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12. The Reward of Jesus’ Followers (Mark 10:28-31)
MARK 10:28-31
28 Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all, and have followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, 30 but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”
Many people long to possess honors, authority, and properties, supposing that the riches of our world are given to them as a reward for their hard work. How poor is he who gives himself up to the vanity of riches, for long disease, quick death, or the last judgment teaches him that the world will fade away, and that God alone remains forever, together with those who become filled with his Spirit, and continue in his love.
Christ taught the heavenly rule to those who were overburdened with worries, and seeking money: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Keep this wise motto and act accordingly, that you may be changed from selfishness to faith, enter God’s kingdom, and cooperate with his spiritual family, which we call his kingdom, or the spiritual body of Christ.
Do you know that nothing precious remains in this and the other life except God, the Holy Trinity, and his spiritually born children? Everything else will fade away. Blood relationship, and matrimonial bond will end in eternal life. The family of God is more essential than all relationships and friendships. Your father and mother may hate you because of your faith in Jesus the Redeemer. Your brothers may persecute you. Even your children may curse you. This is painful, and grievous, but you have won God himself. What is more important: that which is everlasting or that which is fading away? Do you love the Lord more than your family?
Your father may disinherit you, and your brothers may seek to kill you. Yet, rest assured for Christ is he who lives and gives life. He himself experienced the severity of the family relationship. They called him a dreamer, and tried to bring him back by force from his ministry. But he left them, and called whoever did the will of his Father his brother and sister and mother.
He who believes in Christ may find new brothers and sisters, and a faithful wife under the guidance of the Spirit. He may also find a new status through his hard work in an honorable profession. But the most important thing is winning God himself, and becoming a child of the Holy One. Faith in Christ equals and exceeds many times all the losses of this world. The gain in the Spirit is a thousand times greater than our earthly losses.
Let him who runs to Christ eagerly, and believes in him superficially; see that he may not fall away from him quickly, for Christ does not employ us to give us money, office, or property, but to forgive our sins, make us partners in his salvation, and grant us victory over malicious temptations. He who believes for the sake of gaining material gifts from others, becomes hopeless and bitter, for living with the children of God means sacrificing, serving, giving, and not taking, dominating, or boasting. Be aware, and test yourself, examine your reason for following Christ. Do you seek material gain? Or has your life become a living sacrifice to the love of God?
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, you left your Father to win us sinners. Thank you for your loving kindness, for you have given your life to save us, and you died for us who are despised that we may become children of God, and serve him in the power of your love. Give us patience that we may bear with one another, live together in your Holy Spirit, and never look back, but reach forward to your coming. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What is in fact the believers’ profit?
A verse to memorize:
“There is no one who has left house
or brothers or sisters or father or mother
or wife or children or lands,
for My sake and the gospel’s,
who shall not receive a hundredfold
now in this time -
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions –
and in the age to come, eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
(Mark 10:28-31)