The Cost of the Kingdom of God (part 2): The Cost to Others (preaching resource for Pentecost 18-23: 9/22-10/27/24)
This post exegetes part of Mark chapter 9 and all of chapter 10, providing context for the RCL Gospel readings on 9/22 through 10/27 (Pentecost 18 through 23). This exegesis draws on commentary from Alan Cole ("The New Bible Commentary"), John Grassmick ("The Bible Knowledge Commentary"), and N.T. Wright ("Mark for Everyone").
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| "Follow Me" by Liz Lemon Swindle (used with artist's permission) |
Introduction
We now continue in the second main section of the Gospel of Mark, the cost of the Kingdom of God. Peter and the other disciples are seeing that Jesus is the Messiah. However, their sight is only partial—they do not yet understand that Jesus is the Messiah who will suffer in order to serve and save. As we learn earlier in this section, there is a very high cost of the Kingdom of God paid by Jesus. Now Jesus teaches them that, as his followers, they too will pay a high cost. Paying that cost is not about earning entrance into the Kingdom, but about participating with Jesus in his Kingdom life, thus conforming their lives to his Kingdom way. That cost, here enumerated by Jesus, includes embracing and expressing several key characteristics of Jesus: prayerful dependence, self-denial, faithfulness, generosity, humility and persistent faith.
1. Prayerful dependence
Mark 9:14-32
The opposition of the teachers of the Law and the unbelief of his disciples and the crowd grieve Jesus (v19). His disciples prove powerless, and the faith of this man in the crowd is limited (though note his plea in v. 21 that Jesus grant him more faith). The point is that Kingdom victory (here of healing) depends not on the extent of our faith, but on the mighty power of God and the faith of Jesus. Jesus alone is able to expel the demon and heal the boy, and does so despite the lack of faith exhibited by onlookers (including his disciples).
In this context of human weakness, Jesus explains that part of the cost of the Kingdom to his followers is to depend on him—to turn to him in dependent prayer (v29, to which some manuscripts add ‘fasting’, which in Scripture often accompanies earnest prayer). Why depend on Jesus? Why trust him? Because he alone pays the full Kingdom cost—his sacrificial death, which is soon to come (v31). Sadly, the disciples fail to understand what he meant (v32).
One final note here: Although this boy’s symptoms appear to be those of epilepsy, all three parallel gospels attribute his symptoms to demonic forces. While we cannot simply dismiss this as language of the time, we must not make the even more serious mistake of attributing all epileptic-type attacks to demons. There are many physical and chemical factors involved in epilepsy, and a doctor, not an exorcist, is the appropriate person to deal with them.
2. Self-denial
Mark 9:33-50
The disciples still do not understand that part of the cost of the Kingdom is to abandon one’s need for supremacy and power. Self-denial is the path to Kingdom greatness, which Jesus illustrates by pointing to a weak, helpless child (v36). The subject of little ones recurs in v42. In between, Mark inserts another lesson on self-denial. John seems proud that the disciples have chased away an outsider who has been driving out demons in Jesus’ name. Though this person apparently believes in Jesus, he is not a follower. By giving the reply he does, Jesus indicates that no one can claim a monopoly on the work of the Kingdom. Instead, we should deny our need for exclusivity and humbly accept and rejoice in the success of others (note how Paul does this in Phil. 1:18). No work done for Christ will go unrewarded, whoever does it.
Here Jesus also shows that Kingdom work is a serious matter; that is why putting a spiritual stumbling-block in someone’s way is so serious (v42). Indeed, the value of the Kingdom is so great that no sacrifice is too great to make for it. Hand, foot, and eye stand for the most precious of human possessions, yet better to lose one of these than lose the Kingdom. Of course, this is meant metaphorically not literally—commitment is what is being called for, not self-mutilation!
It is in this context that Jesus speaks strongly about hell, which he presents as the opposite of the Kingdom. Note that he is here warning believers. He does so by quoting Isa. 66:24, which describes Gehenna, the smoldering rubbish dump of Jerusalem, which is a metaphor for God’s judgment on all that opposes the Kingdom. Salt is another such metaphor for it purifies, as does fire. Jesus’ point is that Kingdom living is about purity, and he is admonishing his followers to embrace and live out this Kingdom value, which again speaks to self-denial. Of course, they (and we) are unable to do so perfectly, and so this admonition points us to Jesus, who alone is perfect. Indeed, it is by sharing his perfect human life that we are purified by grace (thus avoiding the need to be purified by fire). Our calling is thus to trust in Jesus—to embrace his person and follow after his Kingdom way. That way is not of being the greatest, or the most powerful, but of denying self in order to serve—a mindset that puts us at peace with one another.
3. Faithfulness
Mark 10:1-16
Here Jesus shows that the cost of the Kingdom includes faithfulness in one’s closest relationships, including marriage. Though Moses permitted marital divorce in Israel due to human hardness of heart (failure to understand God’s purpose in marriage), Jesus makes it plain that the Kingdom has a higher standard—one of lifelong faithfulness to one’s spouse. Jesus notes that this is God’s original intent in creating marriage. And so Jesus notes that remarriage following divorce, from God’s perspective is a breach of faithfulness and thus constitutes adultery (vv11–12). In recounting this saying of Jesus’, Matthew notes that Jesus makes an exception when the divorce results from a spouse’s sexual unfaithfulness. Thus we understand that there are various circumstances that must be taken into account in such matters. However, the basic principle stands, and Mark is rather blunt in summarizing it (not a surprise, considering he is writing to people in Rome where divorce was rampant).
