10/18/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
A bit of context may help us follow this week’s Gospel passage well. Mark has just told us of the encounter of a rich person and Jesus. The rich man wants to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus eventually tells him to give up his riches and come with Jesus as a disciple.
In verse 23, Jesus reflects on the trouble caused by riches. It is hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom. By his illustration of the camel and the needle, Jesus essentially says it is impossible. The disciples ask exactly the right question. Who can be saved (v. 26)? Jesus points out that it is only possible with God.
What is our hope? In verses 29-30 Jesus teaches that those who leave their security behind so as to follow Him will find they have all they need, including eternal life. Oh, they also receive persecutions. Christianity, we must remember, is no triumphalistic get-rich scheme. We may leave all and be excluded from any hope on earth. But we are received by the whole people of God as brothers and sisters, as fathers and mothers, as sons and daughters. There is a voluntary care for the saints in this life, no matter the hardships. Then in eternity we are assured of a life which will not pass away. As we lay down our lives, Jesus gives us all we need. Thanks be to God.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
A bit of context may help us follow this week’s Gospel passage well. Mark has just told us of the encounter of a rich person and Jesus. The rich man wants to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus eventually tells him to give up his riches and come with Jesus as a disciple.
In verse 23, Jesus reflects on the trouble caused by riches. It is hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom. By his illustration of the camel and the needle, Jesus essentially says it is impossible. The disciples ask exactly the right question. Who can be saved (v. 26)? Jesus points out that it is only possible with God.
What is our hope? In verses 29-30 Jesus teaches that those who leave their security behind so as to follow Him will find they have all they need, including eternal life. Oh, they also receive persecutions. Christianity, we must remember, is no triumphalistic get-rich scheme. We may leave all and be excluded from any hope on earth. But we are received by the whole people of God as brothers and sisters, as fathers and mothers, as sons and daughters. There is a voluntary care for the saints in this life, no matter the hardships. Then in eternity we are assured of a life which will not pass away. As we lay down our lives, Jesus gives us all we need. Thanks be to God.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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