Gospel of Mark Bible Part 58: The Cost and Reward of Discipleship [Bible Study]
- Rev. Bruce A. Shields
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
Introduction
Over the last few weeks, we have seen how the word of God revealed the disciples' failure to cast a demon out of a boy because they relied on their own ability rather than praying to the Lord. (Mark 9)
After Jesus explained their problem, they immediately argued on the way to Capernaum about who was the greatest disciple among them, revealing that they still had not fully submitted to Christ, but remained prideful and arrogant about themselves, which always negates any ministry done in the name of Jesus. (Mark 9)
Jesus once more rebuked them and explained that the greatest in His kingdom is the one who is most humble and seeks God in all things. (Mark 9:33–37) Jesus then continued to teach them the principles of discipleship as they journeyed together.
Along the way, they met another crowd, where Jesus was confronted with a trap in the guise of a religious question about marriage. After explaining that God hates divorce, we read of women bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed. Jesus again explains that those who are like children, in humility and trust in God our Father, are the ones who will see the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:1–16)
Last week, Jesus was confronted by a rich man, who arrogantly supposed that he had kept all the Law of Moses perfectly, and asked Jesus what he must now do to enter the kingdom. (Mark 10:17–22)
Jesus, knowing the man’s heart, revealed to him that his love for his wealth was the only thing keeping him from following the Lord. Therefore, if he wanted to follow Jesus, he would have to sell his possessions and then follow Christ. We see the man leave, choosing the things of this world over Jesus. (Mark 10:21–22)
We then read Jesus saying to the disciples,
“And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter into the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.’ And they were even more astonished, saying to Him, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Looking at them, Jesus said, ‘With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.’” Mark 10:23–27
Which brings us to today’s verses.
Scripture Reference
“Peter began to say to Him, ‘Behold, we have left everything and followed You.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, except one who will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’” Mark 10:28–31
What we see here is this: Jesus confronts the rich young ruler about worldly possessions that keep him from truly following Him, and then He warns the disciples about how spiritually dangerous riches can be to those who desire to follow Jesus. (Mark 10:17–27)
Peter responds to Jesus’ statement with, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” Matthew 19:27
For everyone desiring to follow Jesus as His disciple, there is a promise of both cost and reward. Not everyone is willing to pay the cost, as we saw with the rich man who had many possessions.
Let us examine both the cost and the rewards according to Scripture.
I. The Cost of Discipleship
a. Earthly relationships
“…there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake…” Mark 10:29
Jesus spoke of leaving family.
He is not teaching that abandoning one’s family is a universal requirement, but that loyalty to Him must be supreme, even over the closest human ties. (Luke 14:26)
Sometimes even your family will turn against you because of your faith.
“And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.” Matthew 10:21
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.” Matthew 10:34–36
When your family believes as well, take them with you as you follow Christ.
Paul defends this right: “Do we not have authority to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” First Corinthians 9:5
Yes, some of the apostles were married and took their families with them, and yes, Jesus had brothers and sisters; Mary had other children after the virgin birth of Christ. (Matthew 13:55–56)
Jesus Himself experienced opposition from His own relatives.
“For not even His brothers were believing in Him.” John 7:5
“And when His own kinsmen heard this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ‘He has lost His senses.’” Mark 3:21
When His mother and brothers came seeking Him, Jesus redefined family around obedience:
“And answering them, He said, ‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ And looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, ‘Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.’” Mark 3:33–35
After the resurrection, His brothers are counted among the believers, and James in particular becomes a pillar in the church:
“These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Acts 1:14
Yet the fact remains, sometimes even your own family will turn against you for your belief in Jesus. Are you willing to pay this cost to follow Him? The apostles were. The rich man, and many other disciples, were not.
“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, ‘This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?’” John 6:60
“As a result of this many of His disciples went away and were not walking with Him anymore.” John 6:66
Sometimes the cost of following Jesus is our own family and friends.
b. Earthly possessions
Jesus also speaks of leaving houses, farms, and lands. Mark 10:29
He is not suggesting that selling everything is always necessary for every disciple in every circumstance. We see faithful believers using their homes and resources for the kingdom:
The church in homes.
