Mark 10: The Last Becomes the First

24 January 2015: Supersession of Grace over Law

Opening prayer: Thank You Lord for Your precious Word that You use to grow us, feed us and old us. Keep us humble, that we may not boast of ourselves but only in You do we boast. We eagerly await what You have in store for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 10:1–12

Context: Evangelicals tend to proof-text this passage as a violation of divorce without carefully the context in which Jesus is speaking here. Many a time, Jesus is not addressing the act per se, but the spirit, heart or motivation behind it.

Analysis: The Pharisees came and tested Jesus with regard the issue of divorce (excluding marriage, the flip-side that should also be addressed), whether it was legal to divorce, as well as why they were allowed to do so. Jesus explained that divorce was a concession of God’s will.

God had intended that two get married and stay married, for the two shall join together to be one flesh. Whether the couple had romantic attractions to each other had nothing to do with the truth that God ordains them together. Love is not just an emotion, but is an action. In fact, chances are, as the couple gets to know each other better, the romance comes naturally, but romance in and of itself isn’t love. Love is full of ups and downs and is a journey that people choose to take together. The high road, of course, is to centre God in that marriage.

In other words, when Jesus was addressing the Pharisees’ question, He was using divorce to illustrate the hearts of fallen man. The Pharisees were not interested in the answer for the issue of divorce but were interested in trapping Jesus, scripturally and morally, and Jesus did not answer their question there and then, but showed them that they had a mindset that fell short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

However, the issue of divorce remains. Jesus has not answered the question “Is divorce right or wrong” yet. Within marriage, either party can be abusive and unfaithful, and the marriage becomes sour and bitter that it does not bless either party or their offspring thereafter. Families are broken if the resentful partners stay that way. In many circumstances, divorce liberates the couple and their children from suffering that need not be. How will Jesus reconcile what He declares as God’s will with what clearly demonstrates God’s mercy on the couple?

There is one exception of divorce. One exception. That divorce is on the basis of sexual immorality, like a man cheating on his wife or the reverse. Adultery per se should not be the basis for divorce, for either partner can repent and turn from their immorality, albeit suffering the consequence of their action. However, when within the family unit, partners attempt to perpetually be sexually immoral, there is a ground to divorce as a last resort.

Jesus by describing the will of God to me the union of man and woman without separation at any cost seems to go against the word of God that was spoken through Moses, which permitted divorce. So His disciples, who genuinely wanted the answer, sought Him, and Jesus’ private sessions with them were the opportunity to train the Twelve in the proper understanding and new radical perspective of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:11–12)

In English, it seems that Jesus actively condemned divorce, asserting that divorce would lead to sexual immorality. However, the original Greek implies that the word ‘commits’ are passive forms, not active forms. This means that it was not divorce and remarriage per se that was adultery, but the legal act of putting the woman away that culturally stigmatised her as an adulteress. Literally "she is caused to commit adultery.”1

Also, marriage was not a right. It was a privilege ordained by God. It means that even if our partners do stupid acts like not clean the house or cook horribly, like me, who are we to cast aside this privilege of union? If we see marriage as a right, we get all sorts of arguments that legitimise divorce for all the wrong reasons, as well as arguments that deviate from traditional marriage. But if we see marriage as a gift from God, we will treasure it. In fact, divorce is but another example of this issue: taking the grace of God for granted.

And thus, divorce only as a last resort. Trust in God in our relationships with people, and definitely in our marriage in the days, months, years or decades to come. Rest in Him. Trust Him that when we do have a partner that He steer the marriage and when both parties mess ump there is grace and mercy for reconciliation.

Closing prayer: Lord, as You have reconciled us to Yourself by giving Your life for us, so we also reconcile with each other by giving our lives to each other. You have instituted marriage to be wonderful, and we trust You for a fruitful and fulfilling one in the days ahead. Until then, and after then, lead us and steer our paths in righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

26 January 2015: Precious in His Sight

Opening prayer: Lord, we come with open hearts to hear what You have to say to us through Your Word. We rest in You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 10:13–16

Context: Jesus begins addressing issues that the Law faced in regard to God’s plan, such as the family and wealth and honour, and teaches His disciples practically the opposite of whatever they have been hearing throughout their lives.

