‘Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’
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.’
Then Peter spoke up, ‘We have left everything to follow you!’ ‘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 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. But many who are first will be last, and the last first,’’ (Mark 10.23-31)
Jesus says, how hard it is for those who have riches and trust in them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven – money, wealth, position do not buy your salvation; it is easier for a camel to enter through ‘the eye of the needle’, the name given for the small gate used after the main city gate is shut. The camel has to be relieved of its load in order to enter. The disciples are astonished by the implication – entry into heaven is not easy, Jesus described it as impossible.
‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it,’ (Matthew 7.13-14, NIV).
Salvation is impossible! The disciples then asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus responds, With God, all things are possible. Those who trust in their good works, fame, fortune, cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Like the camel entering the eye of the needle, you must be unloaded of all your works, and enter the Kingdom on your knees, in humility to God.
Peter begins to argue with Jesus, We have left everything to follow you! Never a truer statement has been said, we must leave everything to enter the Kingdom. Following Jesus requires sacrifice, but with this, comes a reward for faithfulness.
‘They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again, he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘We are going up to Jerusalem,’ he said, ‘and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise,’’ (Mark 10.33-34, NIV).
The disciples did not understand what Jesus was telling them. The way of salvation is through the sacrifice of the cross. Immediately, after hearing Jesus say He must be crucified, James and John said to Him, ‘We want you to do for us whatever we ask.’ He then responds, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They then ask to sit next to Him in Glory.
So many Christians are like this today, seeking fame and fortune, but we are called to be servants, to suffer with Christ, (v38-39).
Christian, we come into the Kingdom on our knees in humility. We must serve God faithfully, giving Him everything. Yes, we are called to suffer. When Jesus promised Peter in verse 30, that we would receive blessing in this time, it comes through persecution.
There is a reward in heaven. Places of honour have been prepared for those who drink from the cup of suffering, (verse 39).
Leadership and honour in the Kingdom are given to those who lives were spent in service to Christ and others.
What a contrast we find in verse 51. Jesus asks blind Bartimaeus the same question He asked James and John in verse 26, What do you want me to do for you? They were rebuked because their motives were wrong. But blind Bartimaeus received His miracle because he approached Christ in humility.