches, the love of money, the love of the world. With men, salvation is an utter impossibility. With God, all things are possible. So great, so magnanimous, so good is the grace of God that he can strip and empty the most self-sufficient Pharisee and bring him through the needle’s eye of faith in Christ into his kingdom. God almighty can save even the richest man in the world. The man who thinks himself spiritually rich and loves himself is no more beyond the reach of omnipotent mercy than the most promiscuous harlot. The man who loves the world, trusts in his riches, and therefore despises the things of God is not beyond the power of free grace. If, indeed, salvation is by grace alone (And it is!), there is no case or circumstance, which should cause us to despair. John Newton once said, “When I get to heaven, I am sure that three things will simply astonish me. I am sure very many will be there whom I never expected to be there. I am sure that many will not be there whom I fully expected would be there. But the most astonishing thing of all will be the fact that old John Newton will be there.” Later, just before his death, Newton said, “I am an old man. I cannot remember much. But I do remember two things: I am a great sinner; and Jesus Christ is a great Savior.”
Mark 10:28-34
CHAPTER 44 Our Savior’s Amazing Doctrine “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” (Mark 10:28-34) That which our Lord Jesus Christ taught not only astonished the public, it also amazed his disciples. Truly, those things our Lord taught, his doctrine concerning his grace, his salvation, and his sin-atoning sacrifice are amazing things to consider. A Glorious Promise The very first thing that catches our attention as we read this brief paragraph is the fact that our Savior’s response to Peter was not a word of rebuke but a glorious promise. “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:28-30). Peter’s statement in verse twenty-eight was an honest, true statement. He might be blamed for the reason he made this statement. He might be blamed for the apparent expectation he had of the Lord rewarding him, as though he had earned a reward from the Lord of Glory. Matthew tells us that this statement was followed by a very foolish question. — “What shall we have therefore?” (Matthew 19:27). Yet, when all is said and done, if our faith in Christ does not involve the kind of self-denying devotion and consecration to Christ that Peter here expresses, our faith is an empty, vain delusion. — “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.” True faith forsakes all and follows Christ. True faith is the unqualified, unreserved surrender of myself, my life, my all to the dominion and rule of the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord, my Master, and my King. This is what the story of the rich young ruler in the preceding paragraph teaches. If salvation can be gained simply by believing the right things, that man would not have gone away sorrowful. Salvation involves leaving all for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s. Our Savior graciously seized the thought suggested by Peter’s carnal question to assure us that having left all to follow him, his disciples have lost nothing, and gained indescribably more than any of us can ever imagine. “And Jesus answered and said, verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30). Few promises can be found in the Book of God more comprehensive than this. I know of none that hold before us such great encouragements for life in this world, as well as in the world to come. Let every faithful, but faint hearted follower of Christ mark this promise, read it often, meditate upon it daily, and find in this cluster of grapes wine to make his heart merry. Let all who endure hardness and persecution for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s study this promise well and drink often from this deep well. It speaks of this life and of the life to come. Child of God, whatever it is that following Christ costs you, you shall receive in this life one hundredfold! As Israel lacked nothing all the while they roamed about in the wilderness, as the disciples lacked nothing while they walked with the Son of God on this earth, so our Savior declares that the obedience of faith will never cause us to be in want, but shall only enrich us a hundredfold in this world. Not only does the Son of God promise us pardon, peace, redemption, and reconciliation through his blood and his grace, he promises us that we shall have, even here upon the earth, comforts and joys more than sufficient to make up for that which we have left for him. Child of God, bear me witness. — Is this not so? Have you not found in the communion of God’s saints new friends, new relationships, and new companions more loving, more faithful, more lasting, more valuable, and more numerous than you ever had before? That may seem impossible to any who do not know our God, his grace, or his people; but every believer in this world will say, “Amen,” to what our Lord here asserts. Our God supplies all our need “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). In addition to all this our Savior promises all who follow him eternal life in the world to come. — “The Lord will give grace and glory!” He gives grace here and he will give glory hereafter. As soon as we put off these earthly tabernacles, we will enter into the glorious rest of the sons of God (2 Corinthians 5:1-9). In the last day, in the resurrection morning, we shall be given honor, joy, and glory surpassing our highest, most reverent expectation (1 Corinthians 2:9). Our light affliction here shall redound to our Savior’s greater honor and our greater joy in eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). We shall dwell forever with the Son of God in a world where sin and sorrow, sickness and death, Satan and temptations, parting and weeping shall be no more! Child of God, take heart.
