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Home , Mark 10

CHRIST CHURCH STUDY + MARK 10:17-34 + PREPARED BY JUSTIN LINDSTROM

INTRODUCTION Poverty has been described as the one thing money cannot buy. It may also be the one thing money cannot fx. [Page 195]

The man who fell on his knees asked how he could inherit eternal life. It is possible that his question was presumptive, but inheriting is one of the way children receive things. And since eternal life was generally taken to be one of the blessings of the kingdom of , the man has cut himself in the role of child who wants to receive the kingdom as described. [Pages 195-196]

The reply he received invited him to enter a place he ultimately did not wish to go. Jesus frst challenged what he meant by the word good. There might have been several answers to that question. We cannot know what he might have said, but we can begin to see the range of possibilities that Jesus’ rejoinder opened up. [Page 196]

After this provocative reply Jesus moved for a moment onto more familiar ground and asked about his conduct. This was much more than a theological examination. It was the kind of conversation one might fnd on judgment day, and it covered ground a devout Jewish man of the frst century would have expected. Jesus did not challenge the man’s own assessment. Jesus said he lacked one thing, and then he told the rich man to do three things: sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow him. Of these three things the overriding idea is the call to become a . [Pages 196-197]

Jesus’ answer was both reassuring and provocative. With man this is impossible, bit not with Gos; all things are possible with God. This is a parabolic reply. It affrms that salvation is possible without specifcally answering the question of how can be saved. [Page 198]

The hope for salvation does not lie in us. It comes from God, who is able to bring people to the point where they give things up. [Page 198]

The leads the way to a new social order. The innocent one who was to stand before the Ancient of Day stop receive all dominion and authority was delivered into the hands of humans who killed him. That was the ultimate reversal of values, and it calls into judgment every human institution, center of power, and pinnacle of privilege. A new community that sought to refurbish those values would prove to be nothing new at all, and it would be subject to the same condemnation. A community that is based in the death and resurrection of the Son of Man will be governed by a radically different set of ideas. Those who want to be great will be least of all and servants of all. All people will be treated with the dignity with which God endowed them, and there will be no entitled privileges. [Pages 199-200] The IVP Commentary Series: Mark by Ronald J. Kernaghan. InterVarsity Press ©2007.

TEXT The Rich Man 17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or felds, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age— houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and felds, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are frst will be last, and the last will be frst.” A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection 32 They were on the road, going up to , and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, 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; then they will hand him over to the ; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and fog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.” New Revised Standard Version

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT 1. Why does the rich man ask such a question? [vs 17]

2. How does Jesus reply? What does he say about being called good? What does he say about eternal life? [vss 18-19]

3. How does the rich man reply? [vs 20] And how does Jesus reply to him? [vs 21] Ultimately what happens to the rich man? Why is this whole interchange important? [vs 22]

4. How do we enter the kingdom of God? [vss. 23-25]

5. What does Jesus mean that “with God all things are possible”? [vs. 27]

6. Why is it important for Jesus to share how he will be arrested, tried, and crucifed? [vss. 32-34] DIVE DEEPER QUESTIONS 1. What is this passage saying to us about our priorities? Maybe we need to ask: “Are my priorities in line with that of a disciple of Jesus Christ?”

2. What would happen if Jesus turned to you and said, “Go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor”?

3. What is salvation? How do we live knowing we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus?

4. What does it mean for your life that “the last will be frst, and the frst will be last”?

5. Jesus fulflls God’s promises in his incarnation, ministry, crucifxion, resurrection, and ascension. How do you know they are fulflled in your life? Why do you believe and follow?