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. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:28-31
[Spoiler] I have used some of the late John MacArthur’s thoughts on this passage here in my write-up today. His perspective really resonated with me.
True Riches in the Kingdom – In this passage, Jesus is redefining wealth—not in terms of material possessions, but in terms of spiritual blessings and eternal reward. The “hundredfold” promise is interpreted as spiritual family and provision within the body of Christ. We as believers gain a new community and deeper relationships that overcome biological ties.
Persecution Is Part of the Package – Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the cost of discipleship. The blessings come “with persecutions,” which is a mark of genuine faith and a refining tool in the believer’s life.
Reversal of Earthly Status – The phrase “many who are first will be last, and the last first” is a warning against pride and worldly ambition. This is a call to humility and trust in God’s justice, where the true value of a person is revealed in eternity.
APPLICATION:
There are so many questions from this passage I feel compelled to ask myself!
- Would I give up my house? — 100% yes. Our home is a gift from the Lord and I take no possession of it. If I felt the Lord leading us to sell it and go into the mission field, I would do it in a heartbeat.
- Have I left family or my current living location (Washington)? My family means a lot to me but my Lord and Savior means ‘everything’ to me. In this time in my life, I feel called to be there for my mom and dad especially while my mom is battling Alzheimer’s. I am currently living out the command to honor my mother and father by being here close to them.
- Finally, am I prideful? Yes, is the simple answer. I sometime struggle with selfishness or rights-based expectations. The Lord has brought me a long way in my pursuit to eradicate this from my life, and He has brought me through trials that bring me to the humble realization that He is the only answer; the only One who can bring peace and satisfaction.