Leaving it all behind
Reading for Thursday April 6
Bible section: Mark 10:13-31
Actually most of us would like to leave it all behind and start over. A new life, with enormous possibilities, a great leader and a company of friendly fellow-travelers; that compares well to present frustrations. Peter, one of the people who accompanied Jesus on his preaching tours, reminds Jesus that he and the other 11 have left everything behind to follow Jesus.
He is reassured. Everyone who has left house or relatives or possessions to follow Jesus and to tell the good news will receive a hundred times more, both in this life (with persecutions) and in the age to come eternal life.
There is another person written about in today’s section; he could not leave it all behind. He was rich, young, and powerful. He wanted to know how to get eternal life. When Jesus invited him to sell all that he owned, give it all to the poor and become a companion of Jesus, he could not. It was too much to ask.
Today is only a preparatory stage for eternal life. What Jesus asked was a bit like asking a pre-school child to give away his bike to someone who needs it, with the promise that if he does, he can go to the best university when he finishes school. The child knows how much he likes his bike; he doesn’t know anything about university so he holds on to his bike.
As everyone, even the not yet religious, knows eternal life cannot be bought by giving away possessions. Jesus hastens to reassure his disciples that entering the kingdom of heaven is actually a human impossibility – no matter how much you give away. The rich young man would have been acceptable to God because God made it possible, not because of his benevolence.
And we are all sorry for him. We can imagine him growing old; wearied with the responsibilities of his power and possessions. By contrast we envy Peter his sense of fulfillment traveling through Judea, accompanied by his wife, visiting with thousands of new believers, teaching them what Jesus had taught him. Participating in the change that spread over the world.
The rich person hoped to add eternal life to all his possessions. He went after it as if eternal life were a commodity on the market. Peter and the rest of the disciples were attracted to Jesus, they went after Jesus. They went with him for the pleasure of being with him, doing as he taught them, and listening to him teach. At first all they hoped for was a better life on earth. God’s plans were greater than their hopes. Before he brought humans into being he had purposed that his creation should be reclaimed from self-destruction and be with him eternally. He made possible what was impossible for people. Jesus said to the disciples, “I am going away, to get ready a place where you can be with me.’ They didn’t understand where they were to go or how to get there until Jesus said to them, “I am the way” God had made a way where no way was.
Matthew 19:16, Luke 18:15-17
To see the excavation of Peter’s house click on http://www.bibleplaces.com/capernaum.htm and scroll down.
Bible section: Mark 10:13-31
Actually most of us would like to leave it all behind and start over. A new life, with enormous possibilities, a great leader and a company of friendly fellow-travelers; that compares well to present frustrations. Peter, one of the people who accompanied Jesus on his preaching tours, reminds Jesus that he and the other 11 have left everything behind to follow Jesus.
He is reassured. Everyone who has left house or relatives or possessions to follow Jesus and to tell the good news will receive a hundred times more, both in this life (with persecutions) and in the age to come eternal life.
There is another person written about in today’s section; he could not leave it all behind. He was rich, young, and powerful. He wanted to know how to get eternal life. When Jesus invited him to sell all that he owned, give it all to the poor and become a companion of Jesus, he could not. It was too much to ask.
Today is only a preparatory stage for eternal life. What Jesus asked was a bit like asking a pre-school child to give away his bike to someone who needs it, with the promise that if he does, he can go to the best university when he finishes school. The child knows how much he likes his bike; he doesn’t know anything about university so he holds on to his bike.
As everyone, even the not yet religious, knows eternal life cannot be bought by giving away possessions. Jesus hastens to reassure his disciples that entering the kingdom of heaven is actually a human impossibility – no matter how much you give away. The rich young man would have been acceptable to God because God made it possible, not because of his benevolence.
And we are all sorry for him. We can imagine him growing old; wearied with the responsibilities of his power and possessions. By contrast we envy Peter his sense of fulfillment traveling through Judea, accompanied by his wife, visiting with thousands of new believers, teaching them what Jesus had taught him. Participating in the change that spread over the world.
The rich person hoped to add eternal life to all his possessions. He went after it as if eternal life were a commodity on the market. Peter and the rest of the disciples were attracted to Jesus, they went after Jesus. They went with him for the pleasure of being with him, doing as he taught them, and listening to him teach. At first all they hoped for was a better life on earth. God’s plans were greater than their hopes. Before he brought humans into being he had purposed that his creation should be reclaimed from self-destruction and be with him eternally. He made possible what was impossible for people. Jesus said to the disciples, “I am going away, to get ready a place where you can be with me.’ They didn’t understand where they were to go or how to get there until Jesus said to them, “I am the way” God had made a way where no way was.
Matthew 19:16, Luke 18:15-17
To see the excavation of Peter’s house click on http://www.bibleplaces.com/capernaum.htm and scroll down.
posted by Jessie Coates at 12:22 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home