WORTH IT ALL

Mark 10:17–27 ESV

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?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 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.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 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.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 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!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

TWO CHARACTERS

THE MAN

He was eager to meet Jesus (ran up). He needed resolution for the conflict within his soul - (what must one do to inherit eternal life?) He knew their was something extraordinary about Jesus (knelt before him and asked him, Good Teacher).

What instigated this inquiry for a man who had everything? I believe his inquiry came as a result of Jesus teaching in (vv. 13-16) concerning entrance into God’s Kingdom. Jesus words reveal that this man though he possessed everything still lacked one thing.

This young man was an exceptional person. Notice his admission concerning the 2nd table of the law (teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. ) This is what Paul said of himself in Philippians 3:6-7

Philippians 3:6–7 ESV

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

He was blameless but He was not sinless. You can keep all 2nd tablet commandments and still not enter the kingdom. Morality is not enough! Eternal life cannot be earned only received.

THE MESSIAH

Jesus interaction with this young man reminds me of John’s words in John 2:23-25

John 2:23–25 ESV

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knows what is in us! He knows our hearts better than we do and His questions liked a skilled surgeon with a scalpel cut deep to expose our true condition. Jesus penetrating questions seek to expose the unvarnished us. He exposes the real us not to humiliate but to humble, not to embarrass but to embrace, not to shame but to save. How do I know that to be true (21) and jesus, looking at him loved him, and said to him).

Jesus looks past the phony facade and see a life without any light, a life filled with delusion, a life doomed to eternal separation, and yet Jesus loved him and spoke truth to his heart.

ONE CONVERSATION

(17) What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus previous conversation in Mark 10:15

Mark 10:15 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

created a buzz because no one taught entrance in God’s kingdom/eternal life in such a manner. Jesus conversation reveal two long held beliefs eternal life guarantee to those who had money and/or morality.

It was taught that the rich were rich because of God’s blessing on their life and therefore were assuredly in His Kingdom. This is seen in Jesus conversation with His disciples following the departure of the rich man in Mark 10:23-27

Mark 10:23–27 ESV

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!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

The disciples thought the young man had eternal life due to his money and the young man thought he had eternal life due to his morality. Jesus reinforces His teaching that eternal life is not found in trusting in your money or morality but in the Messiah. Mark 10:24

Mark 10:24 NKJV

And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

Jesus is telling this young man and everyone who will hear and read His words eternal life is a matter of trust. This young man inherits eternal the same as you and I; we trust in Christ alone.

TWO CONCLUSIONS

Those who don’t trust Jesus for salvation walk away sorrowfully.

When you walk away from Jesus you will find yourself disheartened and sorrowful. Disheartened is a word used to describe the sky becoming overcast in anticipation of a storm. Walking away from Jesus leads one to a sad state of being.

Jesus request is in keeping with the theme set forth in Mark 8:34-38

Mark 8:34–38 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

and

Mark 9:33–37 ESV

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Jesus request is not disheartening if one sees Jesus for who He truly is. Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10

Luke 19:1–10 ESV

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus said when you see him for all that He is you will Matthew 13:44-45

Matthew 13:44–45 ESV

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

Salvation is seeing Jesus as superior to all other treasures. When a person sees Jesus in this manner they will trust Jesus with all their treasure.

Giving it all away would not save this man. It is His trust in Christ demonstrated in his giving it all away that would save him.

Jesus did not tell every rich person he encountered to do such. Yet every rich person in Scripture demonstrated such a reaction upon trusting Christ. What Christ demanded in this story is not prescriptive but descriptive. It was appropriate to the situation.

Jesus was saying to the rich young man “if you trust me then let me decide what to do with your wealth”. We are saved by trusting in Christ alone. We call this faith.

Forsaking All I Trust Him

Christianity is not something you add-on to your life. You can’t tack on His righteousness to your (filthy rags) righteousness. Christianity is to explosive to be an add on. You cannot make yourself a child of God. You must be born again.

People either find Jesus compelling or repelling. They are either drawn to him or driven away by Him. This is how people who come in contact close contact with Jesus react. You may say “I have never been drawn or driven away by the person of Jesus” then I say to stand on very dangerous ground. When you encounter Christ their is always a response 1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Encountering Christ always provokes either an attitude of worship or worthlessness. If you feel nothing cry out to Christ that you might encounter Him. If you have encountered Him and found Him worthless would you again consider His great love for you and bend your knee in worship.

Those who trust Jesus with their eternal life but not in their everyday life - live sorrowfully.

Jesus is not against His people possessing riches. He gives us plenty of instruction concerning riches because riches are dangerous. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

1 Timothy 6:17–19 ESV

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

You can give it away because He gave you everything.

Generosity helps others and builds up ones faith.

Lay up don’t store up.

If you can trust Christ for eternal life why are you are not trusting Him with your earthly life.

When we don’t trust Christ in everyday life we will be disheartened and distressed. Hear me Christian walking Jesus is not a life free of difficulty only one free of being distressed and disheartened.

Brothers and sisters Christ has saved you from everlasting doom not to destroy you with difficulty only to deliver to you everlasting joy. Hymn writer John Newton writes the following words from the Lord in answer to His prayer for spiritual growth

“These inward trials I employ From self and pride to set thee free And break thy schemes of earthly joy That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Dear Christian you will find Christ requests quite strong for His call remains unchangeable Mark 8:34-35

Mark 8:34–35 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

It is in strength of His command that we will find promised joy. It is His request of everything that we will find our hearts fully and completely satisfied. When Christ is worth it all life is worth living.