Jesus Meets The Rich Old Man Mark10:17-31

A man kneels before Jesus and asks him how does he gain eternal life or get into heaven. Jesus says follow the commandments, which you know. The man replies yes, I know them and I've followed them all my life. Jesus tells him there is one more thing, the man must sell all his belongings and follow Jesus. The man leaves weeping because he had many possessions. Jesus ends with saying to the disciples: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into heaven.


I don't understand this lesson very well because initially one would think being rich is a bad thing, or is a sin. But throughout the old and a little in the new testament people are seeking blessing of abundance from the Lord who says He will bless them abundantly, until their cup overflows. The Lord tells Abraham that He will make him a father of nations and give him more than all that he can see. Abraham didn't ask this from G-d, G-d offered it to him, but then suddenly here in the new testament its like,"oh, you're rich, good for you, enjoy it here on earth because by default you're going to go to Hell for being so rich". Some people earn their wealth and gain it with the blessings of the Father. Some people are born with wealth. Is wealth a sin. Should I not pray that the Lord bless my finances to the point where I retire at the age of 30 and choose whether or not to work? Should I not pray to be so blessed that my children and children's children don't have to struggle, living paycheck to paycheck like I'm currently doing?

Furthermore, 10:29-30 says, "Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel (30) will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

I find this confusing because in my opinion and in the opinion of others, this is wealth. Having brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, fields and etc. is wealth and are distractions that can/will deter someone from giving their lives to Jesus. These distractions or responsibilities rather, need time, care, education, nurturing, and money to continue their growth. In this scripture, Jesus has in a way determined that having these things will cause someone to faultier so much so that it may prevent them from accessing the Kingdom of heaven, YET in these verses 29-20, Jesus blesses followers with them. He's saying anyone who gives up this stuff for the sake of the gospel will live without them. They will live with them and more in the present time (now, in the world) and in the eternal world. This abundance of family and etc. kind of reminds me of Paul when he says something like, don't get married cause a marriage will distract you from giving your all to the kingdom of heaven. Hold on, let me find it. It's Paul speaking to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 7:20-45.. I just noticed that he keeps saying something like, "in this current situation". I didn't notice that before, now I'm curious as to what exactly was this current situation, where there no men left to marry? Because now I'm thinking of a scripture from Isaiah where it's like, "two women will tell one man, don't be overwhelmed with the burdens of a marriage just give us your seed so that we may have children and not carry a shame." Now, I have to find that scripture: Isaiah 4:1. It's 7 women, not 2, dang! Anyway, so I'm still a bit unclear about this if you're rich, you're going to Hell, but I'm going to make you rich.

Point OF Views
Man- "I have to sell ALL of my possessions? What about my wife and kids? Where will we live? What will we eat? Do I just leave them? For how long must we live like this? God made me rich, is that my fault?! Why am I being punished for having wealth?"

Disciples- "So....since we've already don't these things, we're going to have a place in heaven, right?"

Bum on street- "YES!"

I don't feel I relate to any of these people. In America, for my age bracket and my degree, I am not considered rich. I'm barely considered middle class. I know if I were to go to Central or Latin American I would be considered middle class, so depending on the context I could be considered rich, but I think depending on any context anyone could be considered rich in comparison to another. I don't relate to the disciples because I'm not a man, traveling across the country in a gown, walking into synagogues and market places telling people about Jesus. I don't relate to the bum on the street because I live in a house (my mother's) and I have a 9-5 (thank you Lord, but please promote me to a more entertaining and prosperous career). In this story I feel exactly how I feel in this world. I'm in the middle. I'm not quite young, not quite old. I'm not quite poor, not quite rich. I don't yet have experience, yet I have enough experience to make good/important decisions, yet my decisions are rarely life-changes or decisions that will affect someone else's life. I'm not necessarily in a waiting zone, but it is a very much economic, social and political state of the uncounted, I don't quite matter yet.

I wonder what does it mean to follow Jesus today. I want to apply this to my life, I want my life to be changed, but how do I interpret this scripture. I don't have much, most of the stuff I use and have doesn't belong to me, but do I sell it, give the money to Metropolitan Ministries, leave my family and wander from city to city telling people about Jesus and volunteering at churches for ..who knows what? I feel that may be a too simple interpretation because I feel this man needed to sell his possessions because he was dependent upon his wealth, and not G-d. He maybe spent more time attaining, keeping, using wealth more so than developing his relationship with the Lord. So, is it that I should sacrifice what I treasure to G-d or whatever enables me to become dependent upon G-d? How do I do this?