Time is short. Our sorrows shall soon be no more. Our end is sure. Weeping may endure for the night; but joy will come in the morning! A Solemn Warning “But many that are first shall be last; and the last first” (Mark 10:31). — Here is a solemn warning. Our Master saw the self-conceit which defiled his disciples, and frankly warned them all to be watchful over their souls. If this warning was needed by Peter, James, and John, how much more it is needed by you and me. Let us take heed to these words and learn what they mean. Without question, this warning was applicable to the twelve Apostles to whom it was first given. There was one standing among them who was more highly esteemed and trusted than all the others, who was a devil and would soon be in hell. His name was Judas. He was the first, in his own eyes and in the eyes of the twelve; but now he is the last. There was another who was not among them. In fact, he was just a young man, a young Pharisee, being trained at the feet of Gamaliel, a zealous religionists, learning to hate Christ, his gospel, and his people. Any who knew him would say, “This young man is the last man who would be numbered among the disciples of Christ;” but God had purposed otherwise. The young Pharisee’s name was Saul of Tarsus. Soon, he would be elevated to the most prominent position in the kingdom of God. This warning explains the entire history of the Church of God in this world. There was a time when Asia Minor, Greece, and Northern Africa were flourishing with the light of the gospel; but now their light has been tuned into darkness. Today, in this land, which was once darkness, God has established the light of his grace again. Let us take heed lest we as a people are again engrossed in utter darkness. This warning is a warning which ought to sound as an alarm in the ears of us all. How many there are known to us all who seemed to run well for a season. They stood out in the crowd. They seemed to be head and shoulders above the rest of us. They were so zealous, so committed, so knowledgeable, so confident, so sure about everything. They were the first. But now where are they? They are gone. They are the last. The love of the world got one. The deceitfulness of riches got another. A bad marriage got another. A flattering woman took another. False doctrine destroyed another. Let us pray for grace to run our race to the end. It is not enough to begin well. We must persevere. We must continue in the faith. We must end well. God give us grace to begin with Christ, stay with Christ, and end with Christ! A Faithful Surety In Mark 10:32-34 we see that our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed a faithful Surety. Calmly and deliberately, our Savior told his disciples why he was going to Jerusalem and all that he must there suffer and do as our great Surety, Substitute, and Savior. “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” The Son of God went up to Jerusalem willingly, purposefully, and deliberately to die there as our covenant Surety. “The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed” (Isaiah 50:5-7). “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:16-18). He went to Jerusalem to suffer and die at the hands of wicked men on the cursed tree by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. The Lord of glory went to Calvary to make satisfaction to the law and justice of God for the sins of his people, that he might put away our sins and save us by the sacrifice of himself. On the third day, after his death as our Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ publicly declared that he had fully satisfied the justice of God and put away all the sins of his people, which were made his and imputed to him, by rising from the dead. And he who has satisfied the whole of God’s law and justice for his people will, without fail save those people for whom he has made satisfaction. He who was able to satisfy the law and justice of God and rise from the dead is able to save to the uttermost every sinner who comes to God by him. If the Lord Jesus Christ so willingly suffered all the hell of God’s wrath for us, it is but a most reasonable thing that we should devote ourselves to him. May God the Holy Spirit give us grace to do so.