Aquila and Prisca had a church in their house. First Corinthians 16:19
Epaenetus is noted as the first convert in Asia and associated with a house gathering. Romans 16:5
Nympha in Laodicea had a church in her house. Colossians 4:15
Apphia and Archippus hosted a church in their home. Philemon 1:2
Some disciples did sell land and give sacrificially.
Barnabas sold a field and laid the money at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36–37
Others opened their homes and resources for ongoing ministry. Philemon 1:22
Paul willingly counted all his earthly advantages as loss for Christ.
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7–8
Jesus and His kingdom must come before possessions, and sometimes even before family who have turned against you.
Are you willing to forsake all that is necessary to be a disciple of Jesus?
Some cannot even muster the discipline to open their Bible during the week, or to fellowship for an hour with brothers and sisters, or to support the work of Christ in spreading the good news. Is the gospel that saved you not worth more than all the gold in this world? Yet some treat it as something of shame or of little worth.
The cost of discipleship can be great in this life—seemingly more for some than for others. However, for those who are willing to bear their cross daily and pay the cost of discipleship, Jesus promises rewards.
II. The Reward of Discipleship
a. Everlasting relationships
Jesus spoke of a hundredfold blessing “now in this time.” (Mark 10:30)
“…who will not receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:30
This includes spiritual family—brothers, sisters, mothers, and children.
He is referring to fellow disciples as family. He has already defined His true family:
“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35
Notice that Jesus does not mention “fathers” here.
Likely because we have but one ultimate Father.
“And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Matthew 23:9
Our spiritual family—the church, the Body of Christ—is the only family that will survive death.
God’s household is eternal. (Ephesians 2:19–22)
This hundredfold includes houses and lands shared among believers.
“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but for them everything was common.” Acts 4:32
They opened their hearts and homes to one another, like Aquila and Priscilla who served alongside Paul and hosted the church in their house. Acts 18:1–3; First Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:5
Even now, through His church, there are great rewards for following Christ—real relationships, real care, real community in the household of God.
b. Everlasting possessions
Jesus also speaks of “the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:30
Paul describes this as a gift received in its fullness at the end.
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit, leading to sanctification, and the end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22–23
Jesus describes this same division between eternal punishment and eternal life.
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46
This eternal life includes the presence and people of God Himself.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away.” Revelation 21:3–4
This everlasting life will not only include the people of God, but also the environment of a renewed creation:
Many rooms in the Father’s house. John 14:1–3
A new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Second Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1
The holy city, New Jerusalem, where the glory of God gives light and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:2, 23–27
These are just some of the glorious rewards promised to those who commit to following Jesus regardless of the trials, tribulations, sufferings, or losses they face here in this life. They all fail to compare with the majesty and glory of the life to come for those who submit to following the Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Jesus mentions persecutions along with rewards in Mark 10:30. Some who suffer persecution are especially blessed.
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great…” Matthew 5:10–12
Those who are faithful unto death will reign with Christ. Revelation 20:4–6
Jesus closes this section with, “But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” Mark 10:31
He repeats this principle in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. Matthew 20:1–16
This is a caution that we must not serve the Lord merely for the reward, because the Lord judges our hearts, and our intentions matter.
Whatever the cost of discipleship—whether our service is long and difficult, or short and simple—the reward of discipleship more than makes up for whatever we lose.
As Paul, who suffered greatly for Christ, said,
“For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Second Corinthians 4:17–18
Optional Discussion / Application Questions
In Mark 10:28–31, what does Peter’s question reveal about the human heart, and how does Jesus’ answer correct his focus?
Where have you personally felt the “cost” of discipleship—relationships, reputation, opportunities, or possessions? How did Christ sustain you?
How can our local congregation more intentionally live out the “hundredfold” promise of spiritual family and shared resources?
What are some ways we can guard our hearts from serving Christ primarily “for the reward” instead of out of love for Him?
How does Second Corinthians 4:17–18 reshape the way we view present suffering and sacrifice in light of eternal glory?
You can drop this directly into your teaching notes and adjust transitions or length for your setting.
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