Mark

On Divorce

Jesus then left that place and went to the province of Judea, beyond the Jordan River. Once again, crowds gathered around him, and he taught them as he always did.

Some Pharisees came and tested him with this question:

“Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?”

He replied:

“What law did Moses give you?”

They answered:

“Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce.”

Then Jesus said to them:

“Moses wrote this law for you because you have hearts of stone.

But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female; 

and because of this, man must leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife]; 

and the two shall become one body. So, they are no longer two, but one body.

Therefore, let no one separate what God has joined.”

 When they were indoors at home, the disciples asked him again about this 

and he told them:

“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife;

and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another also commits adultery.”

Blesses Some Children

People were bringing their young children to him so he could touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for this.

When Jesus saw this, he was very angry and said:

“Let the children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” 

Then he took the children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Man

Just as Jesus was setting out on his journey again, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked:

“Good teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus answered:

“Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

You know the commandments: Do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not cheat; honor your father and mother.” 

The man replied:

“I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood.”

Then Jesus looked at him steadily and loved him; and he said:

“For you, one thing is missing. Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then, come, and follow me.”

When he heard these words, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples:

“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus insisted:

“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

They were more astonished than ever and wondered:

“Who, then, can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said:

“For human beings, it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God.”

Peter spoke up and said:

“We have given up everything to follow you.”

Jesus answered:

“Truly, there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,

who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the midst of persecution, he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time; and, in the world to come, eternal life. 

 Many who now are the first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Third Announcement of the Passion and Resurrection

They were traveling on the road to Jerusalem, with Jesus walking ahead. The Twelve felt anxious, and those following were afraid. Once again, Jesus pulled the Twelve aside to explain what was going to happen to him:

 “You see, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles 

 who will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him; but three days later he will rise.”

Against Ambition

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus and said:

“Master, we want you to grant us what we are about to ask.”

And he replied:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

They answered:

“Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left when you come in your glory.”

Jesus said to them:

“You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized in the way I am baptized?”

They answered:

“We can.”

Jesus told them:

“The cup that I drink, you will drink; and you will be baptized in the way that I am baptized;

but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.”

Hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John. 

Jesus then called them to him and said:

“As you know, the so-called rulers of the nations behave like tyrants, and those in authority oppress the people.

 But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 

and whoever would be first among you shall make a slave to all. 

 Think of the Son of Man who has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”

Heals a Blind Man

They arrived in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.

When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he began to call out:

“Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!”

Many people scolded him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder:

“Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said:

“Call him.”

So they called the blind man, saying:

“Take heart! Get up, he is calling you!”

He immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

Then Jesus asked him:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said:

“Master, let me see again!”

And Jesus said to him:

“Go your way, your faith has made you well.”

Immediately, he could see, and he followed Jesus along the road.