TEXT: MARK 10:1-19; MATTHEW 19:16; LUKE 18:18, 20-23,26-27 INTRODUCTION: Today, we are looking at an event that happened in the time of Jesus. A story, a true story of somebody coming to the Lord, having a desire that he would have eternal life. It was so important that it was recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, […]
TEXT: MARK 10:1-19; MATTHEW 19:16; LUKE 18:18, 20-23,26-27
INTRODUCTION:
Today, we are looking at an event that happened in the time of Jesus. A story, a true story of somebody coming to the Lord, having a desire that he would have eternal life. It was so important that it was recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, almost the same way with little variations as supplied by the Spirit of God.
Mark 10:17 “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” The man came running, that’s good, if he had continued coming to Christ running, everything would have been fine, but many people have passion, zeal and desire and run to Christ at the earlier time, but now, and for the rest of their lives, and sojourn here on earth, they do not keep running passionately about Christ, or wanting everything of Christ. The man submitted everything to Christ, he knelt down, that is the challenge of people. They come at the first time, and submit, bend, kneel, hold Him high, but they do not keep kneeling, submitting all through their lives. At the beginning, when they come to the Lord, they are submissive, kneel down, but the kneeling does not continue. They do not continue asking the Lord for something eternal, unsurpassable.
The man asked the Lord at the beginning, but he didn’t keep on asking. That’s the problem with many of us, at the first time when we came, we were so zealous, we ran, not looking at anything, only running to Christ, and we knelt down to Him, we said, “You are Lord, Master, and Creator”, but many people after that initial time don’t continue. If we could continue like that, and understand, this is the teacher come from God, and the Master of the universe, the good One, whatever wind may blow, whatever word we may hear, whatever answer He may give to us, we will always know that He is the good Master. Something may be delayed, but He is still looking and watching at us, He is always good.
If we can have that concept and understand that whatever is happening in our lives, He is the good Master, we will do well. When Jesus gave the man the answer, he changed His mind, to him, Christ wasn’t the good Master any more – and he wasn’t about to run, believe or submit to Him anyone. He said, “what shall I do that I might inherit eternal life?” If this question can be on our minds all through life so that anytime we are coming to the Lord, “what good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and whenever we are praying, we make eternal life the subject of the highest interest, that even though we’ve asked before, and now we are saved, we are still asking the Lord, what should I do to secure, and not lose eternal life? If that question could be in our lives every time, that all we are looking and searching for is not to be this or that, but to gain eternal and everlasting life, and we say Lord, wherever you lead me to, whichever continent I find myself, all I’m asking for is eternal life, if I give myself and attention to this, will I have eternal life? If the question we asked at the beginning is the question still on our lips, that will be wonderful. I pray the desire, passion, and prayer for eternal life will never leave us in Jesus name.
vs 18 “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” Jesus asked the man why he called Him good and I ask you same question. Is it because He healed the sick, multiplied bread and fish? Are you thinking of Him at a human level? If so, He asked why the man called Him good.
vs 20 “And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” The man was not a deeply sinful, and defiled person. There are some people who hang the Ten Commandments on their walls, like you hang your calendar, and they read it every time. For them, they are mantras, words that guide them all the time. Anything that happens they remember because they always read it on the wall. From this man, we learn that a man can do all that and still have no eternal life, and be empty, with a divided heart. You can take all the commandments, but you cannot do them perfectly to the point that they will earn you eternal life. It is not what we earn by what we do, it is the grace of God that does it in our lives.
vs 21 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” The man agreed, he didn’t say that what Jesus told him was a lie, he has actually been doing all that and didn’t have eternal life, because it is not by the work of our hands, or the zeal we manifest by ourselves. The natural man, whatever he has done cannot earn him eternal life. Eternal life only comes from Jesus Christ who died and gave His life for us so that we can have life through Him. Jesus love is not a kind of hypocritical love, it is real love coming from His heart. God is love, Jesus is love, and Jesus loved the man.
Can I tell you something, the love of Jesus alone without your response cannot save you. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. The Love of God and of Jesus by itself cannot give you eternal life, there must be a response from your side, there must be a submissiveness and yielding to what He demands from you, which you must do.
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