Tag: Mark 10

Have Mercy On Me! (Mark 10:46-52 Devotion)

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Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

– Mark 10:46-52 (NKJV)

There is a line to a Ghost Ship song entitled, Son of David, that goes, “The blind won’t gain their sight by opening their eyes.” The song is about the incident we read here and that line has always struck me as especially profound. There was nothing this man could do to remedy his blindness. He can’t just simply open his eyes. This man’s eyes probably are open, but he just can’t see. He is blind. The only thing he could do was cry out, “Son of David! Have Mercy on Me!” Jesus alone could restore this man’s sight, and he did!

In the same way, we are all in a sense dead in our trespasses and sins. We don’t have the capacity to free ourselves from this position. We can’t raise ourselves back to spiritual life. We can’t restore our relationship with God. We are helpless in the situation. We need God to work on our behalf!

So while Bartemaus couldn’t see Jesus, he heard about Jesus and he heard that Jesus was coming and so he called out to the Lord! “Have mercy on me!” This is what we must do, if we would have this new life that Jesus offers. We must call out, “Jesus! Have mercy on me!”

We can’t demand that he do it. We can’t feel entitled. We don’t have a right to it. However, we can in essence beg for it. Simply ask for his mercy! Because this is the wonderful part! He gives it! He gives it to those who call on his name! He gives it to those who humble themselves to ask. He gives it to those who recognize and know their condition. He gives it freely. Have you come to Jesus for salvation today?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for the privilege and opportunity to call out to you. We are grateful for salvation that comes to those who are humble enough to ask for it. We are grateful that those who call on you are given mercy and grace beyond imagination. We are grateful that you do amazing work in broken lives. Let us no hold anything back from you today, but wholly lean on you. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Selfishness vs Service! (Mark 10:41-45 Devotion)

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And when the ten heard [it], they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

– Mark 10:41-45 (NKJV)

When I got sick with my heart stuff there was a pastor friend of mine who came to see me in the hospital. I didn’t really expect him to come, to that moment we weren’t close. He had always stuck me as a little goofy and I’m probably more a stick in the mud than I care to admit. When he came to see me he went out of his way to serve me. He knew I couldn’t have a lot of liquid and so be brought me some suckers. When I came home, he brought a meal from my favorite restaurant to the house. Every time I turned around he was blessing me in some small way. He never took a lot of time but was there for me in ways that I needed. I don’t think it was until I experienced that level of unsolicited service that I understood what Jesus was saying in this passage.

Now when my friend speaks, I’ve learned to listen. It’s not because of all the degrees that has, or books that he has written, it’s not even due to his charming personality (which is a lot more interesting once I started paying attention). I listen because he showed me that he cared for me by serving me. In his way, my friend demonstrated the love of Christ.

This is kingdom living when we take the focus off ourselves and place it on others. It has a way of blessing others and blessing us in the process. I don’t have all the giftings or sense of need that my friend has (he has had years to hone his skills), but I have been provoked to serve others better in whatever opportunities the Lord provides. Serving God by serving others is much better than being selfish and expecting people to take care of you.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for those who have been tremendous influences on our lives by their small, kind acts of service. We are grateful for the opportunities that we have to serve others with our unique talents and gifts. Let us all serve you by serving others and in doing so bring Glory, Honor, and Recognition due your name. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Our Plans vs God’s Plans (Mark 10:35-40 Devotion)

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Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but [it is for those] for whom it is prepared.”

– Mark 10:35-40 (NKJV)

I have an old journal somewhere where I have recorded some of my prayers from my late teens and early twenties. I read them from time to time with a little embarrassment. They are a good reflection of where I was, but they weren’t a good indicator of where I was going. Don’t get me wrong, I asked God for a lot of good things. One prayer sticks out, I had just met a young woman and she must have made an impression on me, because I asked God for his blessing on our “friendship” and went as far as to say that if he should bless it to become more of a “relationship” that would be fine with me.

