Jesus Forewarns His Disciples Mark 10:32-34

Text: “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were sore afraid.  And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him.”

Mark 10:32.

Good morning, forewarned Christian! Because you and the author obey the Lord God’s command to ‘Study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God.’ – we become well forewarned of events that God has preordained should happen in this world, and to us, ‘His people’ before that great and terrible day of the return of Christ to put all things right forever.  We are forewarned by our study of God’s inspired Word in our KJV Bibles.

“And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things bed?  And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them…”  (Read Matthew chapter 24)

In God’s Word, our KJV Bibles, the Lord Jesus openly and clearly forewarns us, His latter-day disciples of what we should look out for, as pointers to the events of the end times of this old sinful world.  Yet, I wonder how many, even otherwise sound Christians, take much heed today in this increasingly apostate, or sleeping, 21^st Century church worldwide?

Verse 5. “Take heed that no man deceive you.”  (Matthew 24:4) Today, we have an upsurge in deceptive religious beliefs, beliefs that are clearly and often totally contrary to what the Bible teaches.

Roman Catholicism: Rome has just recently removed the Second Commandment from Roman Catholic ‘bibles’, and split the Tenth Commandment into two Commandments in order that there should still be the deceitful notion of a Ten Commandment concept.

This enables Popery to teach their deceived millions of adherents that it is legitimate to set up an idol of, say, ‘Mary the queen of heaven’, or ‘Mary, the star of the sea’, or a plethora of other ‘Mary’s and dead ‘saints’ – and bow down to them and worship them as part of their so-called Christian faith!  The Scriptures teaches, ‘…By their fruits ye shall know them.’

Wars, Rumours of Wars: (Matthew 24:6) Russia is currently at war with Ukraine; NATO is supplying Ukraine with weapons to fight Russia; China is once more threatening Taiwan; and America is threatening China as a result. Iran is building nuclear capacity and Israel is destroying Iranian nuclear research facilities; there is war in Syria, and Turkey and Russia are in some way involved in the conflict.  Britain and America are selling arms to other nations, while ‘deploring’ their use in foreign lands in the Middle East and other locations.

Can we not see with our eyes and hear with our ears Christ’s warning of these end time events?  “All these are the beginning of sorrows…” (Matthew 24:8)

In our Bible verses in this Marching In Mark series, the Lord Jesus is forewarning His disciples of the most important event the world has ever experienced happening – the cruel Crucifixion of Himself, and His glorious Resurrection from the dead to justify ‘His people’ in the Holy sight of God our Father in Heaven.  Christ said it, it was done!  Hallelujah!

“…Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles (Romans); and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”  (Mark 10:33-34)

Hallelujah! ‘Up from the grave He arose, in a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose the Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign…He arose…He arose…Hallelujah, Christ arose!’ (Written by Robert Lowry, 1826-1899) Glory to the Lamb!  

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“The last thing that demands our attention in this pas­sage, is our Lord’s clear foreknowledge of His own sufferings and death. Calmly and deliberately, He tells His disci­ples of His coming passion at Jerusalem. One after another He describes all the leading circumstances which would attend His death. Nothing is reserved. Nothing is kept back.

“Let us mark this well. There was nothing involuntary and unforeseen in our Lord’s death. It was the result of His own free, determinate, and deliberate choice. From the beginning of His earthly ministry, He saw the cross before Him, and went to it a willing sufferer. He knew that His death was the needful payment that must be made to reconcile God and man. That payment He had covenanted and engaged to make at the price of His own Blood. And so, when the appointed time came, like a faithful surety, He kept His word, and died for our sins on Calvary.

“Let us ever bless God that the Gospel sets before us such a Saviour, so faithful to the terms of the covenant, —so ready to suffer, —so willing to be reckoned sin, and a curse in our stead. Let us not doubt that He who fulfilled His engagement to suffer, will also fulfil His engagement to save all who come to Him. Let us not only accept Him gladly as our Redeemer and Advocate, but gladly give ourselves, and all we have, to His service. Surely if Jesus cheerfully died for us, it is a small thing to require Christians to live for Him.”  (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Mark.)

Our Omniscient (all-knowing) Lord God is not a three-dimensional creature such as we – His omniscience spans past, present, and future events, and He knows the end from the beginning. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Thought: As Christ’s people, we are clearly forewarned of all things – let’s take heed!

