Chapter
Two
"What Shall We Have Therefore?"
The story continues after the nobleman left, "sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
We read in Matthew's account about this same event: "Then answered Peter and
said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we
have therefore?" (Matt. 19:27) They had all watched this nobleman make his great
refusal. Then Peter, sizing up the situation, began to realize that they had
done what this nobleman had refused to do. They had left all their earthly business
and now fully followed the Master. Peter was a deep thinker. On another occasion
Jesus had asked them, "Who do men say that I the Son of man am?" (Matt. 16:13)
He got many different answers, none of which were correct. Then Jesus asked
the most penetrating question of them. "Whom say ye that I am?" (Matt. 16:15)
Peter amazed our Lord with the correct answer. He said, "Thou art the Christ
[Anointed One], the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). Jesus complimented
Peter, realizing that God had revealed this to him.
Peter's question, "What shall we have therefore?" implies they really did not
know what they would receive. They had enlisted without any promise of heaven.
They were fully committed disciples before knowing what would become of them
or what reward they would have.
Jesus' words came as a grand revelation that day. He said: "Ye which have followed
me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive
an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life" (Matt. 19:28-29). The "thrones"
and "everlasting life" would wait until the time of the "regeneration." We know
the apostles never sat on thrones in their life-time.
"An Hundredfold Blessing"
The disciples learned they would receive what the nobleman wanted, "eternal
life," but also something else-"an hundredfold blessing." It is difficult to
forsake "houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children." Not that a Christian is to desert his family and responsibilities.
The oriental way of speaking here meant his disciples had placed Christ above
all others. Christ must be ranked above one's family for a Christian to receive
the "hundredfold blessing." This blessing may begin in the present life.
The Christian receives abundant blessings while employed in the Master's service.
A hundredfold return is an excellent return. Imagine if the stock market promised
a "hundredfold" return, people would be in a frenzy to secure such stock. The
blessings that the Christian now receives come not in monetary gain, but are,
in reality, spiritual blessings of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness and temperance-not in big demand these days. Please
notice that this "hundredfold" blessing comes in return for a Christian's sacrifice.
Jesus also promised his disciples "eternal life" in the "regeneration." This,
too, comes as a result of taking their "cross" and following Jesus. These two
lessons of Jesus linked blessings to works.
"Isn't grace supposed to be free?" Yes, grace is always something over and beyond
what justice demands. Grace is God's unmerited love and favor. Christ's sacrifice
and blood atonement were provided to rescue the human race from the judgment
standing against it. No work or price of ours could lift this divine judgment.
It was provided totally by grace. Christ's ransom sacrifice brings remission
of sin, or justification. If we once receive justification, the judgment of
death is lifted from us and God can begin dealing with us as sons. This is wonderful
grace.
The purpose of God in dealing with his people is to lift them up to share his
holiness. Everlasting life in God's kingdom, whether on earth or in heaven,
will require character. Christ gives his disciples the grace of "justification"
or forgiveness of sin, but he does not bestow character carte blanche. Character
is something that the Christian has to develop. "Follow peace with all men,
and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). The Christian
is exhorted to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it
is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil.
2:12, 13).
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