Fortunately for me, God didn’t need my input, and there was a sweet girl just down the street who would fill that special role in my life of being my best friend and more. So much so, that I can’t imagine it any other way. I’m so glad that God had a better plan than I had. I was bold in my prayers, but I was a little off the mark. These things are better left in God’s hands. He knows what he is doing!

James and John were called the sons of thunder. They both had a strong personalities and they were fiercely loyal. They were among Jesus’ first disciples and they were there in special moments when many of the other disciples weren’t (Mount of Transfiguration). They caught a whiff of what Jesus was talking about. He was headed to Jerusalem to inaugurate his kingdom! I’m sure they heard something about death in there too, but they had already seen Jesus in all his glory! This is the part where they wanted to be next to him. They wanted to by his left and right hand guys. They wanted a seat at the big table… and they hadn’t quite learned the reoccurring lesson of “the first shall be last and the last shall be first,” yet.

They didn’t know what they were asking, but they knew what they wanted. They wanted to be with Jesus when all of the action went down. They had plans and they were trying to make sure their plans succeeded and so they thought if they called “first” on those coveted spots that they would be theirs. But that’s now how things work in the Kingdom of heaven. You don’t get to call it for yourself, your better off putting your head down in serving the least of these and trusting Jesus to sort it all out when it comes time.

Jesus asks them if they are prepared to face what he will face and they say they are. They will face persecution in their own lives. James will be the first apostle martyred for his faith and John will live the longest out of all the apostles. They would both suffer. They would be faithful witnesses till the end. They could trust God to determine the order of things.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We humbly trust you with our lives and our futures today. Guide our thoughts, deeds, and actions. Help us to learn this lesson of, “the fist shall be last and the last shall be first.” Give us grace to serve others in your name. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Following Jesus Into Scary Places (Mark 10:32-34 Devotion)

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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: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 “and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

– Mark 10:32-34 (NKJV)

When I was in my early 20’s I had the joy and privilege of speaking with an older pastor who was facing death. This man was well known and respected in the area and a few of my ministry friends and I had the opportunity to ask him questions. I didn’t know any really good questions to ask so I went with a simple one. I asked him that if he could share just one nugget of wisdom from all of his life, experience, etc. with a group of younger ministry students, what would it be? His answer still carries weight today in my life. He said that he would tell them, “God has often brought me to what I felt like was the edge of a cliff, but it was never to push me off, but always to show me a greater view of himself.”

I remembered that quote often. I thought of it during the week leading up to my open heart surgery. I’ve thought of it when faced with challenges of ministry, especially on days where by all my accounting, the future doesn’t seem so bright. It is often through the most challenging moments of faith in my own life that I can look back and see God working the clearest.

The disciples were following Jesus up to Jerusalem. By now that almost certainly meant persecution and Jesus was clear with them that he would be crucified. To their credit, the disciples followed Jesus all the way! They were afraid, but they followed.

We know the rest of the story beyond these verses. We know that some of the hardest days are ahead of the disciples. We know Jesus will be crucified just like he said AND he will rise three days later just like he said. It seems like Jesus lead them into a fearful situation, but it wasn’t for their destruction, it was for their good. It was for their own salvation. They would one day look back at this scary situation and be reminded again of God’s faithfulness and Christ’s love for them.

As I write this, I can’t help but have a few precious saints on my heart. I’ve got a few folks in my congregation who are facing their own mortality. They are dying. They and their families know they don’t have much time left. As I pray for them, I have often quoted the 23rd Psalm and am reminded that Jesus our Good Shepherd has gone before us through the valley of the Shadow of death. Sometimes we follow the Lord into places which cause us to be fearful, but we rest confidently knowing that he is faithful.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are so grateful that you went to the cross to die for our sins and were raised again three days later. We can’t imagine how fearful this whole time must have been for the disciples. We are grateful for your patience and the care that you took to lead them. We are grateful that when you lead us through challenging and fearful places that you always do so with a purpose. We are grateful that it is your job to lead and ours to follow. Give us grace to follow well, especially through the challenging moments of life. Please give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The Cost of Discipleship (Mark 10:28-31 Devotion)

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Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 29 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, 30 “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. 31 “But many [who are] first will be last, and the last first.”