Mark 10:35-45
CHAPTER 45 Five Great Things “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45) We have before us a very sad, sad picture. Our Lord Jesus has just taught his disciples again that he was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die according to the will of God as our Substitute. Once he had satisfied the wrath and justice of God for us, he promised that he would rise from the dead on the third day. One would think the disciples would have been so overcome by such teaching that they could hardly think of anything else, much less talk about anything else. But that was not the case. James and John, two of the Lord’s most intimate disciples, had something else altogether on their minds. These two brothers asked the Master that he would grant to them the place of highest honor and greatness in his kingdom! This sad story is recorded here by divine inspiration for our learning and admonition. May God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher as we study it together. If there is anything plainly revealed and taught in these verses of Inspiration it is the fact that the best, noblest, and most highly honored of God’s saints in this world are sinners still, in constant need of grace and forgiveness by the blood of Christ. A Great Problem The Holy Spirit holds up these disciples to set before us a very great problem, a problem with which we all struggle all the time. The problem of which I speak is pride, ungodly, disgusting, shameful, sinful, foolish pride. “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can…And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John” (Mark 10:35-41). James and John were true believers. They were born of God. They truly loved the Lord Jesus Christ. But they were terribly ignorant of some very important, basic things, ignorant of some very basic gospel truths. Their ignorance was overshadowed only by their pride. These two brothers asked the Lord to give them the place of pre-eminence in his kingdom! They presumed that they could personally suffer and endure all that the Lord Jesus would have to suffer and endure as the Lamb of God! And they sought a position of superiority over their brethren! Here are two of the Apostles of Christ seeking great things for themselves. But we must not be too severe in our judgment of them. Their pride was only a fair representation of the pride of our own hearts. It is the pride of our hearts that this passage of Scripture is intended to expose and check. Let me point out two or three things in these verses. First, let us all learn this fact: — Genuine believers are often ignorant of things which seem elementary to others. Though our Lord plainly instructed them, though they were themselves chosen Apostles, James and John simply did not understand the spiritual nature of Christ’s kingdom, or the necessity of his substitutionary sacrifice and sin-atoning death. Mary Magdalene understood those things, but they did not, at least not at this time. They truly trusted Christ. They were men whose sins the Lord Jesus had forgiven, men into whose hands he had placed the keys of his kingdom; but they had a lot, an awful lot to learn! Many assert dogmatically that a person cannot be saved without a specific measure of doctrinal knowledge and understanding. The measure by which they make such judgments is always their own “knowledge and understanding.” What arrogance! What foolishness! The issue is not what we know, but who. Salvation is not in knowing doctrines and facts. Salvation is knowing a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, we see here that God’s saints in this world are sinners still. That includes you and me. We are a people with a vile, sinful, hellish, ungodly nature called “flesh”; and “that which is born of the flesh is flesh!” We are such wretched sinners that we must constantly watch over our souls and guard against pride, self-esteem, and self-confidence. These things are so deeply rooted and ingrained in us that we are seldom truly aware of their presence. The other disciples were as guilty as James and John. They were displeased with James and John, not because they asked for this place of honor, but because they did not ask first. They were upset because James and John wanted to be exalted above them! It is not at all unusual for those who truly have come out of the world, taken up the cross, forsaken all, and follow Christ to become envious, jealous, and offended if a brother or sister is promoted above them. We are so proud and fickle that we get our feelings hurt if someone mentions two or three names in public, but fails to mention ours! Such pride is horribly shameful. It causes strife and division. It ought not to be. But it certainly is not unusual. The fact is, the greatest problem we face, the most dangerous enemy we have to deal with is our own stinking pride. Pride is the oldest of all sins, the most universal, and the most destructive. We all love power, pre-eminence, prestige, position, and property, because we are all terribly proud. It is our pride that causes us to crave attention and to become upset with those who get it instead of us. Pride inspired Lucifer’s fall (Isaiah 14:12-14). Pride brought one third of the heavenly angels down to hell (Jude 1:6).
Pride seduced Eve. Pride destroyed Adam. And it is always pride that causes strife and division among the sons and daughters of Adam (Psalms 10:2). What is it that divides, separates, and distinguishes men and women from one another according to race, rank, and riches? — Pride! What is it that divides brethren? — Pride! What is it that splits up families? — Pride!