Analysis: Upon Jesus’ counsel on the issue of divorce, that marriage was a privilege ordained by God, the people started to bring their children to this amazing teacher so that Jesus would pray for them and bless them, Matthew 19:13. His disciples, however, didn’t want His ministry to be hindered by some parents and children who probably were well-off anyway, and as such, they reprimanded the parents for being a nuisance.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant/angry/greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:13–15).

Imagine the shock His disciples received when Jesus turned and rebuked them instead of the pestering people. They were expecting praise and affirmation and yet were rebuked for forbidding little children from receiving from Jesus. Jesus has a firm stance on embracing children, and will not let anyone stop Him from blessing them. In fact, just earlier in Mark 9, Jesus proclaims that for anyone who caused these little ones to stumble, it would have been better if they drowned a painful death (Mark 9:42).

The principle we learn here is to not stop children from entering God’s presence. This could mean either physical children or spiritual children, as in, new believers. Do not yoke them with Christianese or religion but let them experience their Father’s embrace. Let them enjoy the love and grace of their Saviour.

Even us, at times, we tend to get overly zealous yet religious, like the zealots in Jesus’ time, when Jesus honours a child far more than He does a pious person. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with God. God is not a force or a figment of imagination; He is a person, a person who loves us intimately. And Jesus loves it when we draw to Him with child-like faith. Just enjoy the Father’s love and embrace.

And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:16). When you enjoy the presence of God, you can’t help but be blessed all around! Seek Him first and all these things will be added onto you. Child of God, will you not rest in His love for you this day?

Closing prayer: Thank You Father for loving us so much. Thank You for restoring our relationship, the One relationship that can never fail. Lord, we love You because You first loved us, and we rest in Your love for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

27 January 2015: One Thing You Lack

Opening prayer: Dear God, we thank You for Your precious word, that we can indulge in the meat that You have prepared. We choose to be humble and teachable. Speak to us, we are listening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 10:17–31

Context: Up till now Jesus has consistently rebelled His culture, one that is strewn with legalism and keeping the Law to remain faithful. And by the Law, people were allowed to divorce at any point in time, provided that they have a certificate of divorce, in which Jesus came and condemned not only the action but the heart that lead to it. Jesus battles legalism, and one way of obeying Him is simply doing good works not for salvation but from salvation.

Analysis: Jesus was asked by a man regarding salvation. Luke calls him a “rich young ruler”, but Mark just calls him a “man”. It shows Luke’s emphasis on humanity as compared to Mark’s focus on Jesus’ mission as a servant.

Either case, the man asks Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Already in his question you see a contradiction in the man’s statement. Inheritance is defined as receiving by virtue of the fact that one is an heir, completely independent of works. As such, the man fumbles even in his very first statement. Nevertheless, Jesus responds to him. Except that, Jesus responded not with the Gospel but with the Law.

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother. ’” (Mark 6:19). Isn’t that strange? Didn’t we see Jesus dispense grace everywhere He went? Why then did He give the man the Law?

And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing:go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [Mark 10:20–22]

Jesus saw that ultimately, just like the Pharisees, the man’s heart was not to receive truth, but to boast of His religiosity. He wanted to boast of his piousness in his self-efforts. Yet, Jesus said, “one thing you lack…” He was primarily referring to failure to obey the first commandment, that is, to love God with His all, and also implying the result of self-effort: shame. The pride that self-effort induces into people results in shame when faced with the presence of God. That’s why God humbles the exalted and exalts the humble (Matthew 23:12). His modus operandi is grace. He receives dependent children and shuns self-reliant zealots.

