Surrender

Mark 10:13-31
 13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? ”
 18 “Why do you call me good? ”  Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Possessions and the Kingdom
 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ”
24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved? ”
 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
 28 Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions — and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

GOING DEEPER
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 19:13-30; Luke 18:15-30
 
1) THE POSTURE OF SURRENDER

• James 4:6 — “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
• Ephesians 1:3 — “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.”

2) THE OBSTACLE TO SURRENDER

• Exodus 20:3 — “Do not have other gods besides me.”
• Matthew 6:24 — “You cannot serve God and money.” 
• Luke 19:8–9 — Zacchaeus gives away half his possessions.
• Ezekiel 14:3 — “These men have set up idols in their hearts.”
• Colossians 3:5 — Greed is called idolatry.
• 1 John 5:21 — “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
• Psalm 115:4–8 — Those who make idols become like them.
• Matthew 13:22 — The deceitfulness of wealth chokes the word.

3) THE GRACE TO SURRENDER

• Genesis 18:14 — “Is anything impossible for the LORD?” 
• Jeremiah 32:17, 27 — “Nothing is too difficult for you.”
• Luke 1:37 — “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
• John 6:44 — “No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.”
• Philippians 2:13 — God works in believers both to will and to work according to His good purpose.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — God shines light into hearts...

4) THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER

• Mark 1:16–20, 2:14 — Peter, Andrew, James, and John leave their nets and boats, Levi leaves the tax booth to follow Jesus.
• 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 — God chooses what is weak, low, and despised so that no one may boast.
• Ephesians 3:20 — God is able to do far more than we ask or think.
• Acts 2:42–47, 4:32-35 — The church shares life, homes, provision.
• 2 Corinthians 6:10 — “having nothing yet possessing everything.”
• Romans 8:17–18 — Present sufferings not worth comparing to glory.