Mark 10 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call Me good?’ Yeshua asked him. ‘No one is good but One – God.’” Mark 10:17-18

At the end of Mark chapter 8, we read of Peter’s confession that Yeshua is Messiah. The backdrop for that conversation was a place called Ceasarea Philippi. Ceasarea Philippi was a place of pagan worship, where idols were carved into the cliff face, ala Mt. Rushmore. Three rivers merge there and form a waterfall that feeds the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, eventually ending in the Dead Sea. Ceasarea Philippi was considered so evil among the Jews, that it was known as “the gates of Hell”.

When Yeshua asked His disciples who people said He was, behind Him would have been various idols. The disciples answered. “Some say you are John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”

In Mark 10, a man known in Scripture as “the rich young ruler” calls Yeshua “Good Teacher”. It is an honest evaluation from a young man who is impressed with Yeshua’s teaching, but who stops short of confessing Him as Messiah. It reminds us of Yeshua’s conversation with “the teacher of Israel”, Nicodemus, in John 3. Nicodemus begins that conversation “We know that You are a teacher…”.

In the Hebrew translations, this “rich young ruler” in Mark 10 called Yeshua a good “rabbi”. This title is a step-up from those who only considered Yeshua to be on the level of a scribe (student). The young man actually considered Yeshua to be a rabbi…one who had authority.

When the young man added “good” to the rabbinic title, this intrigued Yeshua and demanded clarification. Yeshua was basically saying, “If you are confessing that I am the ‘God Rabbi’, you’ve got it!” This man was close to the truth, yet so far away.

There are many opinions as to who Yeshua is. Sadly, not much has changed in 2000 years, or so. Some say He had a demon; some say He was a liar; others a “good teacher”, or perhaps a prophet.

The real question is: Who do YOU say Yeshua is? Messiah? Then right you are!! The GOOD NEWS of the Gospel is that He has done all the work so that we may inherit eternal life, by His Grace, when we place our faith in Him!! But apart our salvation (which is paid-for entirely with the blood of Messiah) following Yeshua isn’t easy, and for many it requires more than they are willing to give-up. Be strong and take courage, that you may faithfully follow Him, wherever & however He leads…knowing He always best.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Assistant Rabbi
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Monday, May 27, 2013


 




 

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