The man came running. He was not going to miss his chance to speak to that wonderful Man, who could tell him what he really wanted to know. When he got to Jesus, he kneeled in front of Him, knowing that He was worthy of this honor.
What was it that this man wanted that he was in such a hurry to speak to Jesus? It must have been something important that he needed right away.
Yes, it was. He was a rich man, but he still had an emptiness in his heart. He knew that he would grow old and eventually leave his possessions behind when he died, and he wanted everlasting life. Who but Jesus could tell him how to get it?
“Good Master,” he said, “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
That is a very strange question, isn’t it? Some of us have inherited things, because our parents or grandparents have died and left us things in their will. But we didn’t really have to do anything to receive those things except be in the family, did we? But the rich man wanted to “do” something to earn eternal life. What could he do?
But Jesus knew, as He always does, what was missing in that man’s heart, and so He said, “Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”
I think everyone must agree that Jesus was good, always was good and never had a moment of anything but good in Him. What does that mean? HE must be GOD! This is what the man was missing, and many people miss it today. Jesus is the eternal Son of God and worthy of everything we have!
Then Jesus began quoting to him the commandments, which he knew very well already. “Master,” he said, “all these have I [obeyed] from my youth.”
Jesus knew all about this man’s boyhood days and knew that he had been a good boy. As Jesus looked at him He loved him, but He knew there was one thing missing. Jesus had not quoted the commandments, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” and, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
“One thing thou lackest,” said Jesus, and this was going to touch a very tender point for this man. “Go . . . sell whatsoever thou hast . . . give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. . . . Take up the cross . . . follow Me.”
But the man was rich. He thought that to give it all away was too much to ask. He went away distressed and sad.
Did he ever come back? Perhaps, after he learned who that wonderful Man really was. Maybe he changed his mind and was one of those in Acts 2:45 who were filled with rejoicing and praise. We don’t know. But we do know that Jesus, who created the heaven and earth, loves us so much that He gave ALL that He had to buy us with His precious blood. “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). In Him we have the gift of eternal life, and in Him we have the inheritance we could never receive by doing anything.
I hope that man came back to Jesus, and I hope you will come too. Our Jesus, who is the Son of God, is high above all powers and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. Will you follow Him now?
You may read this story in Mark 10:17-22.
ML-04/23/2000