Mark 10:17-27 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. The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
God alone is good. He planned this creation, knowing that his creation could choose the "other" or follow something other than his perfect plan that harmonizes all of his works. He told man in the beginning not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but man chose this course for his existence. This brought other than God's perfect will for all living creatures. The whole world, everything in it, was corrupted by this divisive seed of rebellion. In Noah's time, God saw fit to destroy all living matter because of what He saw when He viewed Earth: The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5) But He repented of that thought and gave mankind and all living things a second chance, yet the "other" is still the nature of men: Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. (Genesis 8:21) The flood had not changed man's heart.
God gave the Law to corral man's destructive ingenuity and proclivity to do wrong. If only he would obey the Law, he would maintain harmony in his existence. But man's basic nature to go his own way, to have the "other" as a choice rather than serving the Creator, led him to corruption and destruction. In today's story, we see a young man who kept the law completely, at least in his perspective. Jesus thought that was good and loved him for his effort, but He knew the heart of this young man and of all men, so He adds something else to the equation. “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.” He asks this young man to put away the "other" in his life, ALL that would hold him back from total surrender. He tells this young man to be completely dependent upon God for everything in his life. As long as this man had money, he had an "other" in his life, another choice, another way. He could live life on his own terms. He would not have to live always in God's domain, under God's authority. When he wanted an out, he could just live life as he defined it, escaping God's authority and direction when he desired. When problems arose, he could avoid those situations by using his great wealth. If he hungered or needed shelter for a night, he could buy his way out of the predicament. Jesus knew this was not a life of complete faith and servanthood. This young man's faith and dedication to God would last only as long as he prospered according to his definition. With money, he could always choose the "other," his way rather than the Lord's way that would sometimes include suffering and pain. For Jesus knew the Son of Man must suffer many things (Mark 8:31) and his servants were not greater than their Master. (See John 13:16)
This theme carries on the message of little children having faith. Little children see the world in absolutes. As far as existence is concerned there is no "other" in a baby's mind. They might be discontented because their diapers are wet or their food is arriving too late, but as far as their existence is concerned: this is the way life is supposed to be: they do not look for another way. They expect their needs to be met by concerned and loving parents who represent God to them. This kind of belief, or faith, is that which unlocks the door to heaven. That kind of faith is the way it was before the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was assailed. A baby relies on everything to be in order, to work in harmony. This is the opposite of fallen man who can choose to do everything out of God's will, except for breathing. The heart of mankind is so wicked that man himself does not realize how far he is away from God's nature of goodness and holiness. In the above passage this man obeyed the law. He believed he was perfect in the sense of obedience to the law, but he was not accepted by Jesus, for he was running his life according to his religious nature, not according to a commitment of faith. How many of us do that? Jesus asked him for complete, unadulterated faith in God's way of running things. Jesus asked the man to eliminate the "other" and then come follow him. This was true of all those Jesus called. When he commissioned Andrew and Simon, they were busily casting their nets into the sea. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:17) At once they left their homes, their family, their livelihood; and forsaking all, they followed Jesus without looking back.
The disciples completely understood what Jesus was saying about the young man, for they had left everything to follow Jesus, but they knew Jesus was asking this young man a question that was even deeper than their commitment. Jesus was asking this young man to live by every word that comes out of God's mouth. Jesus was asking this man to succumb completely to God's will: no "other" in his life could rule or have sway over him. The disciples understood this challenge, for they immediately say, “Who then can be saved?” They knew that not even their lives could be measured by that yard stick, even though they had left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus quickly answers them, “With man this is IMPOSSIBLE, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” In other words, man will always have the "other" in his domain, but God chose One who would always completely follow his every word, and that one is Jesus. He alone is the propitiation for our sins--the final sacrifice. We read in Hebrews that He did not have to die again and again as the priests had to offer perpetual sacrifices for the sins of mankind. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26) He substituted his life for ours. He died for the sin of the "other," the sin of going astray and choosing our own way. Because of the cross of Christ, we are raised by faith into the holiness and perfection of Jesus Christ himself. We are NOW PLEASING to God because of Jesus, and we stand clothed in his righteousness. Praise Him forevermore!
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