Jesus then drives home this point about faithfulness in relationships by once again pointing to innocent little children as positive examples (vv13-16). Of course, children are the greatest sufferers from marital infidelity (and divorce), but the lesson goes deeper—only those who receive the Kingdom with the simple faith (trust) of a child can truly experience what the Kingdom is all about. This is one of very few occasions where Mark records that Jesus was indignant (v14) and it is interesting to see the cause. We might think that Jesus would be more concerned about more important matters than the spiritual welfare of children, but Jesus values them and often uses children as examples. Perhaps that is why the word ‘children’ is sometimes used to mean ‘simple believers’ in the Gospels. The Kingdom of God is about faithfulness rooted in an uncomplicated trust in God.
4. Generosity
Mark 10:17-34
Jesus now presses the point about the cost of the Kingdom in this incident. This rich man has absolutely everything except what really counts: eternal life (Kingdom life). He wants it, but is unwilling to pay the cost to possess it. Like the well-known story of the monkey that cannot get out of the trap because it is unwilling to let go of what is in its hand, this rich man is unwilling to let go of his fixation with material wealth. He is clearly lovable (v21) and eager; and, no doubt, morally upright. Nevertheless, he cannot face what it will mean for him (given his particular situation) to follow Jesus (which is what eternal life is all about). And so the rich man went away sad from Jesus and we hear no more of him. He made his choice (at least for now). And so Jesus tells his followers (v23) that it is very hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Indeed, without God’s help (v27) it is impossible! Jesus uses a comical proverb to illustrate this truth—clearly a camel cannot get through the eye of a needle!
Note that Jesus also teaches that giving money to the poor, or any other sacrifice we make for the Kingdom, results in reward (treasure) for us—but in heaven, not on earth. The more we give, the more we receive. However, this does NOT mean that if we give money to God’s work, we get more back, as some health and wealth (prosperity) groups erroneously teach. What it means is that spiritual rewards in the Kingdom (both now and in the future) will far outweigh any sacrifices we may make to follow Christ, even if that means persecution (v30).
This passage ends with yet another foretelling of the suffering of Jesus, this time in even more detail. This is a reminder of who pays the ultimate cost for the Kingdom—and Jesus does so on our behalf, in our place. Something in Jesus’ behavior, as well as his words, causes the disciples to be astonished and the crowd following them afraid (v32). Somehow they feel that a crisis is very near. And they are right.
5. Humility
Mark 10:35-45
If it had not been recorded we would not believe that, after all this, James and John would come to Jesus with such a self-centered request. We know only too well, however, what we are like ourselves, and so we understand. Had they realized the true cost of high position in the Kingdom, they would not have dared ask this of Jesus. Cup and baptism (or ‘flood’) are Old Testament pictures of judgment and suffering. Jesus warns theses disciples that suffering will indeed come, but it will not necessarily mean high position in the Kingdom, for all must endure it. High position is for God alone to give.
The ten other disciples, who are just as self-centered as James and John, are angry at their request. No doubt they want these places of power and prestige for themselves. So Jesus patiently explains once more the totally different Kingdom value, where true greatness is humble service. He himself is the great example of this. He came to be the suffering servant of God prophesied in Isa. 53 and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The use of the word ‘many’ does not mean that Jesus died only for some people; rather it stresses the great number of those ransomed by his death. This is one of the very few places in Mark where the way in which Jesus’ death saves us is explained. Mark is far more interested in the plain fact that it does save us rather than the way in which it does. Ransom is one of the many pictures by which salvation is explained in the New Testament. It means the buying-back of people from slavery or prison or death by paying a price. We are all too familiar with it today from the demands of kidnappers and hijackers. In this case, the price is the death of Jesus on our behalf.
6. Persistent faith
Mark 10:46-52
This last recorded healing took place on the very road to Jesus’ suffering and death at Jerusalem. It is a picture of one in need with persistent faith being healed and, as a result, following Jesus. No doubt this is the story of many who followed Jesus, even during this terrible last week. Mark’s eyewitness remembers the man’s name, and Mark, as usual, translates it. Like many in that day, this man is simply known by his father’s name, but he may have been well known to the early church later.
Conclusion
To possess these six characteristics is part of the cost to us of the Kingdom of God. Sound a bit (a lot!) daunting? Yes, until we realize that these are the characteristics of Jesus himself, and he shares these with those who follow him, who trust in him. Their sharing and trusting is not perfect, but they grow as they follow (as Jesus “rubs off” on them!). This is the way of Christian discipleship, which is the overall theme of Ordinary Time in the Christian calendar. Discipleship is not about earning a place in God’s Kingdom—we have been given that place in Jesus. It’s not about earning God’s favor—we have God’s favor because of Jesus. What discipleship is about is our sharing in Jesus’ love and life. Jesus possesses all these characteristics perfectly and abundantly and is more than willing to share them with us (and so he does!).
Dear follower of Jesus, open your heart, and your whole life to Jesus, your Lord and Master. Follow and receive!