Sermon Notes - Who Will Receive the Kingdom?

Who Will Receive the Kingdom?, Mark 10:13-22
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 8, 2009

What must I do to inherit eternal life? This should be the main question on our mind that the text addresses today.

1. The children who model – Mark 10:13-16.

When Jesus saw the disciples rebuking the children it aroused his anger. He was furious because the disciples are an extension of Jesus. Whatever the disciples do speaks of Him. They thought their responsibility was to guard Jesus and the kingdom. (Mark 9).

“…for to such belongs…” - refers to those who the culture thinks of as least, not just the children. He doesn’t choose like we do. He chooses the leper, the demoniac, the bleeding woman, etc.

The children run with abandonment, dependence, humility and trust to jump in the arms of Jesus. There is no questioning of Jesus about what they must leave behind. He gives the kingdom to the unexpected with childlike faith who completely trust Him with absolute abandonment to hold them up. He will hold you up.

It wasn’t anything innately good that these children possessed or anything they had done or had to offer Jesus. The model was a disposition and attitude of the heart. Is our heart full of self-righteousness, confidence and withholding of things from Him?

2. The man who missed – Mark 10:17-22

We need to focus on the attitude and spirit of this man. There is no description of his outward appearance.

“…ran up and knelt…” – He came with a bit of respect and sincerity. He is looking for wisdom and advice.

“…good teacher…” – He shows he has a high view of Jesus.

“…what shall I do…” – He seems to be genuinely seeking the truth. He doesn’t seem to be a proud and arrogant man.

All of this makes what Jesus does even more startling because Jesus sees into the heart of the man. He asks him a question to draw out what he truly believes.

“Why do you call me good?” – He isn’t saying He isn’t God. He is saying the man doesn’t believe He is God. He didn’t come like Bartimaeus saying, “Oh, Son of David.” Jesus is saying He isn’t a good teacher, He is more than that, He is God. The man had a wrong view of Jesus and of goodness. The man is looking for good advice but should be looking for salvation. When people feel good about themselves they look for good advice so they can get “gooder”. They need a good God, not good advice. The last thing you need is good advice when you are going to hell!

This is a reminder to us about presenting the gospel. We need to make clear who they are and who Jesus is. We need to present the bad news first, then the good news.

“…Teacher…” – proves what Jesus thought. The man doesn’t say “God” but “Teacher”. He thinks all he needs is a little more help. He wanted to inherit eternal life without Jesus. Jesus then felt compassion and did the most loving thing He could do. He tells him the one thing he needed to do.

3. Faith is following Jesus – The answer of Jesus to this man is not a prescription for us. This was for this man only. Jesus knew this man and told him to give up the one thing he loved more than Jesus – with complete abandonment. The man went away grieving because he was unwilling to release his things. It takes faith to believe that Jesus is better than your things. Faith is not just mental assent. Faith is following Jesus – doing! The man wasn’t willing to follow.

Faith means following Jesus – not just saying a prayer. This man would probably be the model of a morally outstanding man, but he missed it. His moral attributes could not save him. Jesus is better than whatever we leave behind.

Remove anything in your life that robs you of your affections for Christ. Our lives are filled with things that aren’t evil, but steal our affections, attention and resources away from Christ and His church.

Mark 10:27 – embrace Jesus as the only way. He is the only one that can grant eternal life.