“I assure you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel, who will not receive 100 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. (Mark 10:29,30 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Some people think that following Jesus Christ is nothing but sadness and misery. They see the Christian life as giving up everything in this world and having nothing.
Heaven may be waiting, but meanwhile life until then is terrible. But Jesus teaches the opposite in the today’s passage. Yes, He admits that the Christian life involves sacrifice, but He promises that there will be an abundant reward for all sacrifices made.
Jesus was speaking to Peter and other disciples when He said this. They had left their jobs and businesses when Jesus called them. In their new work with Him they were separated from family members, but He tells them that no matter what they have given up for Him — relatives, family, property, money, etc. — they will receive a hundred times more in this life, and in the world to come eternal life. He adds that along with this would come persecution from those who oppose Jesus, which is simply a part of following Him. Jesus promises us a much more abundant life than we had at first. Instead of depriving us, Jesus wants to abundantly bless us.
This promise of God belongs to you. Being a Christian — a real Christian — is not easy, but it is a blessed life. The rewards are tremendous. Jesus will ask you to make sacrifices for Him, but each sacrifice will have its reward. Friends who turn away from you because of Jesus will be replaced by better friends. Financial sacrifices you make to serve Him, will come back to you multiplied. If you are willing to sacrifice for Him, you will receive your reward now and forever.
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