Mark 10
(1) Crowds Form Around Jesus
From there, Jesus went to Judea then crossed the Jordan River. Crowds started forming around Him, so He started teaching them like He always did.
(2) Divorce
Some Pharisees walked up to Him and tested Him by asking if God‘s law allowed a man to divorce his wife. Jesus answered them, saying,
“What were Moses’s instructions on this topic?”
They replied,
“Moses allowed a man to ‘Write a divorce certificate and divorce her.’” [Deuteronomy 24:1]
Jesus said,
“He only gave you those instructions because of how hard-hearted you guys were. But ever since the beginning of creation, God ‘Made them male and female, which is why the man leaves his parents and the two become one body’ [Genesis 2:24]. So they aren’t two anymore—they’re one. So because God joins them together, no one should be able to separate them.”
When they got back to the house, Jesus’s apprentices started asking Him about divorce some more. He told them,
“A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman is cheating on her. And a wife who divorces her husband is cheating on him.”
(13) God’s Empire is for the Child-like
People started bringing kids to Jesus so He could touch them, but Jesus’s apprentices told them not to. When Jesus saw that, He got annoyed and said,
“Don’t stop them from bringing their kids! Let the kids come, because God’s empire is for people who are like kids. I assure you that if you don’t receive God’s empire like a child, you won’t enter it at all.”
Then He welcomed the kids into His arms, placing His hands on them and blessing them.
(17) Riches Hold People Back from God’s Empire
As Jesus was leaving to go to the next place, a man ran up to Him, knelt down in front of Him, and asked,
“Good teacher, what do I need to do to inherit infinite life? Jesus responded,
Jesus said,
“Why do you call me good? No one is good except for God. You know, God's instructions: don't kill, don’t cheat on your spouse, don’t steal, don’t lie, don't use dishonest means of making money, and honor your parents.”
The man replied,
“I’ve been living that way ever since I was young.”
Jesus looked at him with love, and said,
“You're missing one thing: go sell everything you have and give to the poor. Then you’ll have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
But hearing that made the man sad and he left filled with grief because he owned a lot of property.
Then Jesus told his apprentices,
“It will be so hard for rich people to enter God's empire.”
The apprentices were shocked, but Jesus told them,
“Children, it’s so hard to enter God’s empire! It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s empire.”
That shocked them even more, and they replied,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“From a human standpoint, it’s impossible—but not with God, because anything is possible with God.”
(28) The Top & Bottom will Invert
Then Peter told Him,
“Look at us, though! We left everything behind just to follow You.”
Jesus said,
“I assure you, anyone who leaves their house, siblings, parents, children, or business for the sake of Me and the good news will receive 100 times as much. They’ll receive it now in the present age in the form of houses, family, and businesses as well as mistreatment. But they’ll also receive it in the coming age in the form of infinite life. Lots of people who are currently at the top will end up on the bottom, while people on the bottom will end up at the top.”
(32) Jesus Foretells His Resurrection
As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He walked a little ways in front of His followers, while followed behind full of amazement and even fear. Jesus pulled the 12 aside again and started telling them what was about to happen. He said,
“Watch. We’re going to Jerusalem, and Humanity’s Son [Jeusus] will be handed over to the top priests and Bible scholars. They’ll sentence Him to death and hand Him over to the non-Jews. They’ll make fun of Him, spit on Him, whip Him, and kill Him—but then three days later He’ll rise back up.”
(35) People at the Top Will be Servants
James and John (Zebedee’s two sons) came up to Jesus and said,
“Teacher, there’s something we’d like You to do for us.”
He said,
“What is it?”
They said,
“Let the two of us sit right next to You when Your glory comes.”
Jesus replied,
“You guys don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I’m about to drink or be baptized in the same thing I’m about the be baptized in?”
They said,
“Yes.”
So Jesus said,
“You really will drink from the same cup as Me and be baptized into the same thing as Me—but I don’t get to choose who will sit next to Me. Those spots are for whoever they’ve already been prepared for.”
When the other 10 apprentices heard that, they got mad at James and John. So Jesus called them over and said,
“You know how in non-Jewish circles the leaders flaunt their authority over everyone? And then their bosses flaunt more authority over them? Well, it’s not that way with you guys. Whoever wants to rank higher than the rest of you will be everyone’s servant. Yep, whoever wants to be at the top will be everyone else’s slave. Even Humanity’s Son didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and give his life to pay the ransom for a lot of people.
(46) Jesus Heals Blind Man
They eventually got to Jericho, and when Jesus was leaving with His apprentices and a large crowd, there was a blind beggar sitting close by near the road. His name was Bartimaeus (Timaeus’s son), and when heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he started yelling,
“Jesus, David’s descendant, have mercy on me!”
Everyone was telling him to keep it down, but he just shouted even louder.
“David’s descendant, have mercy on me!!”
Jesus stopped and said,
“Call him over here.”
So they called him over, saying,
“Good news! Jesus wants to see you!”
Bartimaeus threw off his jacket, jumped up, and went over to Jesus. Jesus asked,
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus said,
“My master, I wanna be able to see again!”
So Jesus said,
“Go. Your confidence has made you better.”
Bartimaeus instantly regained his sight and started following Jesus on the road.
