Skip to content

Commentaries
English
Mark
  
12. The Reward of Jesus’ Followers
(Mark 10:28-31)
28Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”29So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,30who shall 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.31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”


Many people aspire after honor, authority, and properties, supposing that the riches of our world are given to them as a reward for their hard work. How poor is he who gives up himself to the vanity of riches, for the long disease, quick death, or the last judgment teaches him that the world will fade away, and that God alone remains forever together with those who become filled with his Spirit, and continue in his love.
Christ taught those who were overburdened with worries, and seeking money, the heavenly rule: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Keep this wise motto and act accordingly that you may be changed from selfishness to faith, enter into God’s expanses, and cooperate with his spiritual family, which we call his kingdom, or the spiritual body of Christ.
Did you know that nothing precious remains in this and the other life except God, the Holy Trinity, and his spiritually born children? Everything else will fade away. Blood relationship, and matrimonial bond will end in eternal life. The family of God is more essential than all relationships and friendships. Your father and mother may hate you because of your faith in Jesus the Redeemer. Your brothers may persecute you. Even your children may curse you. This is painful, and grievous, but you have won God himself. What is more important: that which is everlasting or that which is fading away? Do you love the Lord more than your family?
Your father may disinherit you, and your brothers may seek to kill you. Yet, rest assured for Christ is he who lives and gives life. He himself experienced the severity of the familiar relationship. They called him a dreamer, and tried to bring him back by force from his ministry. But he left them, and called whoever did the will of his Father his brother and sister and mother.
He who believes in Christ may find new brother and sisters, and a faithful wife under the guidance of the Spirit. He may also find a new propriety through his hard word in an honorable profession. But the most important thing is winning God himself, and becoming a child of the Holy One. The faith in Christ equals to and exceeds many times all the losses of this world. The gain in the Spirit is thousand times greater than our earthly losses.
Let him who runs to Christ fervently, and believes in him superficially; see that he may not fall away from him quickly, for Christ does not employ us to give us money, office, or property, but he forgives us our sins, makes us partners in his salvation, and grants us victory over malicious temptations. He, who believes for gaining material gifts from others, becomes hopeless and bitter, for living with the children of God means sacrificing, serving, giving and not taking, dominating, or boasting. Be aware, and test yourself recognizing the reason for your following Christ. Do you seek material gain? Or did your life become a living sacrifice for the love of God?

Prayer
O Lord Jesus, you left your Father to win us sinners. Thank you for your lovingkindness, for you have given your life to save us, and you died for us who are despised that we may become children of God, and serve him in the power of your love. Give us patience that we may bear with one another, live together in your Holy Spirit, and never look back, but reach forward to you who are coming. Amen.
Question
What is in fact the believers’ profit?