Mark 10 - 12 - "How To Find Eternal Life"

Click HERE to read the passage.

Once again, the religious leaders are bent on finding a reason to find fault with Jesus’ teaching in the ultimate pursuit of killing Him. He’s embarrassed them long enough and the crowds are beginning to see that He’s possibly the Messiah which is weakening their influence within the Jewish population. So, they decide to test him on an old Mosaic law about the issue of divorce.

God’s View Of Divorce

Obviously, God hates divorce. Jesus tells the religious leaders that divorce goes against God’s original purpose in establishing the institution of marriage. And, although Moses provided an option for divorce in his day, Jesus explains that the divorce option was, unfortunately, the result of the hardness of people’s heart. As Moses sat before the people day after day to offer Godly counsel regarding the issues people were having, divorce must have come up many times. In frustration, Moses allowed it.

But, Jesus makes it clear that divorce was NEVER part of God’s plan. He also warns anyone -including the husband and wife – who causes the divorce has chosen to break what was God’s original plan.

Wow! I’d hate to be the person who initiated a divorce or became the causation of someone’s divorce!

Marrying another person is committing adultery. If a wife or husband chooses to divorce their spouse, they cannot marry without committing adultery with the new spouse. Wow! I realize that goes against our culture today, especially in America, but this is what Jesus said.

So few Christians truly see their marriage as God sees it. As Ephesians 5 tells us, the union between a man and woman which is a marriage in God’s eyes is a picture of Christ and the Church. Marriage is a holy event in the eyes of God! And because it is, be sure to marry ONLY that person whom God selects.  That’s why it’s important you only date a truly devoted follower of Christ and pray earnestly before marrying the person! God intended them to be a life-long partner.

The Path To Eternal Life

Jesus told us in Matthew 7 that the road to Heaven is narrow and there are few people who’ll be able to find it. While you might think that going to church or feeling spiritual is the way to Heaven, according to Jesus…it’s NOT.  In fact, He says there are MANY who will profess to know Him in the Judgement Day, but only a few will pass the standard.

So…what is the standard. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that Heaven belongs exclusively to those who truly follow God’s will.

Does your life exhibit God’s will?  If not, are you truly a born-again believer?  Has the Holy Spirit truly regenerated you?

Just recently, a committed Christian friend of mine told me how often his “Christian” wife curses God. Not only does she curse God often, but she admits that she feels controlled by Satan. Even though she went to Bible college and says she’s a Christian, her life reveals a totally different picture!  That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 7:18-20 – “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

This is what Jesus is trying to teach the disciples about the rich man in Mark 10. In spite of the rich man obeying all of the commandments since birth, he wasn’t willing to give up his wealth to follow Jesus. In other words, his wealth was more important to him than Jesus. Jesus tells us that nothing should be more important to us than Him.

How important is Jesus to you?  Can you think of anything you’re NOT willing to give up for Jesus?

As we move our study of Scripture into Mark 11 and 12, we see how the religious leaders are pressing hard to challenge His authority. They consequently confront Him about a variety of things in order to find fault with Him…such as:

-      Should they pay taxes to the Romans?

-      Who has given Him the authority to heal and teach?

-      Which is the most important commandment of all?

-      Will our bodies one day be resurrected?

Jesus answered all of their questions and eventually silenced them. No one could teach with such authority as Jesus did.

However, there are two very important lessons in Mark 12 that I’d like to address:

1.  The religious leaders often were misled by the Scriptures. In other words, they would look at the Scriptural teaching then add some kind of ancillary doctrine to it. They would add their own man-made rules and regulations. You see that clearly in Mark 12:13-17.

2.  Giving is a part of worshipping God, and He takes great notice of it!  When the poor widow woman gave 2 pennies to the Temple offering, Jesus took note to tell His disciples that she had given the most of all the people who gave. Why? Because the others gave a small percentage of what they could give. She, being poor, gave everything she had.  And, Jesus to it to heart!!!

He notices all of the little things we do. And, it touches His heart as much, if not more, than the big things we do!