YouTube video sermon

Mark 10:17-23

We’re in our third week of this new series called Seven Questions God Asks Us. Of course, there are more than seven questions that God (or Jesus) asks in the Bible, but we’re just considering a few of them. Today, let me invite you to take your copy of God’s Word and turn with me to Mark 10. The story that we’re going to read this morning is one of those that’s recorded in each of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). We call them synoptics because they contain many of the same stories and are often in a similar sequence and might even include identical wording.

(I have to admit that every time I think about defining a Greek or Hebrew term, I’m reminded of Peggy’s satirical monologue of me for Pastor Appreciation month two years ago – and I just smile.)

Nevertheless, the word synoptic comes from the Greek word synopsis, and you’re all familiar with that – a synopsis is general summary of something. If you pause a little longer and look at the word synoptic, you might notice the prefix “syn” and the word “optic.” Syn meaning “together” or “with,” as in synonym or synonymous, and optic meaning “vision” or “the ability to see.” So, synoptic is literally “together sight,” or we might say “seeing things similarly.”

Ok, enough of the etymological word studies. But the reason I point that out is because many of us have come to know this story as the story of the Rich Young Ruler – and yet, that’s a title that’s actually a composite of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. See, Matthew (twice) refers to the man as “young,” while our text makes no mention of his age, and Luke’s account identifies the man as a “ruler.” Therefore, we’re left with the story of the rich young ruler. Also, let me just make this final distinction before we read the text. This is a real story with a real unidentified man. This isn’t a parable. Jesus taught using parables and many of His parables sounded like “real” scenarios:

“Behold, a sower went out to sow seed…” (Mark 4:3)

“[T]he kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants…” (Matthew 18:23)

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers…” (Luke 10:30)

Now, it’s possible that Jesus had specific people and events in mind when he told those stories, but not necessarily. However, in today’s text, we’re encountering a real man and Jesus. Man, you learn all kinds of neat things when you come to Mountain Hill. Well, let’s read this story:

17 And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to 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.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

“Father, I pray in this moment that the Spirit of God will be our teacher, that You will grant to us listening ears, that You will save us from distraction, and that we might know we’re in the presence of the risen Christ. So that, much like the disciples of old, we may say to one another, ‘Didn’t our hearts burn within us as Christ spoke to us and explained from the Scriptures all the things concerning Himself?’ (Luke 24:32). Lord, we’re not interested in hearing a man talk. What we want, what we need, is to hear the voice of the living God. Reach into our lives, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Our young man would be on most fathers’ lists of possible sons-in-law, wouldn’t he? If you’ve ever thought who you might like for your daughters as a son-in-law and you’ve considered things honestly, then perhaps you’ll agree with me that the characteristics represented in this man, although not in any particular order, are indeed attractive.

First of all, he’s prosperous. Now, we know that doesn’t matter in its entirety, but it sure helps. And the ability for someone to provide is an important thing.

Second, he was principled. He was a young man who was able to say that he’d been living by the rules. He wasn’t trying to fiddle things or dodge issues; he was a man of integrity. That, too, is attractive.

He was also personable. We pick that up from the fact that there was something about his approach and the way in which he interacted with Jesus that caused Jesus to love him (as Mark records it for us). Of course, that says something about Jesus, but it also says something about the nature of this young man – he was personable.

And finally, he was spiritual. He might have preferred to call himself religious, but certainly he was a young man who was interested in eternal life and spiritual matters.

Prosperous…principled…personable…and spiritual: not only on the list of potential sons-in-laws but also on the list of attractive prospects for most churches. Any church that was looking for a few good men to add to their ranks, to help serve in some capacity, would’ve immediately said, “Now that’s the kind of fellow we could use on one of our committees!” And the disciples were probably saying to themselves, “This dude could be one of us.”

Therefore, it’s quite striking that when you get to the end of the dialogue, you discover that the man’s face has fallen, and he’s gone away sad. I did a quick skim of the New Testament this week. Mind you, it was quick. It wasn’t in-depth or thorough, but what I found was that there are a number of people who came to Jesus sad but went away happy. This is the only person that I could find in the whole New Testament who met Jesus and went away sad. Think about that for just a minute. Now, you had some that went away mad (Pharisees, Sadducees, Roman authorities, and the like), but only this guy came happy and left sad.

As we consider this third question that Jesus asks us, I want to outline today’s message with four words: question, redirect response, and instruction. That’s the roadmap: the man’s question, Jesus’ redirect, the man’s response, and Jesus’ instruction.

Question

Verse 17 seems to suggest that this man’s concern was so great, his interest was so sincere, that he’s virtually falling over himself as he seeks to address his question to Jesus.

