Peter speaks up

Hi there,

Today's verses predominantly comprise Jesus' teaching on discipleship, sacrifice and reward.

I was struck by the frankness of Peter's exclamation "We have left everything to follow you!" Peter seems to be seeking affirmation as he struggles to process Jesus' teaching.

As we saw yesterday, as modern day Christians we have a 2,000 year head start on understanding the gospel and none of the cultural baggage that Peter has to shed to run the race.

His struggle should also be ours...as should a heart that keeps pursuing Jesus against a backdrop of imperfect understanding.

Today's text is Mark 10: 28-31

Today's verses are in black (Peter's words) and red and prior days are in grey. I've provided them for context, clarity and catch up if needed.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him.

“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ 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.”

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹ “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.

³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Encouragement

"Let us never despair of anyone being made a new creature. The strongest natural character can be transformed by grace into Christ’s likeness."

J.C. Ryle

Andy