TEXT:

‘Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”’ (Mark 10:17)

THOUGHT:

I love reading Mark’s gospel. It appears the author was in a hurry to cram in everything he wanted people to read, for he used the word “immediately” thirty-six times! This encounter between Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler is also recorded in both Matthew and Luke’s gospels, but Mark includes one phrase that makes their meeting all the more special, as we will see later in the teaching.

• Urgency – ‘one came running’

As Jesus was leaving the city on the road to Jerusalem, this man came running after Him. He did not want to miss seeing Jesus and ran to catch Him up. Why he had not spoken to Jesus earlier is not known, but perhaps he had heard Jesus say something that touched his heart. He wanted further information to a question he needed answering.

Too many think it is alright to leave things until they are much older and nearer death. That is too costly a mistake to make, for when the time comes it may be too late. The Bible says, ‘Run in such a way that you may obtain it’ (1 Corinthians 9:24). That is the prize of eternal life and treasure in heaven.

• Humility – ‘knelt before Him’

Here we see a wealthy young man first running, then kneeling in the dirt and the dust. When someone is desperate to get an answer, they will be willing to do anything. Humble yourself, for God gives grace to the humble.¹ Naaman the leper was not willing at first to humble himself and dip seven times in the River Jordan. It was only after his servants’ intervention that he obeyed and was healed.²

The Rich Young Ruler was used to people kneeling before him, because of his position and wealth, but he took the position of humility, recognising that Jesus was special. Ahead of time he fulfilled the prophecy, ‘Every knee shall bow ….. every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:10-11).

Be careful what you say about Jesus. He has made a promise that every word spoken against Him can be forgiven, but only if we are willing to acknowledge we got it wrong.

• Mystery – ‘What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’

This is the purpose of evangelism, to help people understand. Paul wrote, ‘That I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel’ (Ephesians 6:19).  Ask people what they think is the way to heaven and they come up with a myriad of answers, but there is only one way and Jesus said, ‘I am the Way!’ (John 14:6).  The Rich Young Ruler’s question presupposes several things.

1. He believed in life after death

He knew his body could not live forever but believed there was something better after death and wanted to be sure he got it. Death is not the end. After it there is judgment.³ A person’s eternal destination is determined by their decision on earth.

2. He believed that eternal life was not automatically given

If everyone is going to heaven anyway, why preach the gospel and evangelise? It would be pointless. His question makes clear he believed going to heaven was not automatic.

3. He believed he had to do something to inherit eternal life

Thank God the Bible now makes it very clear going to heaven is not based on what we do, but on what we believe. ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast’ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Rich Young Ruler knew he had a part to play and we know what it is. Repent! Then good works become a sign of our salvation, not of our efforts to try and obtain it.

• Honesty – ‘all these things I have kept from my youth’

I do not believe he was boasting, for it is possible to live a life like that and many do. He was really saying, “If that is all I have to do, why do I still feel uneasy about the future? Why am I not certain of inheriting eternal life?”

Many fall into the trap of believing it is down to what they have done that will decide their eternal fate. They wrongly think God will pat them on the back and welcome them into heaven, even though they have not received Jesus, God’s Son as their Saviour and Lord. If we do not accept Him, we reject Him, just like the crowd in Jerusalem who screamed out “Away with Him!”

• Anxiety – ‘what do I still lack?’

This response is recorded by Matthew. “You mean to tell me that’s not enough? Where am I missing the mark?” He could not work it out. Before he met Jesus he was sure he was good enough, but now anxiety troubled his heart.

Then Jesus dropped the bombshell. To the young man who had everything, much more than he could possibly need, Jesus said, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me’ (Mark 10:21).  He had everything on earth but nothing in heaven! We can leave a legacy when we die but we can also receive a legacy when we arrive in heaven!

We cannot take anything with us when we die, but while on earth we can store up in heaven something that can never be taken away from us.⁴

• Misery – ‘he was sad at this word and went away sorrowful’

I wonder what happened after that encounter. Did he become a true believer and distribute his wealth or did he die surrounded by riches he could not take with him? I am sure Jesus did not expect him to give away everything and end up penniless. No, He wanted him to start experiencing the joy of giving more than just accumulating wealth!

What did Jesus think of his reaction? Mark includes this wonderful phrase, ‘Then Jesus looking at him loved him’. He looks at you and I in the same way too. ‘Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end’ (John13:2).

You cannot stop God from loving you, for He is love and gave His Son Jesus as His gift of love. It is so much better to run to, not from, that love and hear God say, “I love you too!” When we know God loves us we will have no trouble keeping His commandments and doing those things He asks us to do.

Finally, in response to the Rich Young Ruler’s reaction, twice Jesus said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have and trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God!’ (Mark 10:23-24). Hard? Yes! Impossible? No! It is impossible to save ourselves but not if we do it with God’s help.

There is nothing that can stop a person if they really want to be saved. The moment they do, heaven is there to help and God will use circumstances, people, even angels to ensure they are saved. Hallelujah!

Endnotes:

¹ – James 4:6

² – 2 Kings 5:13-14

³ – Hebrews 9:27

⁴ – Matthew 6:19-21