Bible Commentaries

Jesus Taught With Power

- Mark Ten -

Mark ten provides us with a look at some of the things that Jesus said and did as He reached the end of His personal ministry. As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem He spoke of marriage and of little children. Marriage is a contract between a man and a woman, not between two men or two women. I care not how many states pass laws to say men may marry men God still says it is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22) Marriage is so sacred that it is a lifetime commitment. Divorce is not allowed for trivial causes. (Mark 10:6-9) Divorce and remarriage for any cause except for fornication violates God's law. Jesus is not only concerned about marriage He is also concerned about little children. (Mark 10:16) Jesus said of children, "Of such is the kingdom of God."

A rich, young man "came running" to Jesus and "kneeled to him and asked" "what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" This man had many positive qualities. He had reverence for the Lord and he was concerned about spiritual matters. He had kept many of God's commandments, but it grieved the Lord that he would not obey His commandments. He loved his money more than he loved his soul.

Our Lord had clear knowledge of His coming suffering and death as a sin sacrifice. (Mark 10:33-34) Jesus went willingly to the cross to provide our salvation. Thank God that we have a Savior. Christ died for us and He expects us to live for Him.

James and John are so typical of the many. They desired first places in the kingdom for their own personal glory. They said they could drink of the cup Jesus drank of and be baptized with the baptism he was baptized with. They were thinking of the crown when they should have been focused on the cross that they should bear. Jesus said, But "...Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." (Mark 10:43-44) Servants leave the world better, holier and happier than when they were born.

The chapter closes with Jesus healing a blind man named Bartimaeus. He cried to Jesus, "Son of David, have mercy on me." This blind man saw Jesus through faith. Our attitude must be the same. "Though now we see Him not, yet believing we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory." (1 Peter 1:8) He did not allow others to stop him. He just kept his focus on Jesus. Jesus said to him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." Appreciation demanded that he follow Jesus in the way.

Jesus taught about divorce and children - Mark 10:1-16 : The Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce to trap Him. They believed in divorce for almost any cause (Deuteronomy 24:1), but Jesus did not believe that. (Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:3-9) The fact that God has always hated divorce is borne out in Malachi 2:16. "For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away..." Marriage is the relationship that brings a man and woman together so that they become one flesh. The marriage relationship demands strong commitment. The only way marriage can honorably be dissolved is by death.

Jesus moved straight from marriage to talk about children. The parents wanted Jesus to touch their children and bless them. Oh, and notice that there is no mention of any infant baptism involved here. The disciples saw that children were being brought to Jesus and they began to rebuke those that brought them. Jesus was displeased with that and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

A rich, young man came to Jesus - Mark 10:17-31 : As Jesus went on His way he was approached quickly by a rich, young man. He wanted to know from Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. The young man showed much respect to Jesus. Scripture say that he came running up to Him, and began to kneel down in front of Him, and that he even called Him "Good Master." This very religious young man had obeyed God's commandments from his youth. Jesus had compassion and pity for him. Jesus told him that he lacked one thing in order to have treasures in heaven. He told the young man to go and sell what he had and give to the poor. The poor, pitiful rich, young, ruler could not, or would not do it! He wanted to "inherit eternal life," but he wanted to do it his own way, not God's way. This young man walked away from Jesus sad and lost.

Jesus foretold His death a third time - Mark 10:32-34 : Slowly but steadfastly Jesus made His way toward Jerusalem with His death, burial and resurrection in view. Well, if He knows what was going to happen to Him, why did He go to Jerusalem? Jesus gave very specific details about what would happen in Jerusalem. He said, (1) The Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, (2) They shall condemn Him to death, (3) They shall deliver Him to the Gentiles, (4) They shall mock Him, (5) They shall scourge Him, (6) They shall spit upon Him, (7) They shall kill Him, and (8) The third day He shall rise again. To keep His disciples from being totally devastated He clearly promised His rising again from the dead.

Jesus dealt with James, John and Bartimaeus - Mark 10:35-52 : No sooner had the Lord spoken of His death, burial and resurrection before James and John came to Him with a request. It seems that Zebedee's sons had been assuming that they were really something in the eyes of Jesus and in the other apostles" eyes as well. Therefore, they really felt that they maybe deserved a place of honor over anybody else. So they said, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory." (Mark 10:37) In order to benefit the understanding of all the disciples Jesus said, "Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." (Mark 10:43-44)

Bartimaeus, a blind beggar cried, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." The crowd commanded Bartimaeus to "Shut up!" However, Jesus stopped to hear his request. Look back on blind Bartimaeus and see exactly how his faith was shown. His faith was shown in six ways: (1) He went to Jesus, (2) He believed in Jesus as the Messiah, (3) He refused to give up, even when others around him wanted him to, (4) He took off his garment when he saw that it was going to hinder his going to Jesus, (5) When Jesus called him, he immediately went to Him, and (6) After he was healed, he praised and followed Jesus. Do you and I have this same kind of faith in Jesus?