Download: Discipleship and the Kingdom

As Jesus travels to Judea, the Pharisees test him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (v. 2). Jesus responds by pointing them back to creation, saying that God made male and female to become one flesh (vv. 6–8), and what God has joined, no one should separate (v. 9). Privately, he tells the disciples that divorce followed by remarriage is adultery (vv. 11–12).

People bring children to Jesus, but the disciples rebuke them. Jesus is indignant and says, “Let the children come to me… for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (v. 14). He says whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom like a child will not enter it (v. 15), and he blesses the children.

A man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life (v. 17). Jesus reminds him of the commandments, which he claims to have kept. Jesus tells him that he lacks something: Go and sell all he has, give to the poor, and come follow him (v. 21). The man goes away sorrowful because he has great wealth (v. 22). Jesus remarks how hard it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom (v. 23), he but adds that “all things are possible with God” (v. 27). He assures the disciples that sacrifices for the kingdom will be rewarded.

This passage follows the encounter with the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17–22), who walks away sorrowful because he is unwilling to part with his wealth to follow Jesus. Seeing this, Jesus turns to His disciples and says:

As they go up to Jerusalem, Jesus again predicts his death: he will be mocked, flogged, killed, and rise after three days (v. 34). The disciples are amazed and afraid (v. 32).

James and John ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left in glory (v. 37). Jesus questions whether they can drink his cup and be baptized with his baptism (v. 38). They affirm, and he states that they, indeed, say so, but granting positions of honor is not his to give (v. 40). The other disciples are indignant. Jesus teaches that greatness comes through serving others (v. 43) and that even he came to serve and give his life as a ransom (v. 45).

As Jesus passes through Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v. 47). The crowd tries to silence him, but he cries out all the more. Jesus calls him over and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus asks to see again, and Jesus heals him, saying, “Your faith has made you well” (v. 52). He follows Jesus on the way.