You don’t rise to leadership, nor do you amass wealth unless you’re zealous, hardworking, marked by exertion and by activity (or unless you’re involved in corruption). And I believe we wouldn’t at all be surprised, if we walked through a couple of days with this young man and found out that he was just the kind of individual who was “Johnny on it.” He would be the kind of person who returned his telephone calls. He would be the sort of guy who said, “If I’ll call you at 6:00 p.m.,” then he called at six. If he said he had a book to pass on to you, then he got the book to you. That’s just the kind of man he was. And if somebody presented a challenge, he was ready for it. He’d made that part of his life. Therefore, it’s no surprise at all that when he comes to Jesus with this spiritual question, he wants to know what he had to do: “What do I have to do?” Isn’t that the question of every “go getter” – just tell me what to do.

Obviously, this guy isn’t a disinterested bystander at one of Jesus’ public teachings. Here’s a man who runs for all he’s worth. He is eager to ask Jesus the question burning in his soul, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He comes eagerly. He comes willingly. He comes with respect and honor. He falls on his knees before Jesus, and he uses a form of address that was somewhat unusual and rare among the Jews when he says to Him, “Good Teacher,” or, “Good Rabbi.” Let me pause there for a second.

One who held the office of rabbi in the Jewish community was considered one of the most distinguished and honorable persons in the community. It was the custom of the Jews that anytime the father, the patriarch of the family, entered a room, his children were required to stand in respect for him – with one notable exception. If one of the sons became a rabbi, then the custom was that when that son entered the room, his father would stand in respect of his son because of this elevated office.

So, it’s with great respect that this young man asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” The Psalms in the Old Testament talked about inheriting life, and so often in the Old Testament the notion of inheriting life was related to obedience to the law. This man comes with that assumption that the only way he will ever inherit eternal life is by doing something that would make him right before God. I’m going to come back to that in a few moments, but for now let’s go on with Jesus’ redirect

Redirect

Notice how Jesus answers the question with a question. He says: “Why are you calling Me good? Don’t you know that there’s only One who is good, even God?”

Some of the critics of the Christian faith go to this text, and they say, “See, here is a place where Jesus denies His own deity. Jesus recognized that He too had sin in His life because He says He’s not good.” I’m quite convinced that’s not what Jesus was saying. Rather, Jesus knew that the man didn’t know to Whom he was asking the question. Jesus knew that this guy didn’t know that he was talking to God incarnate. Jesus was calling attention to this man’s superficial understanding of what goodness is, just like we do. Just like the world, it’s so easy for us to call each other good. We say, “He’s a good man, she’s a good woman, he’s a good child,” and so on without giving much thought or consideration to what goodness entails. Good is a relative term, and we use it by comparing one person to another.

We compare ourselves to each other, just as we talk about animals. I say about my dog, “My dog is a good dog.” What do I mean by that? I don’t mean that my dog has a highly refined ethical sense of propriety or that my dog knows how to make those hard decisions that righteousness requires. No, I’m just saying that as dogs go, my dog is a pretty good dog. My dog comes when I call her. She doesn’t bite the mailman. She’s barks when there’s something to be barked at, but otherwise she’s quiet. That’s what a good dog is.

So, what do we mean when we say that a man is good? We mean that compared to other people, he’s pretty good. We’re warned in Scripture, however, not to judge ourselves by ourselves or to judge ourselves against others. Rather, we understand that goodness is ultimately defined by the character of God. And where is God’s character manifest most clearly – in the law. When we judge ourselves against the ultimate standard of the righteousness of God, then we come to understand why the Psalmist and the Apostle Paul say: “There is none righteous. There is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:1, 53:1; Romans 3:10-12).

So, what does Jesus do? Where does Jesus take him? Straight to the law, and more specifically to the second part of the law – the part that deals with our interactions with one another. Let me put it this way: Jesus starts with the easy part. He says: “You know the law. Thou shall not murder. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery.” It’s important that you see where Jesus starts. Why? Because when we encounter people today, what is their typical response regarding eternal life? “I haven’t murdered anybody. I haven’t robbed a bank. I haven’t cheated on my spouse.” They start in the same place. And we need to help them understand that “goodness” is only determined and defined by the One who is Himself good – God.

Response

Suddenly this eager young man, who came rushing to Jesus to find out how to get in God’s kingdom, breathes an audible sigh of relief: “Thank goodness. Is that all? All I have to do is keep the law.” He says: “Jesus, I’ve never committed adultery. I’ve never stolen anything. I’ve never murdered anybody. I’m not a covetous person. I’ve done all of these things since I was a little boy. I was born and reared in the Jewish community. We recited the law all the time. I know the Decalogue. It’s written on my heart. I keep those commandments every day.”

You would expect Jesus to say, “No you don’t.” Jesus could’ve said, “Sir, you haven’t kept a single one of the Ten Commandments since you got out of your bed this morning.” Obviously, the guy wasn’t aware of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus explained that even if you’ve refrained from full-blown adultery, but you’ve lusted after someone, then you’ve broken the law. Even if you’ve never taken a human life, if you’ve been angry without just cause, if you’ve hated your brother, if you’ve insulted him, then you’ve broken the law concerning murder. Jesus revealed that the demands of God’s law are far deeper than the mere, simple outward obedience that’s spelled out in the law.

