What Jesus Did

[Jesus and the disciples] were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him.

—Mark 10:32 NLT

Key Thought


Two things strike me powerfully about these verses and the people they describe. First, despite their great fear, Jesus' followers still...

 

[Jesus continued,] "But many who are the greatest now will be least important [in the world to come], and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then."

—Mark 10:31 NLT

Key Thought


God evaluates people differently than most earthly judges, critics, and cultures do. Those who appear to be lowly, unimportant, backward, impoverished, broken, and meek are valued as precious by God — and will continue to be in the world to come. Is it because he favors the...

 

Then Peter began to speak up. "We've given up everything to follow you," he said.
"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property — along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life."


—Mark 10:28-30 NLT...

 

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!" This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"

—Mark 10:23-25 NLT

Key Thought


The disciples were shocked! They had taken in the things they had seen and heard in Jesus' interchange with the...

 

The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."


—Mark 10:26-27 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus' assertion is true, or our faith is really in vain. In Christ, we have strength beyond human will power, knowledge, or ability. Even more importantly, God through Jesus has covered all of the shortcomings and sins that we...

 

[Jesus continued,] "In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.


—Mark 10:25-26 NLT

Key Thought


If we are talking about meeting a legal requirement to be saved, we're all doomed. God is holy, and we are not. God is pure, and we are not. God is generous, and we struggle to be. God is genuine, and we struggle with...

 

Looking at the man [who said he had kept all the commandments], Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There is still one thing you haven't done," he told him. "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.


—Mark 10:21-22 NLT

Key Thought


The Bible has heart-wrenching stories of men and women who came to know the...

 

Looking at the man [who said he had kept all the commandments], Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There is still one thing you haven't done," he told him. "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

—Mark 10:21 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus had genuine love and compassion for this man. The man felt that he had kept all the commandments and was close to what God wanted and headed in the right...

 

[Jesus continued,] "But to answer your question [about eternal life], you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."


—Mark 10:19-20 NLT

Key Thought


Here's a guy who was pretty sure that he had mastered it all ... and claims that he had begun this...

 

[Jesus continued,] "But to answer your question [about eternal life], you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'"

—Mark 10:19 NLT

Key Thought


Do you know the commandments? Do you know the core teachings of God's morality? If not, why not review them today. They can be found in Exodus 20. While we are not under law but under...