What is it that causes war? — Pride! Yes, even among God’s saints, our greatest problems, difficulties, injuries, and troubles are the result of pride. Thomas Hooker once said, “Pride is a vice that cleaveth so fast unto the hearts of men that if we were to strip ourselves of all faults one by one, we would undoubtedly find it the very last and hardest to put off.” Of all those things named in the Bible which God hates, pride is number one (Proverbs 6:17). It is our pride that makes us weak and vulnerable to temptations. It is pride that keeps sinners from seeking the Lord (Psalms 10:4). Let us pray, day by day, that our God may deliver us from the pride of our hearts. When our Lord asked James and John if they could endure the baptism he had to endure and drink the cup he had to drink, they did not hesitate to say, “We can.” Did you ever notice in the Word of God that the recorded falls of God’s saints are usually at the very point where they were strongest, not at their weakest point, but at their strongest? Look at Job. What man was ever so patient as Job? Yet, I know of none more impatient. Moses was the meekest of men. Yet, his rash anger kept him out of the promised land. Samson was the strongest man who ever lived. Yet, he was conquered by a woman. Saul never had a friend so loyal as David. Yet, David killed his friend Uriah. Solomon was the wisest of men; but he was also, undoubtedly, one of the most foolish. My point is this: — We must never be so proud as to trust in our own strength. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, not in our strength. Therefore, Paul said, “When I am weak, then am I strong”. When we foolishly imagine in the pride of our hearts that we are strong, then we are most weak. When we think we are strong, we think we do not need Christ! A Great Promise In spite of their ignorance, pride, and sin, the Lord Jesus gave his disciples a great promise. “Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared” (Mark 10:39-40). When the Lord Jesus said to James and John, “Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized,” perhaps there is some sense in which our Lord was saying, “You, too, shall be persecuted and required to suffer much;” but that is not all that is contained in these two verses. The Savior said that they would drink the very same cup he drank and would be baptized with the very same baptism with which he was baptized. Certainly, our Savior was here assuring them and us that all the horror of God’s indescribable wrath, which he was about to endure as our Substitute, he would endure voluntarily. He compares his sufferings and death as a baptism, an immersion. He was wholly immersed in the overwhelming wrath of the infinite God for us, in our place, as our Substitute. But by referring to his sufferings as a baptism, he is telling us that they were not forced upon him by the hand of another. Baptism is not something forced upon a man. It is a voluntary act. Yet, it is something done to him by another. The Son of God was voluntarily baptized in the wrath of God by his Father’s own hand. It is written, “It pleased the Lord to bruise him”. Our all-glorious Christ also refers to his sin-atoning sacrifice and the wrath he experienced and endured as our Substitute as a cup. A cup is something taken voluntarily. The Lord of Glory willingly took the cup of wrath, when he was made to be sin for us. Voluntarily, with one tremendous draught of love, he drank damnation dry for us! He so loved us that he took the cup of God’s wrath as our Substitute as willingly as a thirsty man takes a cup of water! Still, there is more. The Lord Jesus here promised these sinful, errant disciples that they would indeed be baptized with his baptism and drink his cup. I can only think of one way that is possible. The only way on this earth you and I can be baptized with his baptism and drink his cup is representatively, in him as our Surety and Substitute; and that is exactly what took place at Calvary. Let every redeemed sinner sing with the psalmist, — “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD” (Psalms 116:12-13). This is exactly what is symbolized and pictured in the ordinances of the gospel. We in our baptism (immersion) have confessed that we were crucified with Christ at Calvary, buried with him, and raised with him representatively. As we take the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper, we symbolically take the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, symbolically eating and drinking the body and blood of our Savior in blessed remembrance of him. Then, in Mark 10:40 the Lord Jesus assures us that there is a kingdom of glory, a kingdom of heaven, already prepared by our heavenly Father for his elect, which shall be given to those for whom it was prepared. Eternal life, the heavenly glory, is a kingdom prepared by God the Father from the foundation of the world, not for everyone, but for his elect. All for whom that kingdom was prepared shall possess it at last in all its fulness and glory. They shall possess it in its entirety by