Mark 10:23-32 - A Promise of a Just Reward

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter 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 the kingdom of God.

And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,

who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last first. 

Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 

Funny Reward Sign

photo by Jennifer Synder, used under the creative commons license.check out more photos at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/iwantamonkey/ 

Jesus promises that the one who follows Him will get their reward.  Peter, reacting to what had just happened to the rich young man who would not follow Jesus, asked the Lord, "What about us?"  The rich young man said "No" but we, your disciples, said, "Yes" and, as a result we have nothing- no riches, no houses, no earthly goods.  We have, in effect, done what the rich young man would not do. We have given all to the poor and followed you.

Those who would follow Jesus embark on a different road. They have a new, way of looking at life. To gain the Kingdom, they follow the Messiah and the result is they look different from "normal" people.  That is, they behave differently, doing crazy things like not really caring about material possessions and, instead, following Christ. Christ promises that, in both this life and the next, we will not regret our decision to follow Him.

May I, this day, give up all to follow Christ. Help me, O Lord, to understand that possessions and material things pale in importance than following after the Kingdom. Amen.