Sermon Title: There Is A Key That Unlocks Yourself
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.
This young man is not introduced in the Gospel of Mark, but the Gospel of Luke recognizes him as a member of the ruling council or court ("ruler"). See Luke 18:18-30 and Matthew 19:16-30 for their versions of this story. Notice that the young man asked, "What must I do...?" He thought that eternal life was something to be earned. Jesus taught that eternal life was something to be received just as a little child receives a gift (see Mark 10:14-15). Jesus noticed this and says, "One thing you lack..." What the young man lacked was a heart that was disengaged with the world; his heart was attached to his riches and power above all. Thus, he was placing his riches and power over Christ and Christ was declaring to him that He would require full allegiance.
Also notice verse 21, "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Even though the young man was not fully committed and did not decide to follow Jesus, Jesus still loved him. I believe we can apply this verse to each of us, as Christ looks at us and loves us (see Romans 8:35-39). What a powerful thought - the Creator of the Universe looks at us with love.
I will speak about this and more on Sunday as we examine how the truth of Christ, the love from Christ and faith in Christ can literally transform our lives. See you then!
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.
This young man is not introduced in the Gospel of Mark, but the Gospel of Luke recognizes him as a member of the ruling council or court ("ruler"). See Luke 18:18-30 and Matthew 19:16-30 for their versions of this story. Notice that the young man asked, "What must I do...?" He thought that eternal life was something to be earned. Jesus taught that eternal life was something to be received just as a little child receives a gift (see Mark 10:14-15). Jesus noticed this and says, "One thing you lack..." What the young man lacked was a heart that was disengaged with the world; his heart was attached to his riches and power above all. Thus, he was placing his riches and power over Christ and Christ was declaring to him that He would require full allegiance.
Also notice verse 21, "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Even though the young man was not fully committed and did not decide to follow Jesus, Jesus still loved him. I believe we can apply this verse to each of us, as Christ looks at us and loves us (see Romans 8:35-39). What a powerful thought - the Creator of the Universe looks at us with love.
I will speak about this and more on Sunday as we examine how the truth of Christ, the love from Christ and faith in Christ can literally transform our lives. See you then!
