Mark 10

Jesus moves back down south to more Jewish territory. Again, he teaches and is tested by religious leaders. They ask about divorce.

 

Jesus takes the current custom of a man stating in writing that he does not want to be married and it happens. Jesus tells the religious leaders that God allows it but it is not God's intention that the people he put together in marriage should be broken up. He further says that any subsequent unions are adultery.

 

Children are brought to Jesus but his disciples find this unseemly. Jesus angers and uses the children as a teaching moment. Only a childlike innocence will allow people to see all God has in store for them and the way God intends life to be like. Cynical people, who have layers and layers of protective habits, miss the show. Jesus ends by make kids more than a teaching moment. He embraces them as well.

 

A rich man comes to Jesus asking a question we have not heard yet. A better order of question. "How can I inherit eternal life?"  Eternal life is life "outside time" or life not trapped by the press of time crunches. This man really pleases Jesus because he not only asks the right questions; he also has kept the 10 commandments. Here is a real prospect. That passes soon. Somehow Jesus knows that material things are getting in the way of this man's claim on eternal life/abundant life. Jesus says to sell what the man has and to follow Jesus. The man can't. The pull of possessions is too strong. Where do your possessions get in the way of following Jesus?

Jesus tells his friends that the accumulation of possessions is a real hindrance in living the great life God has in store for everyone. Maybe even impossible. The disciples are disturbed by this. Jesus reminds them that God, however, can remedy all things. That "trust in God" things comes up again.

Peter must be confused and worried. He reminds Jesus that he (they) gave up everything to follow Jesus. Maybe Peter is having his doubts. Jesus assures all of the disciples that God will return much more than they have given up – now and in the times to come. Jesus reminds them that jostling for first place only put you in last place and voluntarily taking last place is a sure way to first place. Jesus' world (the kingdom of God) does not work like ours does. We must have new eyes in order to see that.

Jesus uses this time to remind the 12 that he will be persecuted, die and rise. Jesus way to the top is through the bottom as well.

In what must have been an exasperating moment, James and John, two of Jesus' closest companions, want to be Jesus' top sidekicks. Jesus tells them that they don't know what they are asking. Remember, the top dogs must work their way to the bottom first! Besides, ranking people is God job, not Jesus'.

This chapter ends with another healing but with a twist. A blind man asks mercy of Jesus. People are embarrassed by his presence and insistence. The blind man runs to Jesus. Jesus asks what the man wants. Notice that Jesus seldom assumes the obvious, he inquires what people want. How often do we assume we know what others need or want without asking? The man wants sight and gets is and, unlike previous times, becomes a follower of Jesus. Maybe Jesus sees that it is of no use to try to keep his work quiet any more.