– Mark 10:28-31 (NKJV)

We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. No one earns or can work for his or her salvation. But discipleship does have a cost. Peter shares with Jesus that they have left all to follow Jesus.

To be a disciple, we forsake the things that would compete for our love and obedience to Christ. That is not a cost in the fact that we’ve paid to get something. It is a cost in that we have to get rid of some things in order to gain something else. I think this is what Jesus was illustrating in the parable where a man sells everything he has to buy the field with a tressure. He sells off all his possessions in order to possess the one thing of superior value.

Intimacy is created by exclusivity. I gave up my free agency on the singles market the day I married my wife. I forsook all other potential relationships for her. My marriage cost me my free agency. But I’ll be the first to tell you I got way more than I ever gave up! I’m glad I married my wonderful wife and I wouldn’t trade her for anything. To obtain an exclusive relationship you must give up all rights to whatever would compete for your attention. This is the cost of discipleship.

We must forsake all in order to follow Christ. What we get by following Christ by grace is more than we could ever afford or deserve, but requires that we let go of lesser treasures that do not satisfy in order to gain the ultimate treasure of trusting Christ. There is a cost to discipleship, but it is not the price of admission, it is the price of exclusivity. Are you willing to pay it today?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for everything we gain when we surrender lesser treasures for the greatest treasure of all. We are grateful for the great gain that there is to be found in following Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. Give us great grace today to encourage and tell others of your grace. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

God of the Possible (Mark 10:23-27 Devotion)

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Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 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! 25 “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.” 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

– Mark 10:23-27 (NKJV)

The rich young ruler was seeking eternal life, but when Jesus told him to sell all that he had, he went away sorrowful. In short Jesus asked for a total commitment of his heart, but the man loved the comfort of his wealth more than he desired to follow Jesus. For this man the cost of discipleship was too much. The cost wasn’t in what he would have to pay, but what he would have to give up to follow Jesus.

The disciples marveled because they saw this man as having a great advantage to knowing God… his wealth. He must be liked by God to be so wealthy… right? But what the disciples saw as an advantage, Jesus saw as a disadvantage. This man’s wealth held him back.

Ponder this for a moment. Who has more to give up to follow Jesus, a rich man who must give his money away so he isn’t tempted to trust in his own riches when the going gets tough, or a child who completely depended on others anyway? Jesus is helping the disciples see that kingdom of God isn’t something to be achieved, but received.

Yet, as impossible as it seemed for rich men to come into the kingdom of God, there would be many. They would realize the surpassing value of knowing Christ as Lord and Savior and they would give all, many including their very lives, to follow after Jesus. It’s clear when God get’s ahold of our hearts because our dependence and our nature changes. One of the rich men who came into the kingdom despite his riches was a tax collector named Zacchaeus! His whole attitude towards money changed the day that Jesus came to his house. How has Jesus changed your perspective on things?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. There are things that seem impossible to us, but are possible through you. It seems contrary to think that someone would give up their love of money and possessions to follow you, but there are many who have. Help us to see people the way you see them. Let us show grace to those who trust you easily and let us pour out our hearts in prayer who come to you through many struggles. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22 Devotion)

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Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God. 19 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

– Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV)

There is a genre of video games out there where the character has a pack of items he can collect/ purchase along the way. Some of the items are really cool and are rare or expensive. Other items are common stuff, but they might come in handy in a pinch. The character usually has a limited capacity backpack. So if you go to pick up a new item and the pack is already full, the game will say that you can’t add anything else until you get rid of something else in your pack. If the item you were trying to pick up was more valuable than the stuff you already had, you would gladly throw out what you had to get the new item.

