Mark 10:17-27
CONSULTATION
LIFE OF CHRIST #42
Max Lucado once gave these good words of advice:
· Love God more than you fear hell.
· Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
· Make major decisions in a cemetery.
· When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
· Succeed at home first.
· Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.
· Pray twice as much as you fret.
· Listen twice as much as you speak.
· Only harbor a grudge where God does.
· Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
· God has forgiven you, you’d be wise to do the same.
· When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust His heart.
· Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
· The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
· Live your Christianity.
Max Lucado, In The Eye of the Storm. http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=32
Where do you go to get advice? With whom or what do you consult?
· Do you go to a book?
· Do you go to a trusted friend?
· Do you go to a trained counselor?
· Do you go to a pastor?
· Do you go to your spouse?
· Do you go to a family member?
· Do you go to God?
After a long hiatus we are returning to our study of the Life of Christ. Jesus was making his final tour in Galilee and was headed to Jerusalem for the final events of His life.
The last time we studied we saw Jesus urging his disciples to let the children come to Him.
This morning we meet a man who needed advice. And I’m glad to tell you that He came to the right person for this advice. This man consulted the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Mark’s report about the “rich young ruler” we find a man who knew he lacked something and came to Jesus to find out what he was lacking. Unfortunately, he did what so many of us do. He got good advice and then didn’t follow it.
A DETERMINED WORD – Vs. 17
Here was a man who was an overachiever.
He ran to Jesus. With the help of the accounts of Matthew and Luke, we know that this man was:
1. rich
2. young and ambitious
3. a man of authority, a ruler, perhaps in the synagogue
4. respectful
5. religious
Here was a man of determination.
He did not stand by and watch the world pass him by.
He was an active participant in all that interested him.
He runs to Jesus. He kneels before Him.
He asks a question.
“Good Master, What shall I DO that I may inherit eternal life?”
The man sensed a need. He evidently was not sure that he would have eternal life when he died.
But he was a determined man.
He was determined to do whatever great work Jesus would require of him. Perhaps it would be something using some of his great wealth.
The man was making a great mistake.
He thought he could do something to earn eternal life.
Unfortunately, there are thousands of people today who are no different. They think that it is what they do that will get them into Heaven! This is just not true.
Righteous people go to Heaven. But nobody is righteous!
Romans 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
It takes the work of God to make us righteous.
Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
My favorite way to witness is to ask someone, “If you were to die tonight and stand before the door of Heaven, and if God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you in?’, what would you say?
Most of the answers I have received to that question have involved the person’s works. Most people same to think that there is something they can do to inherit eternal life. Yet, God states differently.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There was a determined young man kneeling before Jesus.
He was determined, like so many today, that there was something he could do to earn eternal life.
A DETERMINED WORD – Vs. 17
A DEFINITIVE WORD – Vs. 18
Calling Jesus, or any other person “good” in the Jewish culture was almost unheard of. This man was either flattering Jesus, or really on to something.
Jesus was being definitive as to who really is good.
It is only God who is good.
If this man was calling Jesus good, He was, in essence, calling Him God.
Why would Jesus want to clarify His deity with this man?
I think it is because of what Jesus was going to tell Him to do next.
For a man of such wealth, Jesus’ radical requirement for this man to sell what he had and give to the poor was going to shake Him up.
It would only be possible for this man to comply if He really understood that it was God in the flesh who was asking Him to do this!
How we respond to the commands of Jesus will also be largely based on how we define Him!
If we see Jesus as God, then we are obligated to do as He tells us. If we don’t see Jesus as God, but a common man like us, then we can argue that we are not obligated to obey Him.
Did Jesus claim to be God?
He most certainly did!
John 8:57-59 - Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. [59] Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
In Mark 10:18 Jesus is giving a definitive word that He is God.
A DETERMINED WORD – Vs. 17
A DEFINITIVE WORD – Vs. 18
A DISCERNING WORD – Vss. 19-22
The rich young ruler knew that he was lacking something. He needed something more than he has in order to attain eternal life.
Jesus, in his interview with this man, gives the discerning word concerning the rich young ruler’s lack.
Vs. 19 – Jesus begins by telling the man to keep the Ten Commandments. In this verse he cites the commandments that have to do with man treating man.
