GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 10:28
Leaving and Following
A recent Hallmark romcom featured two sisters from an imaginary European dynasty. The younger sister left the family estate to pursue her education anonymously in New York, where she met her soulmate, who later learned that his love interest was royalty. The older sister gave up her position, grandeur, and title to marry—at least in the movie—a commoner—a plumber—with whom she lived happily ever after. This was no put down of plumbers, because this plumber turned out to be handsome, polite, and wealthy, with his own business. (This was a movie, after all.) In the movie’s plot, the family was aghast that the daughter would willingly give up her position since they expected her to produce an heir. The younger sister, who eschewed royal trappings along with her new “commoner” fiancé, finally stepped in to fill the gap. A subplot in the film focused on all the royal trappings that the older sister gave up—everything.
This theme of leaving and following is echoed in a biblical account. After Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler about giving up everything to follow him, the young man—attached to his wealth—left. Jesus told his audience it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the Kingdom, but with God all things are possible. “Peter began to say to him, ‘Behold, we left all things and have followed you.’” (Mark 10:28)
Historians have not preserved much information about Peter’s personal life. He and his brother Andrew were fishermen; he was married; he had a house in Capernaum; and, apparently, his wife traveled with him in his evangelistic work. (1 Cor. 9:5) In contrast to the departing young man in Mark’s story, Peter said they had left all things—jobs, houses, and relatives—and were following Jesus.
Readers can interpret Peter’s statement in at least two ways. First, Peter could be saying that they didn’t have the great wealth of the young inquirer but still gave up what they had. Alternatively, Peter might have meant that the disciples had indeed done what Jesus told the young man—they had given up everything, just as the older daughter did in the Hallmark story above.
However one understands Peter’s response, the imperative lesson is that nothing in a disciple’s life can displace an unfettered commitment to the Father.
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