By Works Or By Faith

Monday, July 18, 2011

Reading: Mark 10:17-31

Reflection: I have always thought that this passage was about wealth...and perhaps at some level it is. But I noticed that this passage is uniquely placed in Mark's gospel between Jesus insisting that we must enter the kingdom like children and Jesus prediction of His death. This got me to thinking...which is unusual for me! :) Anyway, maybe the real issue here is not wealth specifically, but the "way" we enter the kingdom of God. You see, this man's question is about what he "must do" to enter the kingdom of God. And, of course, he can't "do" anything. His only hope is that Jesus "does something for Him." Maybe this is why the prediction of Jesus giving His life for us immediately follows this story. And maybe the reason this follows the section about entering the kingdom like children is because children can't "do anything" either to enter the kingdom. They can't buy it...they have no money. They can't leverage their position to gain access...they have no status. They can't fight their way in...they are too small. Children enter only by the permission and grace of another. Maybe this is also why its so hard to enter the kingdom...because most of us want to "do something"..."do anything".... so that we don't feel so obligated to another. But the truth is, we either enter by Jesus' work...or we don't enter at all. For this young man, he will need to let go of the influence and power his wealth has afforded him and enter the kingdom with nothing to give, do or offer in exchange. I wonder what I might be tempted to "do" to gain access? Whatever it is, it will not work. I enter by Jesus' grace...by faith in His work...or I don't enter at all.