The Lord is No Man’s Debtor Mark 10:28-31

Text: “Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For (a Spiritual conclusion) with the same measure that ye mete (weigh out, measure out) withal shall it be measured to you again.”

Luke 6:38.

Good morning, unselfish Christian!  Having being given all the wealth of God’s Eternal Salvation – in Christ Jesus, and through His Sacrifice at Calvary’s Cross – you have been blessed with a generous and giving heart, and a deep compassion for the needs of other fellow sinners.  Praise God it is so!  The new nature you and I have been granted through Spiritual regeneration, has lifted us up out of the ‘valley of dried bones’; out of the world of DEAD SPIRITS; and made us to stand as generous-spirited followers of Christ Jesus – ‘…an ‘exceeding great army’ indeed. (See the Doctrine of Regeneration on the Basic Christian Doctrines button www.ulsterchristians.org)

“Then said He unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, and exceeding great army.”  (Ezekiel 37:9-10)

In Ezekiel chapter 37:1-10, we find a wonderful TYPE illustration of Spiritual Regeneration, being ‘born again’ of the God the Spirit.  The Lord God showed the prophet Ezekiel a valley of dried bones, bones that were, of course, obviously not only completely dead, but very dry also; brittle bones, ready to disintegrate into the dust from which they came, and blow away into nothingness.

The Lord then asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?”  Ezekiel had no clue as what to answer, it was just all too deep a question for his mortal mind to contemplate.  Such is the Lord’s generous gift of Eternal Salvation to dead, dry bone sinners such as thee and me.

“Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live…and ye shall KNOW that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:5-6)

Take heed to what happened next, dear Reader, and comprehend the miraculous process of God’s Eternal Salvation: “So I prophesied (preached the Gospel) as I was commanded: and as I prophesied (preached), there was a noise, and behold (look, and fully understand) a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.  And when I beheld lo sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.”  (Ezekiel 37:7-8)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

The Lord God is the Divine Giver of Eternal life – God the Holy Spirit breathes life into us, ‘His people’, and the elect of God receive His gift of saving faith when we are caused to hear the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified for our sins, and arisen to justify us in the sight of our Holy and Heavenly Father God. 

“And you hath He quickened (made Spiritually alive), who were dead (as the dried bones) in trespasses and sins…Even when we were dead (as the dried bones) in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) and hath raise us up together and made us to sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”           (Ephesians 2:1-6)

God’s generous gift to us ‘His people’, grants us the ability to believe (trust) in Christ and Him Crucified for our sins – we can never be saved, or decide ourselves to be saved, without God’s gift of saving faith.  God only grants that Salvation gift to those He, as Sovereign Lord God, chooses. (John 15:16)

Having received God’s generous gift of Eternal life, we become unselfish Christians.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“THE first thing which demands our attention in these verses, is the glorious promise which they contain. The Lord Jesus says to His apostles, “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or, brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the Gospel’s; but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with perse­cutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

“There are few wider promises than this in the word of God. There is none certainly in the New Testament which holds out such encouragement for the life that now is. Let everyone that is fearful and faint-hearted in Christ’s service look at this promise. Let all who are enduring hardness and tribulation for Christ’s sake, study this promise well, and drink out of it comfort.

“To all who make sacrifices on account of the Gospel, Jesus promises “an hundred-fold now in this time.” They shall have not only pardon and glory in the world to come. They shall have even here upon earth, hopes, and joys, and sensible comforts sufficient to make up for all that they lose. They shall find in the communion of saints, new friends, new relations, new companions, more loving, faithful, and valuable than any they had before their conversion. Their introduction into the family of God shall be an abundant recompense for exclusion from the society of this world. This may sound startling and incredible to many ears. But thousands have found by experience that it is true.

“To all who make sacrifices on account of the Gospel, Jesus promises “eternal life in the world to come.” As soon as they put off their earthly tabernacle, they shall enter upon a glorious existence, and in the morning of the resurrection shall receive such honour and joy as pass man’s understanding. Their light affliction for a few years shall end in an everlasting reward. Their fights and sorrows while in the body, shall be exchanged for perfect rest and a conqueror’s crown. They shall dwell in a world where there is no death, no sin, no devil, no cares, no weeping, no parting, for the former things will have passed away. God has said it, and it shall all be found true” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Mark.)

