It’s Worth It

Introduction

For weeks little Selina saved her allowance to buy a strand of plastic pearls from the corner store. She couldn’t imagine anything prettier. When she had finally saved enough and her daddy took her down to make her purchase, she was so excited. She wore the pearls everywhere and showed them to everyone. Whether she was in her church dress, her play clothes, or her pajamas she was sure to have the little pearls around her neck. One night when her daddy said goodnight, he asked, “Selina, may I have your necklace?” With a surprised frown, she said, “No, daddy. It’s my necklace.” The next night she again refused. “I saved and saved and bought this with my own money.” He simply kissed her and told her how much he loved her as usual. The third night Selina was crying as she came for her goodnight kiss. “Daddy, you can have it. I don’t need it anymore.” As he slipped the little strand into his pocket, he pulled out a black box with a velvety cover. Selina’s eyes couldn’t have opened any wider than they did when he opened the box and showed her a beautiful necklace of real, shiny pearls. With happy tears, she exclaimed, “Oh Daddy! Thank you, thank you! If I had known, I would have given you my necklace the first time you asked.” If we are going to follow Jesus, God is going to ask us to give up some things we love and have worked hard for. Like the father in the story, He wants them so that He can give us something better. Study Mark 10:28-31 to understand why it is worth leaving anything and everything for Jesus’ sake and how God rewards those who do.

Observation

Pray

Before you begin, thank the Lord for His Word and ask Him to help you understand and live it.

Read Focus Verses

Read Mark 10:28-30 which is today's passage.

One Sentence

If you had to write a short sentence as a header to summarize these verses, what would you write?

Context

By reading the context of what happens just before this - Mark 10:17-27 - you will more fully understand today's passage. (You can study this passage using the study plan for these verses called, "Covetousness - What Is It?")

Just Before

What has just happened before today's passage?

The Point

What has Jesus just taught the disciples before Peter's comment?

Peter

What does Peter say to Jesus in verse 28 of today's verses?

Anyone

Who can qualify for what Jesus is about to say according to the beginning of His words in verse 29?

Left Behind

What kinds of things has this person Jesus is talking about left?

Why?

According to the end of verse 29 what is the specific reason the person Jesus is making a promise to leave these things?

In This Time

What kinds of things will that person receive in this life?

In What Measure?

In what measure will those things be given to this person according to the beginning of verse 30?

With…

What will come along with those things in this life?

In The World to Come

And what will that person receive after this life?

Clarification

What does Jesus say in verse 31?

Keywords - Leave and Receive

Marking the words indicating leaving or giving up some things and receiving other things will help you see the contrast in this passage.

Leave and Receive

Mark the words "leave," "receive," and related words in Mark 10:28-31.

Keyword - Jesus

If you've been doing our other study plans through the Gospel of Mark, you've noticed that Jesus is always the main character - it's true again today.

Jesus

Mark the Name "Jesus" and references to Him (don't forget that He's mentioned as the reason for leaving things in verse 29) in Mark 10:28-31.

Interpretation

We Have

In contrast to the rich young ruler who decided his worldly possessions were more valuable to him than eternal life, you can see how some of the disciples responded to Jesus' call to them in Mark 1:16-20.

Levi

In Luke 5:27-28 you see how another of the twelve disciples responded to Jesus' call.

Left All

So, when Peter said that he and other disciples had done what the rich young ruler refused to do, was he accurate?

A Difference?

There might seem to be a difference in how much Levi gave up (and the rich young ruler was asked to give up) and how much the fishermen gave up. But, if you go forward a couple of chapters, Mark 12:41-44 helps put it in perspective God's way.

More or Less

If you give everything for Jesus, does God compare the earthly value of your sacrifice with someone else's?

A Lot or a Little

How does this challenge you to think differently about what God is asking you to forsake for His sake?

Nothing New

If we go back a couple of chapters to Mark 8:34-38, we see that this theme of sacrifice in the Christian is nothing new in the book of Mark.

