Proper 23
11 October 2015
Mark 10:17-22
Enlighten
our minds, we pray, O God, by the Spirit who proceeds from You that , as Your
Son has promised, we may be led into all truth; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One god, now
and forever.
Many
people identify with this man. He could not wait. To taste real life. He ran to
Jesus. Kneeling. He begged Jesus to give
him life. He wanted “eternal life”.
He had life. In the sense of its existence. But he wanted something more. He wanted a life of quality.
Today,
people are more interested in life lived today. Rather than life lived in
eternity. The tragedy? The man turned down the opportunity to get real life. The
price was simply too high.
How do
you then get real life?
By
earning it? This life is not a reward. Compensation
given for obeying the commands. This man sensed. That keeping the commandments
wasn’t enough. For a spiritually satisfying life. Something was missing. He was
right. Jesus told him. “One thing is
lacking. Go. Sell everything. (Literally! Not figuratively!) And
follow Me.”
That
made the man sad. He walked away sullen. Just as our losses during this recession
might saddened and anger us. When we experience painful loss. We look for deliverance.
For something, more than a spiritualized religious lesson plan. We need a flesh
and blood deliverer. Who is the one who can satisfy? It is Christ.
You know
how the game is played. You simply follow the rules. This man was an expert at
following the rules…Children were entering the kingdom. Certainly, there was
something he could do to prove his worthiness. He felt justified. By his life
and conduct. But he was only fooling himself. For there is only one person who
has lived a perfect life. This man was speaking to that man. That man is Jesus
Christ.
So, you
can’t earn it. In that case, then do the next best thing. By buying it? This
man had the wealth to buy it. – If it could be bought. He was rich. A man of
many resources. If he had wanted it. He got it. And In this world. Those who
“have it” have it good!
Or, so
they think. For some. The mark of success is never having to ask how much does
it cost. But that life which Jesus was speaking is beyond price.
This man
called Jesus a “good teacher.” Hoping
Jesus would teach him how to obtain life. Jesus
refused to be his guru. He was more than a life coach. “Why do
you call me good?” “No one is good
but God alone.” (v.19) This man
calls Jesus “good.” Only God is good. Do you accept the idea, the image, the
impression, the intention…that Jesus is God?
Only God
is good. The way to God. Is not to discover His secret for a good life, in
order to earn God’s favor. Rather
it is to come in faith to Christ, who alone can bestow eternal life.
Eternal
life is “inherited” as a gift. From
the One to whom we are fully committed. Jesus did not want anything standing in
the way of Him.
Instead
of following Jesus. This man chooses to stay with his money and his wealth. He
walked away sad and bitter for he was a wealthy man. It was his money. Which he
had given first priority in his life.
So what
about you? What is your destiny? What is God’s desire of you? His desire is to
give your life, liberty and peace. Freedom, security, happiness and joy. Regardless
of cost or price.
He gives
you all these things freely – without any cost without any price. It was all
bought and paid for by His on Son’s blood.
Sadly,
by the world’s standards, you are valued by the bottom line. By your
salary, position, your home, your education, your status in the community, your
appreciation for culture. Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you
lack, he said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. We have nothing without
Jesus Christ. To know Him is to know all. To have Him is to have all.
All
Jesus asks of you is your life. He asks that you simply follow Him and no one
else. By following Jesus, you gain everything. It’s as simple as that.
With
this one thing, a life with Christ you have everything. Having everything but
that one thing, Jesus makes all the difference in the world. For what does it
profit a man to gain the whole world but to lose his own soul? Today trust
Jesus. Follow Him! Obey Him! He is the one thing, which makes everything else
secondary.
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Words –828
Passive Sentences –2%
Readability –85.8
Reading Level -3.0
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