No man left home for my sake, and the gospel

June 31, 2020 2:33 pm 2.44 am

A reading from the gospel.

Mark 10:28-30 King James Version (KJV) "28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee."

"29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel."

"30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

Look at the Apostle Peter he denied the Lord thrice (3) time. He even told his master which in retrospect is his teacher that he would not do so. Who told the truth? Christ Jesus did.

Now the reading of Mark 10:28-30 in scripture. How profound this scripture really is. It could easily pass you by. Just look who asked the Lord a question. The Apostle Peter being the head Apostle. He's asking the Lord what will we gain for following you as we left everything behind. In another passage the Lord Jesus Christ told Peter how they will have 12 seats and judge the 12 tribes of Israel. But in Mark he makes an astonishing proclamation. It is a proclamation because it is written in the gospel and in a sense it is an announcement. They did have the gospel in their time. They were the real thing and with the real person who was the lamb who takes away the sins of the world. They left everything to follow the Lord and yet he tells them : "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel." What! Surely God sees their sacrifice. What did he/Christ tell the Rich Young ruler? Take up your cross and follow me. He wanted to know how he could obtain eternal life. In a sense people want the truth without sacrifice. They want reward without redemption. They want lies without correction. God sees the truth man cannot accept. There is a cross to pick up. 



Why is it a cross? Because the true way is evil spoken of : 2 Peter 2.2 Light came into the world and Men loved darkness. John 3:19 People want to have their ears tickled. They want a lukewarm gospel and many people are deceived/tricked into following the doctrines/traditions/commandments of men instead of those things that be of God. People want to serve two masters. Well you say surely there are evangelist evangelizing the word of God. Yes indeed. But how many of them leave their wife and children and go preach the gospel and submit "only" to the Lord with clear understanding. Not many. Not that they don't save souls at least some of them. And not that there have not been true disciples of the Lord throughout the Centuries. Peter denied the Lord but said he would not as do many pastors whom are teachers teaching the word of God in some form or fashion. God knows our motives and our hearts.

Now we got to look at the next verse which can be puzzling or shall we say mind-boggling. I hate to put it in such a condescending way. What the hell is Christ Jesus saying? Verse 30 can throw you off. It almost sounds like those whom labor for the Lord and do as he pleases will have unspeakable joy with brethren, sisters, mothers, children, and lands but how can this be if there is such a great need to labor the way others are not willing. Sounds like an easy catch.

Verse 30 reads...

"30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

How is he going to receive all of these things as he's going to be persecuted? Especially if those people appose him? Matthew 10:35-37. How can you gain these things now if he has to take up the cross? Notice he says "with persecution." He's going to gain for eternity as the labor is not in vain. Well how can he gain these people when he will be persecuted. He is in a sense required to leave home and labor for the cause of the Lord and the gospel as the Apostle Paul did. You/those standing up for the cause of the real gospel and for the Lord being the Jewish biblical Jesus Christ is going to gain real brothers and sisters, brethren, even mothers because he's going to be part of the Vine being the true Vine of the Lord. He's going to gain true brothers and sisters in Christ. And yes, he may well be persecuted but he will inherit eternal life as the lord said. As (Christ) said you will have trials and tribulations in this life but be of good cheer as he has overcome the world. He also said like the prophets if they persecuted them before you, even if they would not listen to my words, they won't listen to your words either. You shall receive a hundredfold now with persecutions which is to gain for eternity. The labor is not in vain.

We praise the Lord in spirit and in truth. Amen

Foot-notes :

Now you could say in their day/time Christ Jesus was not on the cross yet and the New testament hadn't been finished/printed of course. Most people didn't leave home to preach the gospel perhaps in the way necessary. In retrospect it's true. But I don't think that was the just of the matter. And I realize we are under the new testament. So we are not under the law but still the way is narrow and there is work to do. My understanding is that it is the mystery as unfolded. Take up your cross. There is a world to come. The labor is not in vain.

3.03 am 3:16 am 3:33 am 

European Union visitors' cookies may be collected by google in order to run their services. I don't personally collect any cookies. Google says "As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies, and other data collected by Google." I don't personally