Explanation

How do these verses in Mark 8 explain why someone would even consider the kind of sacrifices Jesus talks about in today's passage?

Marriage

One of the things Jesus mentions that some people have to give up for Him is a spouse. Jesus has just talked about marriage. Look at what He said about it earlier in the chapter in Mark 10:6-9.

Children

Jesus has also just talked about children. Notice what He says about their value through His words and actions in Mark 10:13-16.

Parents

Another of the things some people leave for Jesus' sake is parents. Consider what Ephesians 6:2-3 says about a person's relationship with their parents.

Unimportant?

Some people might think that today's verses mean that family relationships are unimportant to God. Based on what you saw in these other verses, is that true?

More Important

If family relationships are so important to God, how important must salvation and God's glory be to be more important even than those relationships?

New Family Relationship

Back in Mark 3:31-35 Jesus told us where to find new family relationships.

Adopted Children

Romans 8:14-15 tells us more.

God's Family

Who are the spiritual family of a Christian?

This Life

If someone said that Christians shouldn't expect reward in this life for their sacrifices for Jesus' sake, how could you use today's verses to answer them?

Forsaking Things...With Persecutions

If someone said that Christians shouldn't expect trouble in this life or that if you have enough faith you won't suffer on earth, how could you use these verses to answer them?

All

2 Timothy 3:12 explains why Jesus said Christians should expect persecution with their blessings in this life.

A Gift

Philippians 1:29 says a bit more.

Expect It

Why should a Christian expect to experience suffering alongside the blessings of the Christian life on this earth?

Don't Fear

Revelation 2:8-11 tells us how a Christian should think about persecution.

Overcome

How should a Christian think about and respond to persecution?

Eternal Life

The last thing Jesus says He gives in exchange for what a Christian leaves for Him is worth it by itself. Romans 6:23 reminds us of how God offers eternal life to sinful people.

Believe

John 3:16 tells us how to receive that gift of eternal life.

God's Gift

How can a sinful person receive eternal life?

A Promise

1 John 2:25 words it beautifully.

God's Good for It

Titus 1:2 tells us how sure we can be of this promise.

God's Promise

How sure is this eternal life?

Grace Not Works

Ephesians 2:8-10 clarifies the relationship between the sacrifice made for Jesus' sake and the eternal life He gives us.

Before

Can any good works you do (even forsaking things) save you?

After

What does Ephesians 2:10 say about good works after a person is saved?

Truth

Based on the verses you've seen through this study and the context of today's passage with the story of the rich young ruler, if a person is unwilling to forsake things for Jesus, did they truly repent and believe for salvation?

Salvation and Growth

How would you explain the difference between giving things up to try to earn salvation and giving things up to please the God who has saved you?

Motivation

What is the motivation for the kind of sacrifice Jesus is promising to reward (v29), and why do you think Jesus specified this?

Parallel

If we look at the parallel record in Matthew 19:27-30 we learn a few more details.

The Twelve

What did Jesus promise specifically to the twelve disciples?

First and Last

How does the final verse of this passage help us know that the twelve disciples are not the only ones to make special sacrifices and receive special rewards for believing and following Jesus?

I'd Rather Have Jesus

The first two verses of this beautiful hymn by Rhea F. Miller summarize well the message of today's passage: I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame. I'd rather be true to His holy name Than to be the king of a vast domain Or be held in sin's dread sway. I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.

Once More

Read Mark 10:28-30 once more with what you've seen in the rest of Scripture in mind.

About Jesus

What do these verses teach us about Jesus?

About You

What do these verses teach you about yourself?

Application

Left All

Have you turned fully to Jesus and believed in Him with your whole heart - willing to forsake anything to follow and obey Him?

The Cost

Is there something that has seemed hard to give up for Jesus' sake? How does today's study help you think about the sacrifice differently?

For Jesus

If there's something you've been holding back on, will you consecrate it to the Lord Jesus today and tell Him honestly that you are willing to give it up for His sake?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study plan has helped you understand why it is worth forsaking anything for Jesus' sake and has challenged you to hold nothing back from Him.

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