Read Mark 10:17-52.
In the above scripture we have three distinct types of character presented to us in the rich man, the disciples, and blind Bartimaeus.
In the person of the rich man, we may see a very numerous class set forth. He was not, by any means, without real anxiety respecting his soul’s interests. He was seeking “eternal life,” and had evidently struggled to obtain it “by works of law.” Yet, with all his legal efforts, he was ill at ease. He felt there was something lacking, and therefore he comes to Christ.
But, in his very first question, we detect the wrong ground on which this singularly interesting man was standing. He says, “What must I do, that I may inherit eternal life?” His mind, still darkened by the mists of legalism, had never admitted the wondrous truth that “eternal life” is “the gift of God,” and not the reward of human doings. His question proved him to be very far behind in his apprehension, not only of God’s dealings with man, but also of his own real state in God’s sight. Hence, the Lord Jesus sends him back to Moses! He sends him back, as it were, to the foot of Mount Sinai, to learn the solemn and impressive lessons taught there, amid thunders and lightnings, blackness, darkness, and tempest. Such is the real bent and object of the Lord’s reply: “Thou knowest the commandments.” It is as though He had said to him, “ You are hundreds of years too late, in your inquiry. The doing principle has been tried long since, at Mount Sinai, where it ended in failure. I am here on the ground that man’s doings are set aside. Eternal life is God’s gift, not man’s earning.”
However, the rich man did not know where the law really put him. He was ignorant of the holiness of the law, and of his own ruined condition. He says, “All these have I observed from my youth.” No one, who knew the height of God’s law, and the depth of man’s ruin, could make such a statement. Persons who speak of keeping the law, “know neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” If man could keep the law, then, either he is perfect, or the law is imperfect. But the “law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.” (Rom. 7:12.) Hence, it is not possible, that a sinful being could so keep the law as to get life by it, and, therefore this rich man was quite astray in saying he had kept all the commandments; for had he done so, he would not have lacked anything; whereas, Christ says to him, “One thing thou lackest.” “Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.” (Rom. 10:5.) If, therefore, a man could say he had kept the commandments, he should have a right to life as a matter of positive earning. But who would dare to put forth such a claim? Who has so kept the law as to be able to claim life from God? Not one. “By works of law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” (Rom. 3:20.) “For as many as are of works of law are under the curse.” (Gal. 3:10.) “If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
Why, then, it may be asked, does the Lord refer this man to the commandments? Simply that he might see by them how far short he was of what he ought to be, and so learn his need of something outside of himself. He sends him back to the schoolmaster, and when he professes to have learned all that the schoolmaster had to teach him, the Lord applies another and a more searching test, by calling on him to let go the world, and take up the cross. This was far more than he was prepared for. The world shone too brightly, and the cross seemed too gloomy, in his eyes, to admit of any response to such a call. The world was heavier, in the balance of his heart’s affections, than Christ.
It would be all well enough, if he could get eternal life and hold the world as well. The heart likes, right well, “to make the best of both worlds.” But it will not do. If a man comes to Christ to bargain about eternal life, he will, assuredly, find the price far beyond his means. Whereas, as we shall see presently, if a man comes as a beggar, he gets all he wants for nothing; if a man comes as a doer, he must be told what to do; if a man comes as a sinner, he is told what to believe.
However, it will always be found that the cross is too heavy for anyone to take up who has not first seen Christ nailed to that cross for him and for his salvation. Further, “the way going up to Jerusalem,” that is, the way which Christ trod, and which all must tread who walk in His steps, will be found too rough for all, save those whose “feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” I must, by faith, lean on the cross, ere I can carry it; and I must possess eternal life, ere I can walk in the footsteps of Jesus. To attempt to carry the cross until I enjoy a crucified Saviour, is more difficult than even to stand beneath the fiery mount. This rich man, who thought he had kept all the commandments, was repulsed by the dark shadow of the cross, and “went away grieved.”
But, did the Lord Jesus mean to teach this man that he could “inherit eternal life” by doing, selling, or giving? By no means. What then? He was answering him on his own ground. He had come as a doer, and he went away because he could not do. Like Israel in Exod. 19 They said, “All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do;” and when Jehovah did speak, “they could not endure that which was commanded.” (Heb. 12:20.) Man speaks about doing, and when he is told what to do, he is neither willing nor able to do it. God’s word to all “who desire to be under the law” is “Do you not hear the law?” (Gal. 4:21 Gal. 4:21.) “The man that doeth these things shall live by them.” (Rom. 10:5.) “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” (Luke 10:26.)
Hence, then, this amiable and interesting person was not disposed even to set his foot upon “the way going up to Jerusalem.” The thought of relinquishing the world, its riches and its pleasures, was far beyond him. He wanted “eternal life,” but if it was to be purchased by giving up his riches, he would not pay the price, and so “he went away grieved.”
2. The disciples furnish us with another type of character. They were able, through grace, to say, “Lo, we have left all and have followed thee.” They were a stage beyond the rich man. They had seen sufficient attraction in Christ to lead them to give up their earthly all, and attach themselves to His blessed Person. This was all well. They should be no losers; for Christ will be no man’s debtor. Whatever is devoted to Him, He will pay back “a hundred-fold now in this time,.........and in the world to come eternal life.”
But, then, “many that are first shall be last, and the last first.” It is one thing to begin, it is another thing to continue. It is one thing to enter upon the path, it is another to pursue it. This is a most solemn truth.
