Mark wrote when Jesus, “he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-one of his book, Mark shared how Jesus tells the man, “one thing you lack” where we read:
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack:
go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor,
and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
The verse reads, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: ...” Mark began with the words, “then Jesus” which means “therefore and wherefore Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “beholding him” or “gazed and looked upon the man” “loved him” which means “welcomed, entertained and was fond of the man”, “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to the man”, “One thing you lack” which means “one single thing the man came short and behind in”. Mark shared how Jesus looked with “care” upon the man and told him that he only “came short” in “one thing”.
The verse continues, “... go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, ...” Mark added the words, “go your way” which means “the man was to depart, leave and withdraw”, “sell whatever you have” or “barter and sell whatever you hold, own or possess”, “and give” which means “and bestow, grant, furnish and supply” “to the poor” or “to people who are reduced to begging, asking alms and are destitute of wealth, influence, position and honor”. Mark shared how Jesus instructed the man to “go sell” everything that he owned and distributed to the “poor”.
Finally the verse says, “... and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Mark wrote how Jesus continued with the words, “and you shall have treasure” or “and the man will hold, own and possess valuables and wealth” “in heaven” which refers to “the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”: “and come” or “and proceed forward”, “take up the cross” which means “raise, elevate and lift up the well known instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment, borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians”, “and follow me” or “and join as an attendant or accompany Jesus”. Mark shared how Jesus told the man he would “obtain” “valuables and wealth” within the heavenly region by “elevating” his own cross and join Jesus as His student and attendant.
When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus spoke to the heart of this man who believed he followed every “commandment” of God the Father. Though he related to people in the proper manner, the man felt security in his possessions. Jesus wanted the man to sell everything he owned, take up his “cross” and “follow” Him. This would transfer his “security” from his “possessions” to Jesus Himself. God the Father desires to have a loving personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus Christ, and everything a person “owns” is actually from Him. Those who keep their “possessions” rather than have a relationship with God the Father have at best a temporary “security” which will only last for this life. Jesus came to provide “everlasting life” to people who believe in Jesus and this “security” will outlast anything that may be held and possessed in this life.
Next time Mark shares how the man, “was sad at that saying, and went away grieved” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment