Exposing Idols

Reading:

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 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.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (, NIV84)

Introduction

As we continue our study this morning in Mark’s Gospel, let us consider once again what is taking place as Jesus walks with his disciples towards Jerusalem. The broader context of this passage that we consider this morning is within that journey towards Jerusalem, and the teaching of Christ as he proceeds on that journey. If one could sum up the core of the message that Christ gives as he walks with his disciples and teaches them, it would be with this phrase that is found in …

“…If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (, NASB95)

And so, Christ is engaging in teaching his disciples precisely what this means. What does it mean to deny yourself, to take up your cross, and to follow Christ?

We’ve seen in some detail what that means through the verses which followed , and repeatedly what we find is that this truly is a challenging calling. It is not a calling that is without weight or significance. It is not a calling that encourages half-hearted participation or engagement. Rather, it is a calling that places a demand to give ones all to following Christ.

Last week, we considered the illustration that Jesus gave as the children were being brought to him so that he could pray for them and bless them, and how the disciples then turned the parents bringing these children away from Christ. The disciples saw these children as insignificant (as did the society of that day) but Christ used that as a teaching moment, to demonstrate to the disciples that anyone who did not receive the kingdom of God like a child would not enter it at all.

What Christ was saying as he rebuked his disciples, was that without a recognition of ones desperately needy state, there is no way that you may enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is a non-negotiable requirement that to enter the kingdom you are required to forsake any merits or good that you would bring and contribute to your salvation, and depend wholly and entirely on the grace given in Jesus Christ.

The verse that helped us to understand that message of Christ, which we considered within that context was …

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (, NASB95)

This morning, we find the perfect example in practical life of what Jesus was attempting to explain to his disciples. We find a rich young man (who according to Luke, was in fact a ruler, very possibly a synagogue ruler) who comes to Jesus because he desires to have eternal life. Here is a man who wants to be a part of the kingdom of God, and so he comes to enquire of Jesus.

And we will see in this account how Jesus reinforces the fact that unless you deny yourself, unless you come just as you are, without merit and hope within yourself, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

So let’s consider that together.

So, let’s consider that together.

1. A Desire for Eternal Life (v.17)

The first thing that we see from our text this morning is that this young ruler with a desire for eternal life, approaches Jesus.

Christ is about to set off on a journey with his disciples. Clearly, he had been staying at a particular place, where the previous incidents had unfolded. But as they prepare to depart, possibly even in the process of walking out of the city that they were at, a young man runs up to them, and falls at Jesus’ feet.

Christ is about to set off on a journey with his disciples. Clearly, he had been staying at a particular place, where the previous incidents had unfolded. But as they prepare to depart, possibly even in the process of walking out of the city that they were at, a young man runs up to them, and falls at Jesus’ feet.

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him…” (, NASB95)

The way this man approaches Jesus and confronts Jesus with his question demonstrates a sense of urgency. Firstly, the man “ran up to” Jesus. If Christ was just about out of the city, this man didn’t want Jesus to be gone before he had had the opportunity to ask the question that he had on his heart. This man was greatly burdened by this question that he had.

The urgency and the burden with which this man asked the question is further demonstrated by the fact that he knelt before Jesus. This reminds us of the posture of the leper in , who begged Jesus to heal him. It was a posture either of desperation or of extreme reverence. Perhaps of both.

But the very fact that this question could not wait, and the ruler didn’t want this opportunity to pass him by, demonstrates the sense of urgency and deep desire he had to know the answers.

We then find the question that the man posed to Jesus:

“…and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?””

The burden that this ruler was carrying related to his deep desire to have confirmation that he would indeed inherit eternal life. He was looking for assurance that he could obtain eternal life. He wanted to know, very importantly, what good thing he should do in order to inherit the eternal life that he sought. In Matthew’s account of this event, the man asked precisely that…

“Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”” (, NASB95)

This man wanted to obtain eternal life, and he was searching for what GOOD THINGS could be done in order to achieve this. No doubt, this man was prepared to do what he thought were the good things necessary for this eternal life. Even at this point, there may have been a hint of self-sufficiency, that perhaps he had already done enough, and he would be told about how good he was as a person.

Maybe he was simply requiring those congratulatory words from Jesus, saying don’t worry young ruler, you’ve done enough. We notice that when he addresses Christ, he calls him “Good teacher.” It may very well have been that he was expecting a similar response from Jesus to him.

But as this passage unfolds, we will see how deceived this man was to think that he would be able to do anything that would merit him eternal life, and a place in glory.

2. The Standard of the Law (v.18)

The response of Christ to this man is found in verse 18 of our text, and there are a few interesting things to note from this verse.