“And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them; and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.” (Ver. 32.) Why was this? Why this fear and amazement? Had they not voluntarily given up all to follow Christ? Yes; but they had not just anticipated that the cross would be so heavy or the way so rough. They had given up this world’s brilliant offers; but they did not reckon upon the dark clouds which hung over the path leading to Jerusalem; and, therefore, when called to encounter these things, they were “amazed” and “afraid” They had not, like the rich man, to go away “grieved,” because unable to shake off the influence of this world’s wealth; but they followed Christ in amazement and fear, because of the roughness and darkness of that path along which He was conducting them. Theirs was obviously a different case. They had life, and did not need to “inherit” it by works of law, or works of self-denial. But, then, if they wanted to follow Christ, they had to count the cost, for He was on His way up to Jerusalem. He had “ steadfastly set his face “to meet the terrific array of all the powers of darkness, together with the scorn, the reproach, the enmity, and derision of those whom He had come to save.
And mark the grace of those words, “Jesus went before them.” He put Himself in the forefront of the battle. He exposed Himself to the marshaled hosts of earth and hell. “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles; and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him and the third day he shall rise again.” (ver. 33, 34.) With a steady gaze he contemplates the whole scene; but most graciously omits one ingredient in His approaching cup of unutterable sorrow, namely, His desertion and denial by those who had left all to follow Him.
How little they entered into all these things is evident from the fact, that while on the way up to Jerusalem, they were occupied about the question of their respective places in the kingdom. A heart that is filled with love to Christ will find full satisfaction in the assurance of being near to Him It is not so much the place I am to get, as the Person who will be the center and spring of all my joy forever. Paul, in Phil, iii., is not occupied with the place which he is to have in the coming kingdom. No; to “win Christ” was the fondly-cherished object of that devoted heart. From the moment he beheld the beauty and excellency of that blessed One near the city of Damascus, until he was “offered up” in the city of Rome, he was carried forward by the intensity of love to His Person and His cause. And, assuredly, no one ever drank more deeply of His “cup,” or entered more thoroughly into His “baptism” than Paul.
3. It only remains for us to look, for a moment, at the case of “blind Bartimaeus.” In this poor, blind beggar, we see one who, virtually, rebuked both the rich man and the disciples, for the moment he laid his open eyes on the Son of David, without casting back a lingering look at his garment which he had “cast away” in order to come to Jesus, and without a single thought about the roughness and darkness of the path, he “followed Jesus in the way.” What “way?” “The way going up to Jerusalem.” It may be said that “he had no possessions to give up, and he knew nothing of the direction or end of that way.” very likely; but that does not alter the matter. The valuable point for us to get hold of is, that when the eye is filled and the heart is occupied with Christ, we never stop to think of what we have to give up in order to get Him, or what we have to endure in order to follow Him. HE HIMSELF ENGROSSES THE WHOLE SOUL; and naught but this will enable us to bound along the path after Him. What was all the world to Bartimaeus? or what the roughness of the way? His eyes had been opened, and not only opened, but filled with the fairest vision that ever fixed the gaze of men or angels, even the Person of the Son of God—God manifest in the flesh, and, therefore, leaving far behind his blindness and his beggary, he pressed forward after that wondrous Person who had met all his need.
Why did not Christ tell him about the commandments? Why did He not call upon him to take up his cross and follow Him? Why did He not hold up before his view the “cup” and the “baptism?” Because he was not a bargainer, but a beggar. Because he was not talking about his doings, but confessing his need. And, finally, because he was not thinking about what place he should get in the kingdom, or about the roughness of the way thither, but seeking to get to Jesus and to follow Him when found. This is simple enough. Christ never proposed conditions to a poor, blind, broken-hearted sinner. He came down from heaven, “not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
It is beginning at the wrong end to call upon a ruined and helpless sinner to give up the world in order to find Christ. He is “without strength;” what can he do? If I tell a miser that he must give up his gold, or a sportsman that he must give up his sport, or a drunkard that he must give up his drink, before he can come to Christ, he will tell me I might just as well ask him to cut off his right hand. But, let such an one have his eyes opened to behold the bleeding Lamb of God—let him see God’s salvation—let him hear the glad news of sins forgiven, and eternal life and righteousness bestowed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and then, mark the difference. Instead of “going away grieved” at the hardness of the conditions proposed, “he goes on his way rejoicing” in the fullness of the salvation revealed; and instead of moving along “amazed” and “afraid,” because of the roughness and gloom of the path, he presses forward toward the mark, with a cheerful alacrity which naught but companionship with Christ can impart.
Reader, can you see your own character in any of the foregoing types? What is the present condition of your soul? Are you anxious to get eternal life, but still shrinking from the immense sacrifice which you think is involved? Let me entreat you to “behold the Lamb of God” bleeding on the cursed tree to put away sin. Think not of any sacrifice which you must make, but of that sacrifice which He has made. This will give you peace. Look away from self-straight to Jesus; let not the weight of a feather come between. He has done ALL; and the soul that believes in a dead and risen Christ, is quickened, pardoned, justified.
However, it may be, you have found pardon and peace in Jesus; and, moreover, you have let go your hold of this world and pushed out from the shore to go to Jesus. But you find the way very rough, and the cross very heavy.
The contemptuous sneer of old associates—the bitter reproach and opposition of many around you—the narrowness of your sphere, and the loneliness of your path—all these things are against you; and you find amazement and terror creeping, at times, over your spirit. Well, be not afraid. Remember that the Master is before you, you can distinctly trace His blessed footprints all along that rough and cloudy path. Persevere! You must “through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22.) Keep your eye steadily fixed on Jesus. The time is very short. “Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry;” and then your ears will hear the gladsome words, “enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”