LIFE OF
CHRIST
Mark 10:17-27
CONSULTATION
LIFE OF CHRIST #42
In this passage 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
It takes the work of God to make us righteous. Titus
3:5, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9
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
In Mark 10:18 Jesus is giving a definitive word that
He is God.
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.
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
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
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, John 3:36
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
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 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
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
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 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, 1
Corinthians 1:26
God does the impossible to save every person who is
saved. Ephesians 2:1-7
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
RETURN
TO LIFE OF CHRIST INDEX