Firstly, notice the question that Jesus poses to the man:

“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” (, NASB95)

This is a very strange response from Jesus. Just reading that sentence on its own may lead one to believe that Christ was denying that he was co-equal with the Father. Those who deny the deity of Christ would go to this particular verse, and make the argument that Christ himself tells this man that God alone is good, and that he is thus not to be called good.

But that’s not what Christ says here, and it’s not the argument that he’s making.

The Greek word for good that is used here (ἀγαθός ) is used in a variety of ways, but there is no indication that it is inappropriate to use it to apply even to a normal person, let alone to Jesus. For example, in , Jesus himself says:

““But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (, NASB95)

The same word is applied by Jesus to speak of those in this world who are “good” – meaning those who are friends, rather than enemies to a person. So, the context of the word contributes to its meaning. But it would not at all, in the normal course, be wrong to call someone (even an earthly rabbi) “good teacher”. Clearly what Christ is saying here is for a different purpose.

So, what is it?

Well, let us consider the discussion in its context. The man has come to Jesus, and wants to inherit eternal life. He wants to know what good things he must do in order to inherit eternal life.

But in order to do this, he approaches Jesus purely on the basis of what he perceives is his (Christ’s) moral goodness. He recognises that Christ is an upright man. Remember, when Christ came into the world, he came in order to perfectly fulfil the law. His life was no doubt impeccable, and this would have been clear to see to all around him.

And so, as this man comes to him, he’s asking what are the good things that he needs to do in order to obtain life, and he asks this “good teacher” purely as a moral person. In other words, he in no ways perceives the true nature of the man that he has approached.

As Christ answers then, he is testing the man in order to draw out whether or not he perceives that Christ is the very Son of God. Christ wasn’t denying that he was equal to God. He was testing the man to see whether or not he recognised this fact.

Christ didn't want this man to merely follow another Rabbi in a moralistic way! What the man needed was to personally and intimately know the Christ.

Interestingly enough, Christ doesn’t immediately make this known to the man. Instead, he sets the man up in order to show him that he has completely the wrong perception about his own desperate need.

In verse 19, we see the rest of Christ’s response:

““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.’ ”” (, NASB95)

Christ asserts it as fact that this man knows these commands. If indeed this was a synagogue ruler, this would demonstrate the reason why Christ knew this.

But he draws this man’s mind these commandments that were given to Israel. But note what he doesn’t do: He doesn’t speak of any of the commandments relating to loving God. All of the commandments that he speaks about are those which relate loving ones neighbour.

· Do not murder – that is an act which would be committed against a neighbour.

· Do not commit adultery – again, and act which would be committed against a neighbour.

And so forth.

So, these are really the last 6 commandments, but he makes no mention of the first 4 commandments, which all speak about how you love God.

The reason that Christ does this will become clear in a moment.

But what I’d like to emphasise at this point, is that the commandments have relevance. They have a bearing on this man’s life. Christ goes specifically to the commandments as a basis for the good things which should be done if, through doing good things, you wish to have any hope of inheriting eternal life.

3. False Sense of Security (v.20)

Verse 20 of our passage demonstrates the level of commitment that the man had to following the law of God, at least in terms of its outward requirements:

“And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”” (, NASB95)

(First thing that we see here is that he’s dropped the “good”, and now simply called Jesus “teacher”.)

But besides that, and the important point that we see from this man’s response, is that he had attempted to live in obedience to the law, and as far as he could tell, he had done so. Here then was an exemplary man – he had lived a good life. It was a morally good life that he had lived.

As one considers what this man was saying, it may remind us of the life that Paul had once lived, as he too had sought to earn God’s favour, and to earn his place in God’s kingdom by living in obedience to the law.

“…as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” (, NASB95)

But what Paul, at that point in his life, had failed to recognise, and what this man in our passage this morning failed to recognise, was that this was insufficient. And the reason that it was insufficient, was because the heart was still defiled. Dirty.

On outward appearances, it may have been that this man had lived a good life. But was his heart clean? Had he ever had anger in his heart towards another person? Well that was like murder, according to Christ on the sermon on the mount. Had he ever looked lustfully at a woman? Well, that was adultery according to Christ’s teaching on the sermon on the mount.

The fact was that outward obedience would never be sufficient.

4. Exposing the Idol (v.21)

Christ, of course, knows that this man’s heart is not pure. He knows the heart of man. But he doesn’t waste too much time debating on the accuracy of this man’s self-assessment in terms of obeying the law.

Instead, he confronts the man directly with his idolatry, by giving him a direct instruction. But before we consider the actual instruction, take note of the attitude of Christ towards the man, verse 21:

“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him…”

Jesus turns his face to this man, filled with the love and compassion that we’ve seen throughout the Gospel in Christ. Not angry with the man. Not telling the man off for his lofty thoughts about himself, and the pride in his heart. Rather, Jesus felt a love for him.

