Jesus told the rich young ruler, “Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor.” Does Jesus require that of us if we want to receive eternal life?
In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 10:17-31, the account of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking eternal life. As Jesus challenged the young man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, He exposed the true condition of his heart. In this lesson, we follow the directions Jesus gave the rich young ruler, learning to look upward to Christ, inward at our priorities, outward beyond self-reliance, and onward to the hope of eternal life.
Thanks so much for joining us as we study God’s Word together. In this book, we have the best answers to all the biggest questions. And people are the only ones who ask those big questions; we don’t see animals asking, “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” or “Where am I going?” Humans ask these questions, and our answers are very important.
In today’s lesson, a young man asks Jesus, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Great question, this is what humans long for. We want life, and we want to live longer. Our lesson title is “Seeking Eternal Life,” and the story of the rich young ruler is found in Mark 10. Follow along as J Mark reads these verses and explains how we can have eternal life.
An interviewer once asked a wealthy man, “What do you think about death? Do you worry about dying?” The man responded, “No. I’m fatalistic; I protect myself as well as anybody can. I prepare for things.” Many people are like that wealthy man, except they don’t have his wealth! He’s lost, and he doesn’t know it. He’s lost in sin and doesn’t realize it because his money gives him the power to have things “his way.”
In Mark 10, a man came to Jesus with a question. This man is described as very wealthy, but something was missing, and he knew it. As we examine this portion of Scripture, we’ll discover that this man was “Seeking Eternal Life.” Listen carefully as I read Mark 10:17-31.
17 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?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “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.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 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!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
This text reveals several critical DIRECTIONS we must look to find eternal life.
The First DIRECTION is,
The Upward Look
Matthew tells us this was a young man; Luke adds that he was a ruler; and Mark tells us he ran to Jesus and knelt before him. Each of the Synoptic Gospels tells us he was wealthy. He came to Jesus to ask how to gain eternal life. It was the most important question anyone could ask.
What must you do when kneeling in front of someone to speak to them? You must look up! We will never gain everlasting life unless we’re willing to look above ourselves, up to the face of Jesus. But the upward look is more than lifting our eyes. Our understanding must also be lifted.
This man addressed Jesus as “Good Teacher.” Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Indirectly, He asks the young man, “Do you understand who I am? If you call me good and God alone is good, are you recognizing that I am God in the flesh?”
Although the young man addresses Jesus with respect, his focus is on himself. “By DOING what shall I inherit eternal life?” Sadly, many people today think they can earn God’s approval by what they do or don’t do. Just like this man, they must look up and face the claims of Jesus’ deity. Jesus turns the young ruler’s gaze in another direction to facilitate that upward look.
The Next DIRECTION is,
The Inward Look
Jesus then asked him about the commandments. If one can obtain eternal life by “doing” something, that something must be obeying the commandments. Jesus led the young man to the commandments that deal with our human relationships. With little or no hesitation, he said, “Master, I’ve kept all these from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. Then He answered the crucial question, “What do I yet lack?” Jesus responded, “Sell all you have, distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; then, come, follow me.” The young man was shocked. He turned away with great sorrow because he was wealthy. He placed more value on his wealth than on eternal life. His wealth was his identity, and he was unwilling to exchange it for the identity of a Christ-follower.
Every follower of Jesus must come to a crisis point similar to this. It may not be your wealth Jesus asks for. It may be your reputation, a relationship, your education, a career, or a dream for the future. Jesus wants us to look inward and see if there is anything we value more highly than Him. If we find it, He will ask for it. Acknowledging the difficulty of those choices leads us to the next direction we must look.
The Next DIRECTION is,
The Outward Look
As the young ruler turned away, Jesus said, “With what difficulty do those who have riches enter the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Now, it’s the disciples’ turn to be shocked! To them, wealth was a symbol of God’s blessing. If what Jesus said was true, who could then be saved? The illustration of a camel passing through the eye of a needle conveys a sense of impossibility. But Jesus reminded them that what was impossible by man’s achievement was possible by God’s divine grace.
Why is it nearly impossible for the wealthy to enter the kingdom? Riches are a notable impediment for two reasons: they reinforce the false concept of self-sufficiency and promote a spirit of independence. In contrast, Jesus said those who enter the kingdom must be poor in spirit; that is, they must have an accurate view of their spiritual bankruptcy. They must understand they have nothing without God and His mercy. Second, Jesus taught humility, a vital characteristic of those entering the kingdom. A spirit of humility is the opposite of the spirit of independence. Salvation only comes to those who take the outward look away from themselves.
As the Twelve listened to Jesus, Peter asked a question, and Jesus used the opportunity to introduce the final direction we must look to as we seek eternal life.
The Final DIRECTION is,
The Onward Look
Peter said, “See, we have left everything to follow you.” Luke’s record adds, “What then will we have?” Peter was looking ahead to the promised reward and taking an onward look. He and others had already left everything behind to follow Jesus.
Jesus offers comforting, reassuring words. He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Here is the answer to the young man’s question…eternal life! It strikes me that this entire account is bracketed by the importance of this matter – eternal life.
Again, we are not to conclude that leaving family, possessions, etc., will alone gain God’s favor for us. No one ever entered the kingdom of God on the merits of his self-denial. Instead, our willingness to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord motivates us to dedicate ourselves to Him. We understand that this life is not all there is to human existence.
Mark’s record of this conversation says that these blessings will be accompanied by persecution. But to those who take the onward look, to those who see the goal of eternal life, persecution is not enough to sway them from their path.
If you and I are looking for eternal life, we can only find it by following the directions Jesus outlined in this account. First, we must look upward: “Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” In Him alone is salvation by grace through faith.
There is also the inward look: Am I willing to examine my heart and motivations? Am I willing to evaluate my life in light of Jesus’ call to me? Am I willing to lay everything on the altar to be His disciple? Are you willing to consider these questions as well?
Have I taken the outward look, acknowledging that self-effort cannot save anyone? And finally, do I have the onward look? Am I willing to forgo the temporary pleasures of sin and suffer affliction with the people of God? Do I consider bearing reproach for the sake of Christ of more excellent value than worldly possessions? Do you?
As you reflect on these questions, I ask, “Have you found eternal life, or are you still looking for it?” If you have eternal life, praise God. If you don’t, you will find it only in Jesus Christ.
Thanks, J Mark, for summarizing the lesson in this way. Four directions we look to find eternal life. The rich young ruler looked inward and was not willing to value Jesus more than his money. How sad! Yet we often value other things more than Jesus. We must constantly be on guard and make sure we love Jesus most. Almost everyone says they want eternal life, and that’s good, but are you willing to go all in with Jesus to find that eternal life?
If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us. Our email address is hope@heraldsofhope.org. Or you can contact us via our website. Go to Heraldsofhope.org. There you will find “contact us,” under the partner tab on the top right. Click on that to message us directly. We would love to hear from you.
Thanks again for listening to Hope for Today. The thought of living forever has always fascinated humans. We are always exploring ways to live longer and stay healthier. Thankfully, Jesus told us the secret in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” What we are looking for is found in Him.