the gift of God’s free grace in Christ, by the merits of his blood and righteousness. A Great Precept “But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:42-44). Here is a great precept. Oh, may the Spirit of God give us grace to follow it. A life of self-denying kindness and service to others is the secret of true greatness. In the kingdom of God he is truly great who lives for, seeks, and promotes the temporal, spiritual, and eternal welfare of others. J. C. Ryle wrote… “True greatness consists, not in receiving, but in giving, — not in the selfish absorption of good things, but in imparting good to others, — not in being served, but in serving, — not in sitting still and being ministered to, but in going about and ministering to others.” If I want true greatness in the kingdom of God, I must find that place in God’s kingdom where I am needed and can be most useful, and there be a “minister,’ a servant. The word translated “minister” is the same word that is commonly translated “deacon.” It refers to a person who does menial labor, house cleaning, serving tables, gardening, etc. It is the least recognized, but often the most needed, and certainly the most basic service. If I really want to be a truly admirable person in the church and kingdom of God, I must make myself the servant of all, a slave to the people of God. Those who are truly great and admirable in the family of God are those men and women who devote themselves as willing slaves in humble, self-denying, self-abasing, self-sacrificing service to God’s elect. They willingly serve the Lord’s people for Christ’s sake. They are people who have learned that “it (really) is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Truly great people are those who enrich the lives of others. They are the very few men and women of whom it can be truthfully said, “The world is a better place because of them than it would otherwise be”. Perhaps you think, “That is just too much to expect from anyone. It is unreasonable to expect anyone to stoop so low.” You are absolutely right, unless that person is interested in striving to be like Christ. Look at Mark 10:45. A Great Pattern “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” — Here, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us, uses himself as a great pattern and example for us to follow. Our Savior’s message here is very simple and clear. He is saying, “Strive to be like me.” It is written, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). Did the Lord Jesus live in this world as the servant of God, to do the will of God (Hebrews 10:5-10)? If I would be like him, I must seek to live in this world as the servant of the Most High God, doing the will of God (Philippians 2:1-9). Did the Son of God live in this world as the servant of men (John 13:4-5; John 13:12-17)? If I would walk in his steps, I must endeavor to spend my life and energy serving the needs (temporal, spiritual, emotional, and eternal needs) of others. Lord, help me to live from day to day In such a self forgetful way That even when I kneel to pray My prayer shall be for others. Help me in all the work I do To ever be sincere and true, And know that all I’d do for You Must needs be done for others. Savior, help me in all I do To magnify and copy You. That I may ever live like You, Help me to live for others. A Great Purchase Here is the greatest thing of all, the great purchase of our souls, by the sacrifice of God’s dear Son. — “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Not only has the Lord Jesus given us a noble example of self-denying love and service by his obedience to God the Father for us, he has by his great, sin-atoning sacrifice and substitutionary death purchased and ransomed us from the curse of God’s Holy law by his precious blood (Romans 8:1-4; Romans 8:33-34; Galatians 3:13). He has delivered us from the slavery of sin by his blood applied in saving grace (Romans 6:18) into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, redeeming us to himself as his own peculiar people (Titus 2:14). Let us never forget that the ransom price by which we have been redeemed is his precious blood (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-20); Revelation 5:9). That precious blood, the ransom price, was paid for “many,” and paid for them in particular, as the objects of his special love and saving purpose. The “many” for whom the Lord Jesus Christ paid this great ransom price are clearly identified in the Book of God as the many God has ordained unto eternal life (Acts 13:48), — the many the Father gave to the Son in the covenant of grace before the worlds were made (John 6:37-40), — the many for whom the Lord Jesus makes intercession (John 17:9; John 17:20), — the many who are called by his Spirit’s effectual, irresistible grace (Revelation 19:9), — the many who are saved by his mercy (John 1:12-13), — the many to whom he gives the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8), and — the many for whom his Father has prepared and to whom he shall give the kingdom of Glory (Mark 10:40).
