28 Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Jesus' Promise
In this third and final post on Mark 10:17-31, Peter thought about what he'd just witnessed. Jesus had challenged a wealthy young man to sell everything and follow him. The task was too tall, and the young man departed. The rich young ruler hadn't left everything, but Peter realized he and the other disciples had. And he felt he had to tell Jesus about it—just saying, Jesus.
Jesus did not rebuke Peter but instead told him of the great blessings of following him. Any house or family or possessions believers leave for Jesus and the gospel's sake will not go unrewarded. Jesus said we would receive a hundredfold now and eternal life later (30).
It is true. You get much in return when you forsake the old life and devote yourself to Christ. Sometimes your allegiance to Jesus will separate you from family, friends, or possessions. But, for all you lose, you get much more in return. When you become a believer, you gain a worldwide family, a connection to the nations. I don't know if you've ever fellowshipped with believers on other continents, but it is always a joy. You fly into the country as an outsider, but Christian fellowship gives you a place to belong.
Loneliness
But some of you might wonder why you are still lonely. Loneliness is a big issue in this life. Many of us feel disconnected, misunderstood, or simply alone. These words from Jesus might sound like a distant hope, but they are not your current reality. If this describes you, let me say a couple of things.
First, we are likely meant to understand Jesus' promises in the realm of Christian service. The disciples devoted themselves to Christ's work. So, while missionaries might experience the truth of Jesus' words to the strongest degree, one way to respond is to get involved. To me, there is no greater group to be part of than a group that is serving Jesus together.
Second, the massive network Jesus described is yours as a believer, although it might not be your experience. This means that while you have a worldwide family, you haven't yet gotten a chance to enjoy them. Aside from trying to engage the church more, you might also have to wait for Jesus' reality to unfold when you get to heaven. There, you will realize how big your new family is.
Third, Jesus is the best family and friend you could ever have. Even when the church feels awkward for you, Jesus is there for you. He wants you to feel at home with him, and perhaps a season of loneliness can be useful to train your hopes on him.
With Persecutions
Mark also included a little clause from Jesus—with persecutions (30). This would have comforted Mark's original readers, believers in Rome who suffered much persecution at the hands of the empire. Their persecution didn't mean they were doing something wrong—it confirmed they were following Jesus.
This phrase should comfort us as well. No one wants to be persecuted, but it can have a purifying effect on the church, and it can also deepen our Christian friendships. The more hostile a society grows against Christianity, the more believers in that society must press into their relationships with each other.
Jesus concluded:
31 "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
The Man
This is a statement Jesus often used in his teaching. In this story, it’s powerful. Think about the rich young ruler. We don't know what came of him. Perhaps he submitted to Christ later in life. But, at this point, he placed himself first. And sadly, Christ tells us he will end up last.
Jesus
Jesus, however, is the opposite of this man. He was eternally rich but became poor for us (2 Corinthians 8:9). He was young, being about 33 years old at this point (Luke 3:23). He was a ruler, being the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). But Jesus, the ultimate rich young ruler, let himself be last. And because he lowered himself more than anyone else, the Father will exalt him more than anyone else (Philippians 2:9-11). He will end up first.
He is our example. He is the one we must emulate. In the kingdom, God himself is our example. He gave up more than any of us will ever give up. Will we give up a little to follow him?