Sin- Am I too rich? Do I not depend on G-d? Do I put something before Him?
Promise- Selling all and following doesn't mean I lose my life. Doesn't mean I will live a life without husband and children. He says, in this present time- you will receive husband, children, house, field a hundred fold.
Attitude to change- I have a shallow understanding of this scripture and I think I try to justify my remedial understanding. This needs to stop. Selling all and following doesn't mean I will die alone with just me and G-d. Wow, that sounds bad, like G-d isn't good enough company. What, Adam asking for Eve much? oh, snap.
Command- Sell all and follow Jesus?
Example- Disciples? I just need more information about this, because in my Jewish studies class, I was also told that the Jews took, "multiple the world" seriously and no Jew nor Rabbi would be found without a wife and children. I took that to imply that these disciples must have had a wife and kids, but where are they? How do they, How are they caring for them while on this 5 year journey with Jesus? Did they ditch them? Rude.
Prayer- Help me to understand not only this verse but how to do this in my life.
Error to avoid- Not depending on G-d, but treasuring this things of this world more so than developing a relationship with G-d.
Truth to Believe- God knows we as human beings need company, want a spouse, to feel love from one another and just like he created Eve for Adam, who was lonely, G-d will create for me a life filled with loved one as I follow Him.
Something to Praise- Warning me of the dangers of becoming rich, and helping me to find a way out of self-condemnation.

I don't know how to physically apply this lesson to my life, for, as I've states, I don't consider myself rich. But, I do know that something can be done, I feel it in my heart. I feel as if I'm not activated. Lord, interpret this scripture for me and to me. Interpret it in such a manner that I am given instructions of what I can do today, tomorrow, now in not just doing your work, but changing my heart to have the agenda to consistently develop a relationship with you, following you, and trusting you in my finances, my relationships, my family life, my social life, and security. What do you want from me, Lord?

Jesus teaches about taking up your cross Mark 8:34-38

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

He called the crowd WITH his disciples.
This WITH stands out to me because it means that the opportunity to be saved is for everyone, not just the chosen few. The opportunity is for the chosen and the unchosen, the free and the enslaved, the cream of the crop and the degenerate, Jews and Gentiles, everyone.

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow.
This scripture tells me that there is a process to becoming a follower of Jesus.
1. Deny yourself- maybe this means, like, live an altruistic lifestyle or maybe, it's like a semi-Buddhist stance in that one tries to live without desire, because desire is selfish. But, Buddhists don't recognize Jesus as Christ, so they are not quite followers yet.

2. Take up your cross- take responsibility, carry the burden that may or may not be justly yours. Be uncomfortable for the sake of another, become mature in your ways. Be willing to die.

3. Follow- Do what has been commanded. Do what has been said.

What would it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
I just learned a snippet about the Illuminati club or cult. I was told that some celebrities are in this group and they have supposedly sold their soul for fame and fortune. When I heard this, I asked, "What for?" I understand that in this scripture. What is the point of gaining fame and fortune and not having a soul? What then is the point of fame and fortune? What then is the point of your life?

PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES:
CROWD- Pick up a cross? Deny myself? What does this mean? A cross is heavy and could kill me. How long do I have to hold this cross? I'm supposed to forget the fact that I have kids and spouse to feed and care for? A business to run? and just focus on standing in the street telling people to repent or go baptize them in the water like John the Baptist? Am I to move my entire family into the woods to eat locusts and honey? This is weird. I don't understand what this means, 'cause it can't mean what I think it means.

DISCIPLES- Check, got it Jesus, I'm already on it.

SIN- I don't want to give up my personal dream and goals that I feel will give me a wealthy bank account to live the wonderful life I'd like to live. I do want to rehabilitate orphanages and such, and that's why I want all the money that I want. I wonder if I were to go into the Peace Corps and start doing this work, would it make me money? I know it won't which is why I look for another route to do that work. But knowing that I'm postponing the work for the fact that I feel I will not have all the money that I want to do so is not only wrong (selfish), but also unfaithful.
PROMISE- If I sacrifice my life for the gospel, I WILL have a life.
ATTITUDE- I need to change my selfish attitude of desire. Change my desire of fame and only wanting to accomplish certain things in order to gain fame in order to do the will of God. I should do the will of God for the sake of wanting to do the will of God, not to gain fame from it.
COMMAND- Deny myself. Pick up my cross. Follow.
EXAMPLE- Jesus
PRAYER- I pray to be rid of selfish desire and entire an eternal desire to glorify the Kingdom.
ERROR- gaining the whole world, and losing my soul
TRUTH- A life dedicated to G-d, is a life.
Something to praise G-d for- That I haven't sold my soul yet. And for revealing this truth and giving this opportunity to all.

Lord, change my motive of why I do something. Allow me to take comfort and security in doing whatever it is that I do for your glory and may I believe that you will provide. Help me to not be fearful of this losing myself part and understand and do the picking up my cross and following you part. I don't want to gain the world and forfeit my soul. I don't want you to be ashamed of me. Teach me Lord, comfort me Lord, forever change me, Lord.