He was to:
· not commit adultery
· not kill
· not steal
· not bear false witness
· not to defraud or covet
· and honor his father and mother
Why did Jesus mention the commandments as a way of eternal life?
He wanted the man to see that he had broken those commandments.
In fact the Old Testament Law, including the Ten Commandments was given to show people that they have a need for a Savior! The commandments show us how sinful we really are!
Galatians 3:22-24 - But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Vs. 20 – I believe that the man was sincere, but blind. He thought of himself as having kept the law. He was sincere, but he was sincerely wrong.
Although he claimed to have kept the law, yet He was convicted in such a way that he knew that there was something missing in his life.
Matthew 19:20 - The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Perhaps you are like this rich young ruler. You have tried to obey God’s laws. You have tried to do good works.
You have tried to live a Godly life, and yet you realize that there is something missing!
Vs. 21 – Jesus looked at this man, and saw deep within His
soul. He loved the man. I believe that the words Jesus spoke were spoken tenderly. “Do you want eternal life? This is what you lack.”
Jesus told the man to sell all that he had and give to the poor. That would give Him riches in Heaven.
Why did Jesus tell Him to do this?
He told him this because the man was breaking at least one of the commandments.
Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
The man was putting his confidence in his wealth and not in God. Money was His God.
If he sold all that he had and followed Jesus, he would become helplessly dependent on Jesus!
That is what faith is, being helplessly dependent!
Not everyone has to sell all that he has to become a Christian. But we all need to forsake all other gods, and become helplessly dependent on Jesus in order to have eternal life.
Galatians 3:11 - But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Vs. 22 – I think that this man who ran to Jesus was sulking when he left Jesus. He had great possessions. He was sad because the price Jesus said he had to pay was higher that he wanted to pay!
Luke 9:24 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Is there something that you love more than Jesus that’s keeping you from becoming helplessly dependent on Him for eternal life? Forsake it, and put your trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Is there something that you love more than Jesus that’s keeping you from becoming helplessly dependent on Him for living the Christian life? Forsake it, and put your trust in Christ for victory.
A DETERMINED WORD – Vs. 17
A DEFINITIVE WORD – Vs. 18
A DISCERNING WORD – Vss. 19-22
A DISCOURAGING WORD – Vss. 23-26
Vs. 23 – What Jesus said next discouraged the Apostles.
It is very difficult for people with riches to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Vs. 24-25 - This statement was totally contrary to Jewish thought of that day. The rich were considered privileged and destined for Heaven. Therefore the disciples were astonished at Jesus’ statement.
Jesus went on to say in verse 25 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.
This was a common expression of the day. It was probably meant literally. A camel could not possibly pass through the eye of a needle used for sewing!
Jesus was saying that rich men trust in and worship their riches instead of trusting in and worshipping God. Very few rich people will make Heaven.
Vs. 26 – If the privileged rich were not going to make to Heaven, then who would? The disciples wondered how anyone could make Heaven!
The disciples were discouraged.
A DETERMINED WORD – Vs. 17
A DEFINITIVE WORD – Vs. 18
A DISCERNING WORD – Vss. 19-22
A DISCOURAGING WORD – Vss. 23-26
A DELIGHTFUL WORD – Vs. 27
A camel going through the eye of a needle was impossible with men but not with God. God could pass a camel through a needle’s eye if He wanted to.
A rich man being saved is impossible with man.
Anyone being saved is impossible with man.
No man can save himself.
No man can save others.
A poor man is more likely to humble himself and become totally dependent on the Lord Jesus Christ than a rich man is.
James 2:5 - Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
1 Corinthians 1:26 - For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But there will be rich men and women in Heaven.
Notice it doesn’t say “not any” but “not many”!
God does the impossible to save every person who is saved.
Ephesians 2:1-7 - And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Salvation is the work of God!
The impossible task of saving a soul from hell and giving that person eternal life is possible with God.
There was a consultation with a rich man.
A DETERMINED WORD – Vs. 17
A DEFINITIVE WORD – Vs. 18
A DISCERNING WORD – Vss. 19-22
A DISCOURAGING WORD – Vss. 23-26
A DELIGHTFUL WORD – Vs. 27
Is there anything keeping you from trusting Jesus Christ entirely for eternal life? Is there anything keeping you from serving Christ completely?