Thursday, August 1

Our apologies, there will not be an audio version available today. 

There is so much of a focus on this rich young ruler and his response that it is easy to completely miss the disciples and their response. Did you notice them? 

“Who then can be saved?”

The disciples are shocked at Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler. Jesus is teaching a new doctrine and the disciples are having a difficult time accepting it. However, they really should not be surprised. Jesus’ previous messages leading up to this conversation were just as disturbing (Mark 9:33-10:16). Read through those verses and look for these astounding claims that Jesus makes:

1. The last shall be first and the first shall be last
2. Whoever is not against us is for us
3. “If this is the situation between a husband and a wife then it is better to not marry!”
4. The kingdom of heaven belongs to little children

The disciple’s entire doctrine is being completely shattered the longer that they are following Jesus. Now they are beginning to question whether or not they will enter into eternal life. Can you hear the concern in their voices as they now question Jesus just as this rich young ruler did? What about us? “We have left everything to follow you!”

It is one thing to lay down at the feet of Jesus the things of this life that drive a wedge in between us and our relationship with Christ. It is another thing when we make a decision to rely on Jesus for everything that we need day by day, moment by moment. The disciples are living in complete dependence on Jesus. They chose to follow him when he called them, but now they are completely reliant on him for everything. If they stop following now, they will have lost everything. 

Does this describe our relationship with Christ? How closely are we following Jesus? How does our daily living prove our complete dependence upon Him? Every day of our lives should be a movement towards greater dependence upon Jesus Christ.  We can measure our progression in this Christian walk by one thing and one thing only: The daily increase in our dependence upon Christ. The greater our dependence, the closer we are following.

Jonathan Goble