Mark 10:17-27

Donna Giver Johnston

October 15, 2006

Sex, Money and Power. . . you might think I was describing the latest blockbuster movie. Or you might think I was noting the major themes of the books on the NY Times Bestsellers List. Or you might think I was naming the prevailing preoccupations of our society today or simply what sells. But, it’s not what you think.

Sex, Money and Power. . . it’s what we find throughout the Bible, and specifically in our Gospel lesson for today.

In Mark, chapter 10, people are trying to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how to follow him on the way. People are asking Jesus questions—and the questions are not what you think. Far from theological, they are the questions of real life—they are questions about sex, money and power. And the answers, well, they also are not what you think.

Question: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? A Pharisee asks.

Answer: Moses says yes. The state says yes. Popular opinion says yes. The church says yes.

But, Jesus says: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. What God has joined together, let no one separate."

Question: Will you grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory? Ask two disciples, James and John.

Answer: We say: You’re the best. You deserve recognition, status, a promotion. Go to the head of the class.

But, Jesus says: "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant. The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve."

And from today’s reading: Question: What must I do to inherit eternal life? Asks a rich man.

Answer: "You know the commandments." The man says, "I’ve kept all the commandments."

But, Jesus says, "You lack one thing. Go sell what you own, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

When he heard this, the man was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions."

Jesus’ answer is not what the rich man expected to hear, not what you might think.

Surely Jesus didn’t mean what he said, did he?

That’s what people wonder about when they read this passage. And in today’s affluent society, more than ever. Last month, Time magazine ran a lead article, with the front cover featuring a Rolls Royce with a gold cross as a hood ornament, with the question: Does God want you to be rich?

Answer: Yes, say some megachurches. Pastors like Joel Osteen preach Prosperity Theology--its emphasis on God’s promised generosity in this life and the ability of believers to claim it for themselves. Their main way of helping the poor is simply "encouraging people not to become one of them." Osteen says, "I think God wants us to be prosperous."

No, say some other megachurches. Pastor Rick Warren says, "This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy? Baloney. It’s creating a false idol. You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth." God is not a means to an end, or to be treated like a "celestial ATM."

Does God want us to be rich?

We don’t know, say most mainline Protestant churches, or at least we don’t know what to say on the subject. Although the Bible mentions money several thousand times, not many sermons address the issue of money. Knowing it makes people uncomfortable, preachers steer clear of the taboo subject for fear it might be their last sermon. . I guess I’ll see! Certainly opportunities are provided for church members to share our resources through pledging and offerings.

But the key question is: How much is enough?

Answer: Some say 5%. Some say 10%. Some say more, some say less.

But, Jesus says, "Sell what you own, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

The rich man in the Gospel lesson, having heard Jesus’ answer, went away grieving. Why? Because he had many possessions. Because he understood Jesus telling him that it was all or nothing. Because he thought that without giving away all he had, he could not inherit eternal life. But, it’s not what he thought. And the saddest part of all, is that he walked away. He left before he heard the rest of Jesus’ answer, before he understood the truth, before he realized what was possible on the journey of discipleship. And he wrote himself out of the rest of the story.

The 10^th chapter of Mark’s Gospel, as I read it, is not a litmus test to weed out those of little faith, those unworthy of discipleship. Rather, Jesus is describing what it will be like in the kingdom of heaven: where all are reconciled, all are equal, all share freely, and where wealth doesn’t matter at all. Discipleship is about striving toward the kingdom of heaven, step by step—helping to make God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus invites all of us—whoever we are, whoever we are not, whatever we’ve done or left undone, whether we have much or very little—Jesus invites all of us on the journey of discipleship. And as we travel with Jesus and other faithful followers, seeking to do what God would have us do, we are getting closer to becoming who God would have us be. We’re not there yet. But, we’re taking steps.

That’s what I think Jesus had in mind for the rich man. He wasn’t scolding him. He looked at him, loved him, and then he invited him on a journey of letting go of the hold his wealth had on him, and recognizing the far greater treasures of heaven. It’s a journey. It doesn’t start with giving everything away. It starts by giving ourselves to God. Then, step by step, it becomes easier to share what we have with others.

That’s the journey of discipleship. Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect and to get it right every time. But to follow his lead. It’s day by day, taking steps, and along the way, becoming disciples of Christ. And the most important part of discipleship is not giving up and walking away because it gets hard, or you make a mistake, or you don’t think you’re capable or worthy, but staying in it to the end, to claim the prize already won for us in Jesus Christ—eternal life in God’s kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said: "What God has joined together, let no one separate." Whoever wishes to be great must become a servant." "Sell what you own and give the money to the poor and follow me."

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

God knows we get divorced—in record numbers.

God knows we crave status and power—in titles, promotions, and recognition.

God knows we have money and possessions that we are attached to, and

can’t imagine parting with.

God knows it’s hard to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

God knows we cannot possibly earn our way into heaven.

Question: Then, who can be saved? Ask Jesus disciples.

Answer: No one?

But Jesus says: "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

For God all things are possible. All things are possible. . .Then. . .

Who knows, maybe it’s possible for us to love and honor differently.

Who knows, maybe it’s possible for us to follow Jesus one step closer in becoming who God would have us be.

On the journey of discipleship, anything is possible. For God, all things are possible.

But, the question is: Are you in?