Mark 10:46-52
CHAPTER 46 “Jesus Stood Still” “And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10:46-52) In the tenth chapter of Joshua, at the command of a man, “the sun stood still!” We are told, “There was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man” (Joshua 10:14). Here is something even more remarkable than that. Here is a man who caused the God who made the sun to stand still! As he was coming up out of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem to redeem his people, our Lord Jesus heard a poor, blind beggar crying for mercy. At the sound of his cry, we are told, “Jesus stood still!” What a wonderful, amazing picture we have before us! Here is the omnipotent God stopped in his tracks, held fast by the cry of a needy soul for his mercy. He was on his way to Jerusalem to accomplish the redemption of his people, to fulfill the will of God. Nothing could stop him. Nothing could cause him to pause. Nothing could detour him from his work. Neither Herod, nor Satan, nor the Pharisees, nor his disciples, not even his own mother could stop our Savior or cause him to pause in his path, as he went about to do his Father’s business. But one, solitary, helpless soul, one blind beggar crying for mercy, looking to him for help, believing him, crying to him, stopped the Son of God in his tracks. — At the cry of a needy sinner for mercy, “Jesus stood still!” The Son of God will never ignore the cry or refuse the faith of a sinner seeking mercy.
The Lord Jesus Christ is constrained by his very mission to seek and save the lost (John 6:37). What a joyful picture this piece of our Redeemer’s earthly history gives us! Let us turn aside from the trifles of this world to see this great sight. Surely, there are lessons to be learned here that are of more value than gold. An Unexpected Believer Bartimaeus was an unexpected believer. None of the Lord’s disciples expected to see this man exercising faith in Christ. But faith is frequently found where it is least expected. There were great multitudes who followed the Lord Jesus as he walked along and taught the people, — Some for loaves and some for love, — Some out of curiosity and some out of conviction, — Some for greed and some for grace. But there were few, very few who believed on Christ. Many who saw his miracles yet believed him not. But here is a blind man, a man who never saw any of our Lord’s miracles, a man who knew the Savior only by hear-say, by the testimony of others, who believed him. What a picture Bartimaeus is of us! His father, Timaeus, whose name means “an honor or honorable,” was, like our father Adam, an honorable man. Bartimaeus was the blind son of an honorable man, who had been reduced to abject poverty, begging for bread. The Son of God came to “give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death” (Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 42:6-7; Isaiah 49:9; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18). Robert Hawker rightly observed, “Such is every man’s state, though he waiteth on the highway of ordinances till Jesus pass by; and the Spirit of Jesus put a cry in his heart for spiritual light and understanding.”Bartimaeus simply heard other men and women talking about the Savior. We read that he began to cry after the Savior, “When he heard.” He simply heard others talking about the Redeemer and the wondrous works of mercy he had performed. — Blessed gossip!