The word in the Greek for love is ἀγαπάω (agapao). The meaning is…

“…to have love for someone or something, based on sincere appreciation and high regard[1]

It is to regard someone with affection. The fact was, that Christ loved this man, despite the fact that he knew his heart was not right, and in fact would remain not right after this very encounter.

This love is the kind of love that we are to have even for our enemies. This is the love that Christ commanded us to have, as he preached that Sermon on the Mount:

““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (, NASB95)

Christ was demonstrating this very love for this rich young ruler.

But we must notice further that this love that Jesus has for the man does not stop Him from exposing the sin in the heart of this man. He doesn't just tell the man, well since you've been such a good guy, and lived a moral life; since you’re sincere in your desire to know God, and to be with God; well, therefore I’ll just pat you on the back and tell you to keep going and God will reward you.

That’s not at all what Christ does. What Christ does is to expose the heart of this man. He must teach the man the truth concerning what is happening in his heart, because unless he does that, this man is in big trouble!!

We must take cognisance of this, if we are going to develop a true burden for the lost. Without understanding that it is not sincerity, and it is not a good life that grants one eternal life, we will not have a burden for the lost as we ought.

In this past week, I was speaking to a man who was conveying to me his interactions with a Muslim man, and what a nice person this Muslim was. This Christian man was truly moved by the interaction and the discussions with this Muslim. And as he was speaking to me about this, he made the comment - surely God will make a way for this Muslim man to be saved, to be in God’s Kingdom. He seemed like such a good person. So kind, and congenial. A morally good man. And the burden on this Christian’s heart was, surely God will allow such good people into His kingdom.

But that’s not what Christ shows here. That’s not what the Scriptures as a whole teach us either. There are many wonderful, nice, sincere people out there, who will not inherit the kingdom, because their heart has rejected the way that God says people should go!

Jesus was not merely a way to God. Jesus was the very self-revelation of God!!! This is God the flesh, coming down from glory and dwelling amongst people, so that the world might have the witness and testimony of God himself on earth. God had already spoken in history. To men such as Abraham. Through men such as the prophets. And many rejected these prophets. But God then entered into humanity through His very own son, and gave the perfect, complete self-revelation, so that mankind may know the truth, and accept the truth, and thus be saved!!

But if any man rejects Jesus, then he rejects the Father who sent Him.

Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the father but through me.

And so, Christ loves this man, and because he loves this man, and has a deep concern and care for the man’s life, tells the man what it is that must be done if he wishes to obtain this eternal life that he seeks. And so he gives this instruction (second half of verse 21)…

“One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

What would it really take in order to inherit eternal life? What is required, if one would become a part of this kingdom of God?

It requires obedience to, and submission to Jesus Christ. Not in some intellectual sense. Not in the sense that we must pay lip service to Jesus, saying that He is Lord, when there is no true sense in our hearts that He is worth far more than anything in this world.

Here was a rich young man. A man who was a ruler. Admired in society no doubt, since not only was he a ruler – someone who would have been respected and honored, but a wealthy ruler. And as the Proverbs teach:

“Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.” (, NASB95)

This man had the life. But Christ knew that this man was not putting God first. He knew furthermore, that this man had not recognized that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. He had not recognized that Jesus was the Messiah!

Here was a man who hoped that outward conformity to the law would make him righteous. But his heart’s devotion was not with Christ. His affections were not set upon Christ.

Again, we need to realise that the law is not meaningless, or without value. There is a purpose to the law. Certainly, every one of those commands that Christ mentioned to this man, we today, as believers in Christ, would acknowledge are important and right if we are to be living in a manner pleasing to God.

But the point was, as good as those laws were, they ultimately pointed to the Saviour. Christ as Saviour stood above the law, far more significant, as the one who would fulfil the law. And while obedience to the law would be significant and important, first and foremost, it is necessary to submit to Christ, to love Christ.

Remember the Transfiguration - Moses and Elijah were there on the mountain with Christ. They represented the law and the prophets. Those were less significant than Christ. They pointed to Christ. And so, God said to those three disciples there, this is my son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him. Christ is all. Christ is supreme.

This rich young ruler didn’t want Christ above all. He wanted to live a self-absorbed life. Yes, certainly it was a moral life, but it was self-centred moralism, and coupled to that, he wanted a self-centred life wherein he could retain the physical pleasures of the world in terms of his material wealth. He wanted to live his life how he wanted, with all the pleasures of the here and now.

5. Despondent but Lost (v.22)

The sad reality of this account is that although this man had come to Christ with a deep desire to inherit eternal life, and to know what it was that he could do in order to inherit that eternal life, he was not prepared to do the necessary. He walked away despondent, but still lost. Verse 22…

“But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” (, NASB95)

You see, he came to Christ thinking that he may need to add to what he was already doing. He came thinking that it may be necessary to supplement. But in this was not an addition equation – this was subtraction. He would need to give away. He would need to lose that which he had already gained.