Our self effort can only get us so far as to obey some of the laws, but the highest remains untouchable. Throughout the course of humanity, there was only One who fully obeyed the Law, and He was the very same one who died in our places with a violent, inhumane death. The worst thing to do is to say that we are better than Him and can fulfil the law on our own. That is self-effort pride at its peak. Conversely, when we resign to God’s ability and rest in His grace, He supersedes the Law in us, for us, through us.

This will continue in the next part.

27 January 2015: Stop Striving, Start Resting

In verse 24, Jesus addresses His disciples with a tender word: children. In the Greek, children is the word ‘teknon’ which is an endearing term described as little children, full of child-like innocence. Even after the disciples’ repeated exhortations of the Law in their action, Jesus still sees them as His own and accepts them as His own. This is how Jesus sees us today!

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 10:25] In today’s context, just because someone has a lot of money, it doesn’t mean he is rich. In fact, the most self-sufficient person is the most deprived, for they lack the One who fully suffices. Our hearts will remain empty and longing for love, and perhaps on a pursuit for love in all the wrong places, until we stop and find what we are looking for in Him.

The disciples, stunned since they also heard however the young man was faithful, he would lose out on paradise. Essentially, Jesus taught that according to the Law, it would be impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven. So how then can we be saved, the disciples asked. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” [Mark 10:27] In and of ourselves, we cannot, but only in God, we can.

Peter remarked: we left everything to follow you! Out jobs, our income, our families, we left them to follow You! And Jesus assured them that there will be complete, if not superabounding restoration for any perceived sacrifice at present. Sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel will be rewarded gloriously, but there are those who try to earn their blessing, and to them Jesus mentions: many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Ultimately, stop the dogma that Christianity is a religion just like any other. It is not. Jefferson Bethke speaks of this very well in his spoken-word video “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus”, with lines that go like:

Religion says ‘do’, Jesus says ‘Done’

Religion says ‘slave’, Jesus says ‘Son’

End the self-righteousness that religion entails and embrace the grace that God gives. Grace seeks the lowest places (Joseph Prince) and exalts the humbled. Today, receive unmerited favour. Stop striving; start resting.

Closing prayer: Lord, open our hearts to the realisation that we need You. We need You every day. We can’t go one day without You and prosper. And Lord, we rebuke all forms of self-righteousness or self-reliance, that our lives are none of us but all of You. With man salvation is impossible but with God all things are possible. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

28 January 2015: The First is the Last

Opening prayer: We come hungry for Your Word and want to feed from You. We want to rest in You and allow You to be the Lord of our lives. We lift up this time into Your hands, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 10:32–45

Context: Jesus had already told them twice His impending death, that is, the cross that was before Him, the first time in Mark 8, in which Peter was rebuked for forbidding it, and in Mark 9, where no one dared to say anything in response to Jesus. In Mark 10, we see the disciples’ respond a second time.

Analysis: As they headed on to Jerusalem, Jesus probably had a bittersweet struggle. On the one hand, He knew He was going to do the Father’s will, and yet, it would cost Him the life that He had. The struggle between His divinity and His humanity, we see in the Passion in Luke 22:42, “not my will but Yours be done”. The road to Jerusalem was but a start of the uphill struggle that He would face.

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” (Mark 10:33–34) Jesus never forgot that last line. The crucial line that would be evidence of power even over death. And that would assure the believers of today that they are helplessly, irrevocably saved (Romans 4:25).

But what did His disciples say? They were afraid (Mark 10:32) and would have all reason to do so. No one wanted to be labelled a demon. And yet the sons of Zebedee made a bold request. A perhaps, over-the-top request, if you may. To be glorified with God the Son, higher than all the other disciples. Since Jesus had the power and authority over even death, surely He would seat them in places of honour for realising it, right?