Perhaps he heard how the Master had healed a blind man on his way into Jericho (Luke 18:35-43). Without question, he had heard who Christ is. He called him by his name, “Jesus.” He addressed him as “Lord.” And he acknowledged him as the Messiah God had promised, calling him the “Son of David.” He heard about the Lord’s mighty miracles of mercy. He heard that “Jesus passed by.” And he knew he might never pass his way again. Hearing these things, Bartimaeus believed the Son of God. His faith puts us to shame. We have books of evidence, libraries of theology, volumes of biographies, yet, how little there is of this childlike confidence and faith in Christ. Even among true believers, simple, confident, unhesitating faith is found where we least expect it. The humble soul believes God and walks in peace, while the learned, well-read theologian is harassed with doubts and questions. This faith is the gift and operation of God the Holy Spirit. Who but God the Spirit could have convinced Bartimaeus of these things? No one but God the Spirit could have put such a cry in his heart, a cry that none could stifle, until the mercy needed had been granted. Use of Means Bartimaeus availed himself of the means he was given that he might obtain mercy. And if we hope for mercy, we must avail ourselves of every means of good to our souls. Yes, God is sovereign. Salvation is of the Lord. Every chosen, redeemed sinner shall be saved. I am fully aware of those blessed facts of divine revelation, and rejoice to proclaim them. Yet, the Scriptures make it clear that every man is responsible for his own soul. We are responsible to use the means of grace God gives us. When this blind man heard that “Jesus passed by,” he was found “sitting by the highway side,” crying for mercy. He took up a hopeful position “by the highway side.” There he would be likely to hear any good news that might be spread. There he was most likely to meet with and be seen by the compassionate. Though he was blind, he was not deaf. And he used what he had to obtain the good he needed. Bartimaeus employed the means given him to obtain alms to relieve his physical needs. But the Lord God has ordained specific means of grace, which he is pleased to use for the salvation of his elect and the good of our souls. To despise them is to despise his grace. To neglect them is to neglect his grace. To use them is to be in the path of mercy (Matthew 18:20). Do not forsake the house of God, where he meets with his people (Hebrews 10:25).
Do not forsake the reading of Holy Scripture, which are able to make you wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Do not abandon the preaching of the gospel. It is God’s pleasure to save sinners by the instrumentality of gospel preaching (1 Corinthians 1:18-23; Romans 10:17). Do not forsake private prayer. Though God promises covenant mercy to his chosen, he declares, “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Ezekiel 36:37). Discouragements Overcome “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:48). — What discouragements Bartimaeus had to endure and overcome. He exemplifies the fact that “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). As soon as a sinner is brought into serious concern for his soul’s everlasting welfare, enemies of Christ and his soul try to stifle all conviction and crush the infant desire for mercy, grace, and salvation. Even before Christ has been formed in the heart as their hope of glory, some of God’s elect are sharply tried by the foolish counsel of those around them and by the accusations of Satan. Those very people who should have encouraged Bartimaeus’ faith greatly discouraged him. They charged him to hold his peace, suggesting that he was too poor, too dirty, too blind, too worthless to obtain the mercy Christ bestows! But Bartimaeus needed mercy. He knew that Christ could give him the mercy he needed. He knew that he might never get this opportunity again. Consequently, the opposition he met with was hardly noticed by him. Christ’s Call “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee” (Mark 10:49). — How the Son of God loves needy sinners! Our Savior’s love for this poor, needy soul is to be seen in everything he did for him. The Lord Jesus graciously blinded the eyes of his body for a season, that he might open the eyes of his soul forever. In time the Son of God sent someone to tell this man about his greatness and grace. The Lord Jesus Christ passed his way in mercy, love, and grace.
He heard the man’s prayer. He commanded him to be called. Then he personally called Bartimaeus. What a call his call was! What a cause for comfort! The disciples said, “Be of good comfort…He calleth thee!” And when he did, the Lord Jesus spoke a word of grace to him. — “Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” What a word of grace!
The grace poured into his lips as this poor sinner’s Surety in eternity now poured from his lips into the chosen sinner’s heart! Then, he went on to Jerusalem to redeem him!Faith Obtains Mercy Faith always gets what it seeks — Mercy! Look what this man did when the Savior called him. He arose, cast off his garment, and came to Christ. Such are the sweet results of Christ’s effectual call. The poor sinner is enabled, by the same grace that calls him, to cast away every thing of his own, all the filthy rags of his own righteousness, and come to Christ, just as he is, poor, and blind, and wretched, and needy, and receive all from Christ. “Immediately he received his sight.” And as soon as the sinner comes to Christ, he receives his sight. When the Master told him to go his way, Bartimaeus “followed Jesus in the way.” Christ, who is THE WAY, became his way.
So it is with all who are called by grace. They follow Christ in the way of faith, in the way of his doctrine, in the way of his ordinances, in the way of his worship, in the way of his example.