The rich young ruler simply didn’t understand the law. He didn’t have a clue about the depth of his own sin. And this continues to be a problem today. People don’t truly appreciate their need of salvation. They don’t view themselves as standing in opposition to a holy God – after all, except for this morning, when was the last time you heard someone use the word “holy” in the proper context? My ears are especially sensitive to it, and I can tell you that without fail it’s used as an adjective modifying any number of curse words. Whereas, in the Bible, it’s only and always used in relation to Almighty God. In fact, He is holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6:3), and we are called to “be holy as He is holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Well, let’s look at the final scene.

Instruction

Jesus doesn’t give him a lecture. He doesn’t say: “No, you haven’t kept the law since you were a little boy. No, you don’t understand the gospel. You don’t understand justification by faith alone.” Rather, He’s trying to help the man. After the man said, “All these things I’ve kept from my youth,” Mark tells us that Jesus, looking at him, loved him. Isn’t that interesting? The young man says to Jesus – the Judge of heaven and earth who is standing right in front of him – “I’ve kept the law since I was a little boy,” and Jesus looks at him and loves him.

Why does He love him? Is it because He was so happy to finally find an Israelite in whom there was no guile, to finally find somebody in the Jewish community that did in fact keep the law from the time he was a little boy? Did Jesus love this fellow because he was so lovely? I don’t believe the rich young ruler was an arrogant man. To be sure, his answers were arrogant, but I don’t think his demeanor was arrogant. I don’t think that was his attitude. He really wanted to know, and he believed that he had kept the law.

My mind (perhaps like yours) turns to that scene of Jesus approaching Jerusalem weeping, crying out in prophetic lament, “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and all who were sent before, how often I would have gathered you to Myself like a hen gathers her chicks, but you would not” (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34). I think Jesus wanted to look at this man, put His arms around him, and say: “Don’t you understand? The only way you get into the kingdom is if you bring nothing in your hand. You have to receive it like a child. You can’t buy it. You can’t earn it. You can’t possibly deserve it. You have to receive it. It’s by grace and grace alone.”

So, what does Jesus do. He loves him and He moves right up to the top of the list. “Let’s put it to the test. There’s one little thing you lack. You’ve done so well all those years, but you’re going to miss this inheritance because of one requirement. All you have to do is go out and sell all that you have, give it to the poor, pick up your cross, and follow Me – then you’ll inherit the kingdom.”

Folks, if all I had to do to inherit eternal life was to get rid of all my private property, I wouldn’t wait until tomorrow. I’d give it away today, because “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul” (Mark 8:36)? What could be sillier than to seek money, or financial security, or wealth rather than the kingdom of God?

Understand that Jesus is not setting down a universal rule for anybody to enter the kingdom of God. He’s not saying that everyone must divest themselves of all private property, enter a monastery, and take an oath of poverty. That’s not what Jesus is saying. Nor is He saying that wealth and riches are inherently bad or evil. As an old pastor friend of mine used to say, “It’s not wrong to have stuff, as long as the stuff doesn’t have you.” No, Jesus is addressing the man’s specific area of rebellion, disobedience, and unfaithfulness. “You’ve kept all the law? Let’s start with number one: ‘Thou shall have no other gods before Me.’” Jesus knew that money was this man’s god. And when Jesus hit the nail on the head the rich young ruler’s sigh of relief was transformed into a groan of despair, for the Bible says, “Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful…” That word “sorrowful” isn’t strong enough. He was downcast. In the Greek it says that he was stugnazó. He was “shocked.” He was “devastated.” And he walked away from Jesus.

The Pearl of Great Price was standing right in front of him. All the treasures of heaven and earth were in the One he walked away from. It’s like a man who wouldn’t trade a nickel for a billion dollars, but even that’s a poor analogy. He thought his own possessions were worth more than Jesus. He’d rather have had his own bank account than the kingdom of God. In just a moment we’re going to close by singing:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway.
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

The real tragedy of this story is that the only Person in the universe who could get this rich man out of bankruptcy, the only Person in the universe who could pay the debt that the man couldn’t pay, was standing right in front of him. Do you want eternal life today? Let go of what’s in your hand. Let go of those riches. Let go of your performance. Let go of whatever is holding you back from receiving the free gift of God’s grace.

That’s what the gospel is all about. Christ pays for us. He purchases us. He pays our debt. He gives to us His righteousness, which is the only thing that will satisfy the demands of God’s law. By faith, when you put your trust in Christ and Christ alone and despair of your own wealth, you let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also, and cling to Jesus. Then you receive the inheritance that you need to get into the kingdom of God.

“O God, we’re beggars who have no bread. We’re debtors who have no money, but You’ve poured out a Treasure to us in Jesus. You’ve given us the Pearl of Great Price. O God, don’t ever let us walk away from You.”