This man walked away distressed. He was literally grieving at the response that came from Christ. It was too much for him. It went beyond where he was prepared to go – at least so far as we know as the Scriptures teach us here.

In this account, Christ radically drew open the curtain on the man’s heart, and dear friends, not only this man’s heart, but on the heart of man in general!! His point was simply this: If you would come after me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.

Application and Conclusion

So, what do we, as 21st century Christians learn from this account in the Gospel? A couple of important things that we can learn…

1. Following Christ requires Counting the Cost

The first thing that we can learn from this event is that to follow Christ, does require us to count the cost. This is not a cheap and easy Gospel. And I keep on saying this – the reason being that the Scriptures keep saying this. It certainly has been evident as we’ve worked through the Gospel of Mark.

If you’re an unbeliever this morning, then I must say to you, that to follow Christ demands a denial of self. Let me elaborate on that for you: It demands a denial of sinful self. Of the idols of self. Of sinful practices. Of the lustful desires of the flesh that wage war against us. Even Christ himself, said to the crowds:

““For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (, NASB95)

He goes on to say some other even more extreme words just further on, but I’ll leave those for next week!!!

The fact is, to live for Christ, is to live a life of self-denial. This goes for those of us who have been Christians for a long time. Perhaps we have become complacent in our lives as followers of Christ. Perhaps you have been drawn slowly away from your affections of Jesus, and your beginning to delight yourself in the lusts of your flesh.

Dear brother or sister, turn away from that. Forsake those ways, and come to the place of true delight. A delight not in the pleasures of the things of this world, but a delight in Jesus Christ, the one who laid down his own life so that you could have life. He laid down his life so that you could receive all of the riches of the treasures in Christ, which are of far more worth than silver and gold in this world.

2. Be Breaking Down your Idols

The second point of application flows from this that I’ve already said, but in slightly modified terms, and that is: Be Breaking Down your Idols.

In order to do that, you need to begin by identifying what precisely those idols are! In what area of your life are you clinging onto that which you shouldn’t. Or perhaps to put it another way: What is it in your life that you need to be there in order for you to be content / satisfied? So the question is: Are you satisfied in Christ, or do you have an idol – meaning something that you need in order to give you satisfaction.

Let me give you some examples of this, and I’d ask that you pray about these in your own life (there may be others, but these will give you the idea)…

Materialism…

This one flows directly out of the text, because it’s the problem that this rich young ruler faced. We will look more at this next week, so I won’t dwell on it here. But ask yourself, do I need a certain level of wealth or financial freedom in order to be happy, or for my life to have meaning?

Pride…

We see proud people all the time. People who believe they don’t need God or anyone else to run their lives. Even Christians who have put their trust in God for their eternity are sometimes too proud to allow Him to control their daily lives.

Lust…

So many people are addicted to lustful thoughts and actions. Jesus gave a clear teaching on lust. If a man looks at a woman with lust in his heart, that is the same as adultery in the eyes of God (). What about Pornography…?

Entertainment…

First of all, is your entertainment God-honoring? If not, then that is reason enough to step away from it.

What does your financial commitment to entertainment say about this as a possible idol in your life?

Consider your own family entertainment. How does it compare financially, or time-wise, when compared to what you are willing to do for the Lord? When you value your entertainment more than the Lord and place it ahead of your willingness to serve God with your resources, then it has become an idol of the heart that should be removed.

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (, NASB95)

Approval…

You are only happy and content when you have the approval of certain people in your life, and when they approve of everything that you say and do, or the actions that you take. Your joy and contentment should not come out of the approval from others, but through delighting in Christ.

Control…

Do you feel the need to be in control of every situation, and to control what happens in life? If you don’t have control of a situation, do you have fear and anxiety that builds up in your life? Really, this kind of fear is another type of pride. It flows out of a lack of faith in God and His promises, the promises to keep His people, the promises to work all things together for the good of those who love Him. That’s not saying don’t do anything.

There are any number of things that can be positioned as idols in our lives. Please don’t write this off – this is a struggle for every single person, so long as you live your life here on this earth. But the question is, are you fighting against this sin? Are you breaking down your idols? Are you seeing progress in your life as a Christian, as you deal with the sin in your life?

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (, NASB95)

Christians should seek the things of God; place their desires and affections on things outside this world. All this because their lives are secure in Christ. We should live for Him and not for ourselves. This is not to earn salvation but to show a gratitude and love for what He has done for us.

And in closing: He gives us the power to do this, as we trust in Him!! Are you availing yourself of this power?!

[1] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 292). New York: United Bible Societies.