Matthew 19 and Mark 10
November 8, 2014


As if the passage on divorces isn't difficult enough to digest, we also hear today of the death of Christ, the difficulty of entering the kingdom with riches and the need to become like children.   I suspect that we could spend quite a few days trying to understand the depth of these passages.

Generally speaking however, Jesus is pointing to a work of the heart, not a work of the hands.   Adultery isn't to be defined as having intimate relations with one person while married to another, it's even more defined than that.  Marriage isn't simply something that happens to us outwardly, but inwardly.  God joins the two of us together in spirit.  That's more than what we see happening at a wedding ceremony.   Something spiritual and unseen occurs when we accept our marriage partner, and since it's God that does it, we cannot undo it.   If it can be undone, only God can do it.   The marriage ceremony and the rules and laws constructed by society for the beginning and dissolution of marriage are more about man than God.   What God does when we get married is mysterious.   Beautiful, wonderful and mysterious.

The same could be said for the wealthy trying to enter the kingdom of heaven.  It really isn't so much a matter of how much money you possess, but how much your money possesses you.  The rich young ruler was held captive by his wealth.  He could not surrender it, because it was a greater priority to him than his desire to follow Christ.   That is the exact reason Jesus asked him to give it away.  It isn't because everyone who follows Christ must be poor, it's because Jesus must be the greatest priority.   Christ knew that this man valued his wealth more than his faith...ironically, I don't think the man realized it himself.    The Bible tells us that the young man went away sad, but I would like to think that later on, perhaps some years later in life he realizes the error of his thinking and becomes fully devoted to Christ.    

And as for children, again we see a mindset, not a call to become like physical infants.  Children are trusting, and by necessity humble.  They know they depend on others who are older and wiser than themselves.   We must become like children, innocent and trusting, humble and obedient to Jesus in order to receive the kingdom.   The idea that we can really know much of anything about what heaven is really like is proved false by the actions of two men who spent years with Jesus.   Here they are arguing about who will sit on his left and right, without any thought for the spiritual beings and billions of other created persons who might deserve those seats....if there even are seats to the right and left of Jesus.    We simply aren't thinking on that level while we are here on earth.    Part of discipleship is learning to see physical life as a beginning of eternal life, and not an end in itself.

I feel I don't do Bartimaeus justice to quickly mention his name, but his account teaches us to be persistent in our prayers, to ignore the rebuke of those who tell us that we should be quiet and not bother Jesus with our problems, and to quickly come when we hear Him call.    I love the verse that says "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you!"

Jesus responds to everyone who calls on him, and continues to call and believe that He will respond.    In several ways, Bartimaeus is a good example of several things we read today:  he sees himself as needy in God's eyes, and is like a child crying out for help.  


PR