October 14, 2018 - Mark 10:17-31 "The Rich Man"

As I type this up this Wednesday evening, sad to say I'm in a terrible rush as I am preparing for yet another funeral in the morning, along with preparing for the Thursday night worship service.  This past Sunday I preached over the verses found in Mark 10:17-31 better known as 'The Rich Man'.

The point that I brought out in the close of the sermon was that in the verses concerning the Rich man who came to Jesus, and was confronted with his attachment to his monetary wealth, we are always lead to believe that he walked away and never came back.  Frankly, the verses don't support that... we honestly don't know what he determined to do.  This is reminiscent of the close of Mark's Gospel 16:1-8, where we are left with the women leaving the tomb without telling anyone.  The question here is will you be like the women and keep the message of Christ to yourself, or will you do as commanded and 'go tell'.  The rich man leaves and we're left to consider what will he do... what will we do... Will, we rid our lives of that which separates us from God or will we cling greedily to things of this world that impede our relationship with the Almighty...

Only we can answer these questions, but they are questions we are called to address...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love & Grace,

Roy

Mark 10:17-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
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[a] 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[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another,[c] “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 fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,[d] 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Footnotes:
a) Mark 10:21 Gk lacks the money
b) Mark 10:24 Other ancient authorities add for those who trust in riches
c) Mark 10:26 Other ancient authorities read to him
d) Mark 10:29 Or gospel


Mark 16:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Resurrection of Jesus

16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.