“We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:28 NIV)
I have been stuck in Mark 10 & 11 for weeks now. We have growth groups at Live Oak and typically we’ll move through a chapter a week with our people. The past several weeks, though, the other growth group leaders have been out of town and left to my own devices, I pick through the gospels at a slow pace. Additionally, my next preaching gig is Palm Sunday, so I have been sitting on the road out of the Mount of Olives, trying to digest what transpired there.
All of this consideration has resulted in a laying beside of stories. In these two chapters, I see three people clearly: the rich young ruler, blind Bartimaeus and the crowd. Each of these characters had gained a glimpse of God’s glory in His Son, Jesus, but only one seems to respond rightly.
The rich young ruler in the beginning of Mark 10 sought Jesus out. He was the straight arrow type, like my son. He was eager to please and a little extra, like me. And this kid came to Jesus on his knees, asking about eternal life. The Messiah delivers tough news: all the rule following hadn’t saved him. Only a dispossession of personal wealth and complete adherence to life with Christ would secure his eternity. The price is too high for the wealthy young man. He goes away sad.
Later on in Mark 10, we come across blind Bartimaeus. He had heard Jesus was in his neighborhood and made a tremendous racket in response to divine proximity. His neighbors rebuked him, but blind Bartimaeus’ need was too great to turn down for public opinion. He hollered all the louder, gaining Jesus’ attention. Bartimaeus throws aside his beggar’s cloak; likely a government issued garment assuring his right to seek charity. He was so sure of Jesus’ lordship that he instinctively abandoned any other identity he had. Bartimaeus’ faith was rewarded with sight. He opened his eyes to Jesus and was consequently ruined for anything less. Bartimaeus happily followed his God along the road, content to leave his life of sin far behind.
Lastly, we have the Palm Sunday crowd. The Passover people had pressed into Jerusalem: more than two million devout Jews ascended to the holy city annually with lambs in hand for sacrifice. And amidst this turmoil: enter Jesus, unblemished and adored. We note how the Messiah had tamped down all previous efforts at recognition and notoriety, but on that day alone, He allowed it. The crowd went wild with expectation and reception of the dynamic and capable leader. Within a week, though, they’d change their minds entirely, though, calling for His crucifixion all the more emphatically.
I look across these two chapters of Mark and I see three potential responses to Jesus: rejection, reversal or receipt. We realize that Jesus is easily recognizable: all of these people saw something special, something needful in Him. It’s the allegiance that proves challenging.
Rejection. The rich young ruler saw Jesus, even was initially attracted to Him. But as soon as a personal investment was required, the ruler refused Him altogether. I’ve always longed for a follow up with this young man. Was it worth it? Did he have regrets? Did he die with a pile of cash or did Jesus’ words haunt him until he gave it all way and yielded to the gospel?
Reversal. The crowd always concerns me. How was it that they were so completely enamored on Sunday and bloodthirsty by Friday? Our potential for quick and complete betrayal is frightening. It seems we can turn our head from Christ for a moment and lose our way almost immediately. The only cure for this is locking eyes with Jesus daily: fixing our gaze upon Him and caring less about the opinions of others. O, Lord, help us.
Receipt. Last and least we have blind Bartimaeus. He’s the only one who got it right. This unsighted soul had so little, yet he handed it over without so much as a second though. Once he saw Jesus, he was all in. I like to think this beggar followed his Savior all the way to the cross: ready and willing to die alongside Him.
Refusal, reversal and receipt. There is one appropriate response to the presence of Jesus. The more I read scripture, the more I walk with church people, the more I recognize how narrow the narrow way truly is. Receipt is not our natural reaction: it is a learned response. As Christ-followers we must arise each day and decide anew to go where He’s going, live as He’s living, and love as He’s loving. Refusal and reversal are our flesh tendencies. We require Jesus’ help to live otherwise.
“The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:26-27 NIV)
Lord, today we acknowledge our reluctance to truly receive You. Forgive us and our strong tendency toward refusal and reversal. Change our hearts. Locke eyes with us and keep us upon the path with You. May we follow closely, willingly and obediently. Help us awaken each day with a desire to live and move and love alongside You. Change our lives and altar our eternities as we follow hard after You. Amen.