Mark 10:26-30
Mark 10:26 (KJB)
And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can
be saved?
The disciples then wondered about the situation that if a rich man can hardly
become saved, then what about the poor people. Are they able to become saved? It
seemed to them that salvation was a near impossible thing because they were
amazed beyond proportion at the answers Jesus gave the rich young man. Their
astonishment had lasted for a while because they continued to discuss this
matter among themselves. They had probably concluded that if the favored rich
could not be saved, then what chance does a poor person? In Jewish thinking, if
a person had wealth, it was believed they had obtained God’s favor but if they
could not be saved, then the poor, who did not have God’s favor, could
definitely not be saved and these things had really caused them to be amazed.
Mark 10:27 (KJB)
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God:
for with God all things are possible.
Then Jesus tells them the reality of salvation in
all three verses and the key to being saved. If man was left to himself, he
would be unable to become saved. This is because man is spiritually dead and his
entire life and understanding is tied to this earth.
(Eph 2:5 KJV) Even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) The only way that a man can be saved, wealthy or poor, is
that God does the saving. If a rich man is one of God’s Elect, then he can have
all the money in the world and it will not prevent him from becoming saved
because God would be doing the saving. The unsaved man has no understanding of
the Gospel and is unable to understand any aspect of it and that is why with man
it is impossible because of their deadness.
(1 Cor 2:14 KJV) But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. Only God can quicken or make a person alive by the Gospel
and then comes the understanding. He does
this by resurrecting the soul of the person He is saving and once that is done,
then they can understand, believe, and exercise faith.
The spiritually dead man can in no way raise himself up from being
spiritually dead. It must be done by God
just as He raised Lazarus (John 11) and the Son of the Widow of Nain (Luke
7:11-16) and Jairus’ Daughter (Mark 5:22-43).
God performs salvation first by making the person spiritually alive as it
states in Ephesians 2:5. A spiritually
dead man has no ability to quicken themselves and that is why Jesus said with
man it is “impossible” because only God can save a person.
Mark 10:28 (KJB)
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Peter probably assessed in his mind that they had left everything behind to
follow Christ in contrast to the rich man who did not want to leave his wealth.
So Peter was asking a question which would have risen out of natural curiosity.
He wanted to know what they would have since they left houses, their jobs, their
families, etc. He wanted to know and probably so did the other disciples.
Mark 10:29 (KJB)
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath
left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children,
or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
The blessings that the apostles can expect to receive are extended to all
believers who have forsaken their earthly lives for the life of the Gospel. In
this world there is going to be separation for the sake of the Gospel. We will
be separated from family and friends, plus we may have to sacrifice our own
funds to further our own ministries. Many have gone to the mission field and
never saw their families again. Jesus is giving the first part of the major
blessings one can expect if they have forsaken this life for the life of the
Gospel.
Mark 10:30 (KJB)
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and
sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the
world to come eternal life.
Whatever a person had forsaken whether it be house, or career, or business they
will receive a hundredfold of what they had sacrificed and this would be
different for every one so there is no blanket blessing here as each Christian’s
life is different with a different calling and situation. Then Jesus not only
tells them they will inherit the hundredfold blessing but to top it off, there
is also the promise of inheriting eternal life. They never heard anything like
that coming from the Scribes and Pharisees. When we leave the old relationships
with our earthly family, we will be given new relationships brethren, sisters,
mothers in the eternal household of faith. However, while we are still in this
life we can expect to face the persecutions which come with being a follower of
Jesus. The lands that we receive will be the new Earth but as to the extent of
what kind of lands we receive remains to be seen. It could not be speaking of
this present earth because this world is hostile to Christians and if anything,
our lands would be confiscated. Just ask anyone in a country run by Islam.