Thought: Having received such Divine generosity – let us be kind to one another.

The Millstones of Materialism Mark 10:17-27

Text: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God!”

Mark 10:25 

Good morning, legitimately rich Christian!  God the Holy Spirit, by God’s free and Sovereign grace, has quickened (made alive) your sinful dead spirit; called your soul with His effectual and irresistible Salvation call; regenerated your spirit by His Spirit; granted you full and genuine repentance from sin, and a resolve to follow hard after Christ Jesus. 

Christ has suffered in your place, and mine, upon that cruel Calvary Cross to pay the terrible price demanded for our sins by a thrice Holy Lord God of wrath against all sin. 

Christ has died the infinitely horrible death that you and I fully deserved to die, in our place, as our Divine Substitute.  Yet, death nor Hell could not hold Him, for sin could not be found in Him!  Up from the grave He arose! 

On the third day, according to the inspired Word of Almighty God, Jesus arose from the dead to justify you and me and all “His people” from our sins, and in the Holy sight of our Heavenly Father. 

Because of Christ Jesus, “His people” are made truly FREE!  Hallelujah!  If you can say, amen to what I have here written, then you, like me, are RICH INDEED.  Glory to the Lamb Who is worthy!  Hallelujah!  Jesus Lives!

“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be RICH; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I (Christ Jesus) love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:18-19)

Today’s selected passage of Holy Scripture from Mark’s Gospel, recounts a story that, to my 21^st Century eyes, is truly amazing!  Here we find a man who came “running” to Christ Jesus; “kneeling to Him…”; and openly, and publicly “…asking Him…” “Good Master, what shall I DO that I may inherit Eternal life?” (Mark 10:17-18)

How often to we see this scene taking place today, in this increasingly apostate 21^st Century, here in Great Britain & Northern Ireland, UK, or all over this sin-blinded world of unbelief? What a tonic it would be, to see fervent interest in the Word of God!

However, the depth of this man’s lack of Scriptural knowledge is exposed in the words of his own mouth: “What must I DO that I may inherit Eternal life?”  Many today have been fooled into thinking THEY can do ANYTHING to inherit Eternal life - for Eternal Salvation is not a matter of sinful mankind’s DOING – but fully depends on what Christ has already DONE on Calvary’s Cross!

“Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he/she that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have cast out devils?  And in Thy Name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”  (Matthew 7:21-23)

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus…”  (Robert Lowry. published this hymn in 1876.) 

The man’s second error was the sin of presumption, being deceived in his own heart that he had consistently and impeccably kept the Commandments of God!  No one ever can!  The Ten Commandments were given by the Lord God to show Moses and ourselves that the Law of God is humanly impossible to perfectly keep!  That is why we must look to Christ and fully depend on His Atonement Sacrifice at the Cross – for He alone could offer up to God a pure and totally sinless Sacrifice for our sins.

“And he (the man) answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed (kept) from my youth.” (V.20)

Christ, being Almighty Lord God, looked into this man’s heart and saw there the ‘millstone’ that would keep him out of Heaven – “…One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up the Cross, and follow Me.”  (V.21)

His material wealth, property, worldly patronage, position, and pride compelled him to walk away from the Lord of Eternal life, Who had made a universal call to the man, that he just could not obey.  His material wealth/possessions had become an Eternal millstone around his neck – a temporal millstone of riches that would doom him to a Christ-rejecter’s Hell. So sad to see one running to Jesus, yet unprepared to relinquish his hold on material things.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor TRUST in uncertain riches, but in the Living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."  (1 Timothy 6:17)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“The spiritual blindness here exhibited is unhappily most common. Myriads of professing Christians at the present day have not an idea of their own sinfulness and guilt in the sight of God. They flatter themselves that they have never done anything very wicked. — …They forget the holy nature of that God with whom they have to do… Like the church of Laodicea, they are “rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” (Revelation 3:17) Self-satisfied they live, and self-satisfied too often they die.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Thought: Born Again Christians have received the true legitimate riches from God – let us use our Spiritual riches to enhance Christ Eternal Kingdom today.  “Here I am, Lord, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)