The Rich Man (Mark 10:17-31)

Jesus is walking along with his disciples when a man runs up to him and asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tells the man to follow the Ten Commandments and the man says that he has. Finally, Jesus says that you must sell all that you own, give the money to the poor, and come and follow me. The man walked away with his head down because he had a lot of possessions. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples responded by asking who then can be saved. Jesus replied, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.” What does this reveal about what Jesus believes faith is all about?

The Rich Man in the story is unwilling to give up everything that he owns because he has so many possessions. Jesus challenges us to give up all of our possessions, those things that we trust in, so we can put our trust in him. Jesus wants us to go beyond the minimal (the Ten Commandments) to have faith. Jesus says that faith requires help from God, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” No one is capable of having absolute faith without help from God. Do I give up things to come closer to God? Do I go through life doing the minimal just to get by?

The Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)

Jesus and disciples were leaving Jericho. There was a huge crowd as they were leaving, and Bartimaeus sat by the road calling out for Jesus. He was blind and the people in the crowd rebuked him. Bartimaeus stayed and kept calling, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped when he heard the voice and told his disciples to call him. Bartimaeus came out and asked, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus replied, “Go your way; your faith has saved you,” and Bartimaeus could see. What does this reveal about what Jesus believes faith is all about?

Bartimaeus believed that he could sit on the side of the road in a huge crowd and Jesus would hear him call to him. He wanted his blindness healed and he had faith that Jesus could cure him. He had faith that Jesus would hear him in the midst of the huge crowd and everybody shouting at him. Jesus shows us that even the small voice gets answered if you have faith in him. Do I believe that I can go to Jesus when I need help?


A Tree and its Fruit (Matthew 12:33-37)

Jesus makes the analogy of a tree’s goodness. A “tree is known by its fruit,” he says. A good tree has good fruit and a bad tree has bad fruit. In the same way, as Jesus points out, we are known by our words. “By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness. An evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.

Words and actions speak loud and reveal our “worth.” Faith will always strive to do good in its environment, trying to raise the spirit of everyone. Faith isn't a bad thing, but the teachers of the law had become a little unfavorable at the time. We need to shoot for this good faith. It does good works as if they were good fruits sprouting from our tree bearing good fruit.

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