In our lives we meet all sorts of people. With some we just cannot get on however hard they – or we – try to make the relationship work. Then there are those people we occasionally encounter with whom we just click – we automatically get along. There is a mutual understanding and consideration. We can talk on the same wavelength to them because the chemistry just happens to be there.
For me, the other person’s attitude is key. If they are arrogant and condescending, I am immediately wary. If they are the opposite, I am also concerned. I don’t see why a person should be fawning and apologetic – it’s the converse of arrogance and hostility; it’s not healthy.
Attitude comes from within. It reflects what we have in our inner hearts; what we hold dear; what we want.
People who want money or position more than they value human relationships, pose a problem. Experience shows that such people will abuse their relationships with others to get what they want. They upset the equilibrium of social harmony, and they generate hostility.
Our attitudes are critical. Attitude makes the difference between harmony and hostility, and attitude is the theme in chapter 10 of Mark’s Gospel which we are examining. We looked at the first item in chapter 10 last time – the matter of marriage. There, Jesus spoke about HARDNESS OF HEART. The cold, unyielding, uncompromising attitude that can lead to divorce.
Chapter 10 also mentions
- receiving the kingdom like a small child
- the idolatry of wealth
- the hostility of the Scribes and chief Priests to Jesus
- the desire of two disciples for a superior position among the disciples
- the healing of blind Bartimaeus
All concern attitude.
To receive the kingdom of God we must be humble and believing and dependent, just like little children. No other attitude will do !
WHOEVER SHALL NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD, HE SHALL NOT ENTER THEREIN.
We must take Jesus quite literally in what he teaches. And we must take that first and foremost, consciously rejecting all that would tempt us to disobey him. So, when he says forgive, we must forgive. When he tells us to love God and to love others, we must. And when we fail, as we will inevitably do, then we are driven to recognise our total inadequacy in our own resources, and our total need of Jesus and our dependence on him.
Which brings us to the story of the rich young man who asked needed to be done to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to give up his wealth, and then to come and follow him. But the young man was too attached to his possessions and went away very unhappy.
You see he wanted both the best of this material world, and the best of the spiritual world. He wanted it all. He failed to see that the love of wealth in this life is actually a barrier to eternal life in the next life. He failed to see what was most important. He wasn’t willing to do as Jesus told him – give up the wealth, take up the cross – ie denial of your own desires – and follow Jesus – ie be with him and obey him.
He loved the material things of this life more than he loved God.
Wrong attitude.
But when the disciples quiz Jesus on this matter, asking Who then can be saved ? Jesus replies:
WITH MEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE – BUT NOT WITH GOD: FOR WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE !
We come back to the point of dependence mentioned above. Jesus brings us to the place in which we recognise our dependence on him. Because – as he points out in John’s Gospel at chapter 15 –
I AM THE VINE, YE ARE THE BRANCHES: HE THAT ABIDETH IN ME AND I IN HIM, THE SAME BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT. FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.
IF A MAN ABIDE NOT IN ME, HE IS CAST FORTH AS A BRANCH, AND IS WITHERED; AND MEN GATHER THEM AND CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE AND THEY ARE BURNED.
Jesus of course understood his dependence upon the plan, purpose and power of God the Father. Which is why he tells the 12 disciples that he is going to be abused and killed by the religious authorities. He speaks of it because he commits himself to it and because he is teaching his disciples the way of God. Death to ourselves in this world’s desires and interests, that we might have God’s power and grace to endure and live by that God given grace and power into eternity.
Eternity starts here in our obedience to Jesus now.
Even so, we next have Mark recording for us the desire of James and John to be granted a special status i.e. to sit on Jesus left and right hand in his kingdom. To be superior to all the other disciples. To be privileged. To be so close to Jesus that they can have his immediate attention when they want.
Well, actually we can and do have God’s immediate attention, and we have it in the here and now, if only we learn to live as Jesus teaches us to live !
They wanted privilege and position. They were still thinking as this self centred world thinks. They were not thinking as Jesus wanted them to think. And that itself is interesting. Because Jesus does not make us think his way; he calls us to think his way; we must see its importance for ourselves, and we must act on that of our own freewill.
Finally, Mark records for us an incident demonstrating the right attitude. The story of blind Bartimaeus calling out to Jesus to be healed.
Bartimaeus treats Jesus as God. Bartimaeus goes to Jesus in total dependence and childlike expectation that Christ can heal him. What does Jesus say ?
THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE !
Thy faith – total trust in the words and ability of Jesus to help him
Christian Preacher
Christianity 