Mark 10:17-22
So, what do you think of Jesus? Is He just one of many
sages and prophets, a moral guide and influencer? Or, is he more? Through the Gospel,
we shall see that Christ is the One, and only Savior by Whom you inherit Eternal
life. It is only through mercy do we receive the gifts of God.
Enlighten our
minds, we pray, O LORD, by the Spirit who proceeds from You that, as Your Son
has promised, we may be led into all truth; LORD Jesus Christ, Bless Thy Word,
that we may trust in Thee.
The LORD is the
Author and Giver of life, as well as a consuming fire of judgment against all, “who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
and turn aside the needy in the gate.” (Amos 5:12)
“Seek the LORD
and live,” therefore, by hating what is evil, loving what is good, and
doing what is just and right according to His Word. “And so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you.” (Amos 5:6, 14-15)
Know and understand that “no one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18) The life that you
are called to live is found neither in your “great possessions,” nor in your good works - but only in Christ alone.
This rich young man was off in his thinking from the
very start. He asks, “What must I do to
inherit eternal life?” Inheriting eternal life is not a matter of our
doing. It is a gift of grace.
Jesus tried to show this man that he could not earn
his salvation by directing him to the commandments.
Yet this young man persisted in his
self-righteousness. He proclaims that he had kept them all from his youth.
Still Jesus looked on him with love and compassion. He
sees him as a wayward wandering sheep. He directs the man to the First Commandment
by asking him to give up all he had. Yet, he walked away sorrowful; he loved
the things of this world more than the things of God.
How can a person enter into the Kingdom? Not on your
own merits. For with man it is impossible. But all things are possible with God.
As Jesus was
setting out on his journey, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked him,
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” v.17
This man comes to Jesus respectively. But not
reverently. “Kneeling,” is not always worshipful. He has nothing to give in reverent repentance.
He approaches Jesus as an equal. Thinking they were both “good.” He takes a knee in front of his life coach.
“Why are you
calling me good? Jesus asks. “No one
is good except God.” The Savior point to the one thing the man lacks. The Savior
teaches, “You are not good but God is.”
To be in the presence of God is to be in the need of
confession and faith. What is lacking in
this young man’s life? There is no evidence of contrition.
The Savior direct the man to examine his life through
the mirror and lens of the LORD’s holy Law. “The commandments, you know them…”Jesus then begins to enumerate the
commandments beginning with the fifth; “Do
not murder,” “Do not commit adultery,” sixth Commandment. Commandment seven, “Do
not steal,” and Commandment eight, “Do not bear false witness.”
When addressing sin the Savior is always specific and
direct. With lazar focused precision Jesus directs his attention to the task in
front of him; addressing the young man’s transgression and sin. Without
skipping a beat, the Savior circles back, “Do
not defraud…Honor your father and mother.’”
The man had much wealth. Yet he had deceived and
swindled his parents with defraud exploitation.
The Savior refuses to mince words. He reads the
intentions of man’s heart. “Be on your
guard against the scribes who like to walk around in their long robes, and love
to be greeted as important people in the town square. And want to have special
chairs in the meetinghouse, and the place of honor at dinner parties, who
devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive
the greater condemnation.” Luke 20:46-37
Still the Savior looked on him with compassion. He loved
him. “You lack one thing: go, sell all
that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow me.” Jesus directs the man to the First Commandment by asking
him to give up all he had.
The man walked away sorrowful. Not because of his
wealth. But because he persisted in his self-righteousness; equating his wealth
with his devotion and fidelity. He
associated the abundance of his possessions as a clear mark of faith. He loved
the things of this world more than the things of God.
How can any person enter the Kingdom of God? Not on
his own merits, for with man it is impossible. Yet all things are possible with
God. That’s why we believe and confess, “Who
for us men and our salvation Christ came down from heaven.”
We need to remember, that there was a nativity. Jesus entered time and space to be human just
like you.
In that Bethlehem manger, the Son of God didn’t just
insert Himself into human activities. He inserted Himself in the grittiness of
human flesh. He was also a person who knew pain and anger. He became angry
Himself on occasions, and ultimately was the victim of anger.
This life that you live. Your struggles. Your anger.
Your weakness. Your woes. Your sorrows -
your Lord knows all. Even your joys exactly. Because He became a man.
The coming of Jesus into our world changes everything.
For we do not have a God who was too proud to know His people. Or, a God
content to rule from a great distance. Or, a God whose majesty was too awesome
for us to behold. We have just the opposite. Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph,
experienced the very same humanity, the very same problems, and the very same
challenges that you do.
No, you do not walk this road alone. Jesus is the God
who came down from heaven. He was that man. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief. Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we
esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for
our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the
chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed. – Isaiah 53:3-5
Where is your confidence? In whom will you trust? Trust
not in princes they are but mortal. Trust not in yourself. Rather, pay
attention to the clear words, and the gentle voice of your Good Shepherd,
Jesus, who says, “All that which the
Father gives me shall come unto me; and he that comes to me I will in no wise
cast out.” – John 6:37
With the Psalmist,
we confess and believe; “Trust in the
Lord! He is their help and their shield. You, who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:10-11
Passive Sentences –1%
Readability –82.6%
Reading Level – 4.2
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