Sermon Tone Analysis

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.