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” [Mark 10:38–40]

John and James made a bold request and made a bold declaration to drink the cup of persecution, the cup of shame and rejection, and after all that did not get a definite answer as to whether or not they would be glorified. The disciples weren’t pleased with their boastful comrades. They were very angry, and I mean very angry. They felt insulted, as though they weren’t able to do as James and John requested and acceded. They were as faithful, if not even more faithful! Why would they elevate themselves above the rest?

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. [Mark 10:42–45]

This message of the first shall be the last seems to have been harped on by Jesus over and over again. Already in Mark 9 Jesus mentioned that the lost, last and least are the ones that would be saved, and in Mark 10 when He talked about the affluent versus those who gave their all for the Kingdom, where the last shall be the first. Here He shares a third time the importance of being servants. God isn’t looking for rulers but for servants, and in the process, He will bring us to a place of reigning. In fact, Jesus, this time around, showed His disciples that He is a servant. He came to give His life as a ransom for many. This isn’t a ruling Messiah! This is a Servant King. And that is how God operates.

Yes, Jesus is King, but He is also servant. Mark places this little detail at after thrice mentioning that the last will be first. The world operates by their eyes, via pragmatically seeing who will reign, but in God’s Kingdom, what is considered to be lowly is lifted up, and the exalted are brought low. Many saw Jesus as a poor boy growing up and even as He went about in ministry was still looked down upon by the religious community.

This is our lot in life too. Not for ourselves per se, but for the people around us. For example, we are blessed not just for ourselves, but that we many be a blessing to others. This is how the Kingdom of God is established, not through brute force but by the work of the Spirit.

If our Saviour served us, how much more are we to serve the people around us, sharing the love of God through the littlest of our actions. We may consider some of our actions to be insignificant and would not advance the Kingdom substantially, but God uses the little things to confound the mighty. The first shall be the last and the last shall be the first.

So in whatever capacity, big or small, let God use it. That is service. And serve Him.

Closing prayer: Lord, we don’t want to win the rat race. We don’t want to glory in ourselves, but You are our glory. Use us for the expansion of Your Kingdom, and keep us humble. Keep us dependent on You and not boasting over others. By Your grace, we are all on equal ground. We rest in You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

30 January 2015: Son of Timaeus meets the Son of David

Opening prayer: Thank You Lord for Your precious Word. Refresh us, renew our souls and redirect our minds to live for You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 10:46–52

Reference: Skinner, M. (n.d.). Commentary on Mark 10:46-52 by Matt Skinner. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=466

Analysis: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Jericho and Bartimaeus. We normally see this name as a proper name, like Abraham or Moses, but actually ‘bar’ in Hebrew means son. Bartimaeus literally means: son of Timaeus (Mark 10:46). Essentially, he was nameless, other than being known as the son of Timaeus.

That is how lacking of honour this man has. People shrug him off. He is not just insignificant but also a nuisance to those who pass by, begging for money. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”, but many rebuked him, telling him to shut up (Mark 10:47–48). Interestingly, Bartimaeus called Jesus “Son of David” without even seeing Him, acknowledging that Jesus can and is able to heal him of his then-perpetual blindness.

I presume they scolded him harshly and did not merely give a gentle reminder to hush. And yet, Bartimaeus is tired of being told to zip. He needed sight. He cried out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48) At this point in time, Jesus stopped in His tracks and turned His attention to Bartimaeus.

And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” [Mark 10:51]

Interestingly enough, this question was the same question Jesus asked James and John. Yet, they asked for honour. Bartimaeus wasn’t looking for honour, despite being someone completely devoid of honour. He was looking for restoration. Jesus didn’t come to dispense honour but to restore the broken. He is the God of grace, of favour, of love.

Look to Him not to boast of your achievements but to receive from Him. Receive favour from Him, not based on Your goodness, good works or deeds, but on the basis that He loves you and has called you to serve Him with life more abundantly.

Closing prayer: Lord, we receive Your restoration. Pick us up from our brokenness and heal us. In and of ourselves, we cannot make ourselves whole, but only in You can we be restored completely. We rest in You for our healing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.