Note for 20250124 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Part 53 - Mark 10 - For Honor and Gain

 





The Gospel of Jesus Christ

According to Mark


Read Through The Bible

“As it Happened” Bible Reading Plan


Day 069

Numbers 35 and 36


Part 53 - Mark 10 - For Honor and Gain


The Audio Version of today’s note


Mark 10:32-52 KJV

[32] And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, [33] saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: [34] and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.  [35] And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. [36] And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? [37] They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. [38] But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? [39] And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: [40] but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. [41] And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. [42] But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. [43] But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: [44] and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. [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.  [46] And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging. [47] And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [48] And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [49] And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. [50] And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. [51] And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. [52] And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.


https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.10.32-52.KJV


Note for 20250124


The account of the request made by the sons of Zebedee is a well known scripture. They requested the thing which Jesus could not give them, the assurance that they will be sat down next to Jesus on either side in His Glory. It doesn't mean that they won't, just that that honor will go to whom it is prepared. Note how Jesus answers the blind man in a way that resembles the way in which James and John made their request to Christ, "what would you have me do for you?" Almost as to confirm His statement to the disciples that the greatest must be the least, so The Son of GOD asks the blind man how He may be of service to him. We know that Christ will have the greatest glory, so He did the most for mankind, by the sacrifice He made for them. He ministers to mankind, the forgiveness of sin and the way unto eternal life.


Bartimeaus gains his sight as he requested of Christ, and follows Him in the Way. So, for Glory and Honor man followed Christ. Be that the gain of eternal life, deliverance from unclean spirits or for the knowledge of the Kingdom of GOD. Some followed Christ, because of the increase of Bread, and to this day, many follow Christ for peace of mind. Some have risen to great Glory, as ministers of Christ. All the same, man serves for glory and gain. It is not a new thing for man, think of Jacob wrestling with the angel of GOD, who refused to let the angel go, less he gave Jacob a blessing. So too did Jacob "negotiate" with GOD, that if He would bless him, that he would give a tithe of all his gain to GOD. I say to you, that there is more righteousness in serving for the sake of serving, without expectation of return; but is a man capable of that, doing something good for nothing more than the result he has worked for? We see an example of that in the Parable Christ told of the good Samaritan. Applied, such service still being some form of honor that benefits a man. Did Solomon not write that to give to the poor is to lend to GOD?


Does man not consider the day of reward in all he does? Some for gain here and others for the reward to come with Christ. Do we believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of GOD, that we may be forgiven and receive eternal life? Somehow, it almost always seems that there is a trade taking place, good for good and evil for evil. And yet, have we not read that GOD said to Moses that the sacrifices brought unto him must come as a free gift. Have we not read that GOD loves one that gives freely? Don't you know that something can only truly be free, if it is given without an expectation of return? If then given freely, does one expect honor in the matter? Did Christ not say that the one hand must not know what the other hand does?


Nevertheless, by the promises of GOD, such reward is guaranteed. He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword, and the merciful will obtain mercy. It is by covenant and by law, almost as a contracted result for the efforts of mankind. But, Jesus died upon the cross as a free gift for mankind. He is not forceful, He does not go against our own choices, but afford each of us to choose for ourselves to accept Him or not. To do good or evil, it is our own choice. Still there is reward and honor in the mix on the day of rewards. Some to salvation and others unto condemnation, the choice is ours.


Man goes after that which is true in his own heart, be it sin, then sin, and if it is good, then good; at least, in the attempt of it. Even in dark practices, man does something in exchange for his efforts, be it for fame or riches, honor and gain. So truly, it is more about where you choose to be rewarded, this life or what comes here after. 


Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.


Selah, Shalom.


The House of Bread


Verse of The Day

From the YouVersion Bible App on 20250127 (Expanded from verse 14)


Matthew 5:13-16 KJV (From the Sermon on the Mount)

[13]  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.


https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.13-16.KJV


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