Bible Verse Synopsis 7-9-25
Mark 10:
Jesus left Capernaum and went to the far side of the Jordan River. There He taught as He was wont to do. The Pharisees came to Him. They tempted Him with a question about whether it was okay for a man to set aside his wife, or divorce her. Jesus asked them what the Law of Moses said. They answer in the right way and tell of the law of divorcement Moses wrote. Jesus responded with clarity in Verses 5-9. Verse 8 says: “And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain but of one flesh.” When we are married, there are only 2 justifications for divorce otherwise, God has joined us together; man and woman. These justifications are adultery and scriptural grounds. There is not other reason to leave your sacred partner. Verse 9 says: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” This confirms that is only through sin and the loss of the Spirit that divorce is warranted. God has joined us together. The world has lost this and divorce is all too common. How can we share this with the world and change the course?
The people brought their young children onto Jesus so that He would touch them. The Twelve rebuked these people and their children from going to Jesus. Verse 14 and 15 say: “But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God.” “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Jesus addresses this point again, as He did in Chapter 9. To have this directive given twice in 2 Chapters should drive it home. We are to run to Christ that a little boy runs to his parents; showing full faith and trust in Him. Do you run to the Cross like a child?
A man came running to Jesus as He departed Capernaum. He asked Him, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” - Verse 17. Jesus speaks to the man and first addresses how the man spoke to Him saying: “Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, Who is, God.” - Verse 18. Jesus is not denying that He is one with God, but placing the word in its proper perspective. Jesus tells the man of the Commandments from the Old Law, knowing the man knows them. The man says that he has kept them all. We should recognize this as an impossibility. Had the man been truthful he would not be seeking the satisfaction he so dearly sought. Jesus saw through this facade and loved him in spite of it. In His love he said in Verse 21: “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 man grieved this response for he had many great possessions. Are we prepared to do as Christ suggests and abandon the riches of this world to follow Him?
After this interaction Jesus addressed His Disciples. Four times in Verses 23 through 25, Jesus speaks of how hard it is for the rich to enter into the Kingdom of God. Verse 25 highlights the disparity here: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” The Disciples were astonished by this statement. The Jewish faith at the time was under the impression that riches were blessings and those without were not blessed. Jesus flipped this logic on its head. Jesus ends this lesson in Verse 27: “And Jesus looking upon them said, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” The lesson is not that we should not have riches. It is that we should not covet those possessions. If we covet the Lord over all, we can have riches. The true riches we receive are the gift of eternal life. Is your faith covetous of things of this world - or do you covet the Lord?
Peter again speaks out saying that they (The Twelve) have left all they had and followed Him. Jesus counters this saying that no man has done this for His sake and the Gospel’s. The Disciples all sought glory from being amongst the Messiah. Do we seek glory on this earth when Jesus tells us the reward is in eternal life?
Jesus was walking ahead of the Disciples and the rest walking with them. The Disciples were amazed and fear came over them. Jesus separated out the Twelve again. He again tells them of His coming death and crucifixion. Jesus goes into more detail of the suffering He will encounter. Do you believe Jesus when He speaks - or are you stubborn like the Disciples have been?
James and John asked Christ a very specific question in Verse 35 and 37: “Master, we wild that You should do for us whatsoever we shall desire.” “They said unto Him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Your right handed and the other on Your left hand, in Your glory.” Jesus responds in the only way He could saying in Verse 38: “You know not what you ask.” Jesus tells them they that those seats are not His to give. God determines those seats. The other ten were very unhappy with James and John. The carnal nature of man is on full display with the Disciples. Jesus tells them that the greatest of them will be the greatest servant. He ends this lesson in Verse 45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus didn’t come to our world to be served, He came to serve us. Do we ask selfish questions of the Lord like James and John? Are we the servants that Jesus asks us to be?
As Jesus left Jericho, He passed by a blind man and beggar, Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus in Verse 47, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” The others following Jesus told him to be quiet. It only had the opposite effect. In Verse 48 he again cries out: “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” We should also cry out to Jesus in this way. We are called to be like Bartimaeus. Jesus stopped and called him to Him. He rose and cast away his garment and went to Jesus. Bartimaeus had faith that he would no longer need his garment, so he cast it away. What a great example of faith. Jesus restored his sight and sent him on his way. But the way that Bartimaeus went was to follow Jesus. Is our faith so strong that we will cast away our garment or protection and allow Christ to affect our lives? Will we go our own way or go in His way?