As Jesus deals with the rich young ruler, it becomes apparent that this guy seems to have it all… and that was the problem, he had too much. Too much confidence in his own ability to “do” something to merit eternal life. This guy didn’t need to “do” anything, he just had to receive what Jesus would do for him. The problem is that he didn’t have any room to receive what Christ had done. The only way that he would be able to embrace eternal life was to let go of the stuff he was holding on to. (not because Jesus wanted his money, he said to give it all to the poor!) The only way we can approach Jesus and it do us any good is to come humbly and empty so that he might fill us.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful that eternal life isn’t something we merit or achieve, but something given to us by grace. Please don’t let us hold on to anything so tightly that we miss what has been so freely done and given for us. Give us grace to receive what you have done for us and walk in faith today. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Childlike Faith (Mark 10:13-16 Devotion)

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Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought [them]. 14 But when Jesus saw [it], He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid [His] hands on them, and blessed them.

– Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV)

The disciples didn’t value children the way that Jesus did. They thought that kids were getting in the way of the “real” work of ministry. They saw them as a waste of Jesus’ time and theirs. But Jesus saw things differently. He has put a child in their midst and encouraged the disciples to look out for the least of these. They should be learning this lesson by now.

Jesus goes further than to say that he values children, he says that his kingdom is made up of children. Furthermore that whoever would become a part of his kingdom must receive it as a child. Children don’t have a lot of skills or ability, but one thing they do have is the ability to depend on someone else. What is viewed as weakness in this world is a real strength when it comes to the kingdom of God.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that the more we know about Jesus, the better Christians we will be. While it is helpful to know about Jesus, that isn’t how we grow in a relationship with God. Trust/ Faith is how you grow in a relationship with God.

There are some folks who come to faith in Christ as a child. They may not know much, but they do know that they are trusting Jesus. How wonderful that the way we receive the kingdom of God isn’t through our own intellectual abilities or good deeds, but through the simple matter of trust. That is something that even a child can do!

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for loving children. Thank you for the simplicity of the gospel message that makes it so powerful that even a child can recieve it. Give us wisdom as we seek to encourage and tell others about you. Give us your heart for children and help us grow in our simple trust in you. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Marriage (Mark 10:1-12 Devotion)

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Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again. 2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce [his] wife?” testing Him. 3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses permitted [a man] to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss [her].” 5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 ‘and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same [matter]. 11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 “And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

– Mark 10:1-12 (NKJV)

One of the first institutions we read about in the bible is the institution of marriage and family. You don’t get far in the scripture before you hear about God’s design for life. When asked about divorce, Jesus goes back to Genesis to talk about marriage.

Some people mistakenly say this passage is about divorce. That is only partly true. The question that came from the Pharisees was about divorce, but the answer that Jesus gave was about marriage. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that in order to talk about divorce you must talk about the institution of marriage. Since marriage was God’s design, he has the final say in how we should treat it.

Jesus doesn’t set us up to examine the legitimacy for getting a divorce in this passage as much as he points us to the legitimacy of a biblical marriage. Notice a few of the things that Jesus states about marriage in this passage:

  • God intentionally created only two sexes, male and female
  • Marriage is between one Man (Male) and one Woman (Female)
  • A Marriage constitutes a brand new family unit
  • Marriage is a lifelong commitment
  • Marriage is an institution designed by God and blessed by God
  • It is a serious to break up a marriage

Jesus talks about marriage in such a clear and concise way that it not only answers the questions of the Pharisees but addresses issues our culture has in trying to redefine marriage today. Jesus doesn’t push some radical new agenda here. He argues for holding the biblical institution of marriage in high regard because it was created and ordained by God.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for the wonderful institution of marriage. Thank you that you created us male and female and you created the intimacy of marriage. I pray that we honor you in our thoughts and actions regarding our marriages. Where there is sin, we ask for your forgiveness and grace. Where we have been sinned against we ask for the grace and ability to forgive. Where there is hurt we ask for healing. Where there is sorrow, we ask for hope. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.