The One that Got Away
Sermon
A Fine Gospel for Preaching
Cycle B Gospel Text Sermons for Pentecost Last Third
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother." And he said to him, "Teacher, all these things I have observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." At that saying, his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
-- Mark 10:17-22
Imagine for a moment that you are lost in the woods. It's getting dark and you are afraid. There is drizzling rain that chills you to the bone. And you are lonely. Off in the distance you see a light and you move in that direction and discover an untended campfire. No one is there. But never mind! You're warm now. Something about the cheery crackle chases away your loneliness. With all your needs met for the present, you curl up and fall into a contented sleep. Some hours later, however, you awaken to discover that the fire has burned out. There is nothing left but cold, unfeeling ashes. You're cold again. It's dark again. There is the loneliness. So you pick yourself up, look about you, spot a twinkle of light in the distance, and move in that direction. It's another campfire. Again you fall asleep only to awaken to another campfire gone out. Again you are cold, lonely, and afraid… lost in the forest. It is possible to spend your entire life like that -- running around from one campfire to another. "If I can just get a new car, I'll be happy!" "All I need is that new house and things will get better." One more rung up the social ladder, a raise in salary, head cheerleader, a promotion, a beach cottage -- does it sound familiar? When you get what you want, curl up and sleep with it contentedly, one day you awaken and you know it is all ashes.
The rich young ruler was a man like this. He had reached the top of the ladder only to find that it was leaning against the wrong wall. He had been running about from one campfire to another and he was tired right to the bone. He came to Jesus to make an urgent inquiry.
Both Jesus and the young man in the story have much in common, for you see both were actually rich young rulers. Jesus according to Philippians 2:5-11 was God, heir of the very universe and its trove of honors and riches. But Christ "emptied" himself, was made incarnate, and now he stood before this young man in the text.
He stood asking for a relationship of the first order. To be met on equal terms. "I give myself to you. Empty yourself and receive me."
In short, he was asking this worldly rich young ruler to give up his dependent clingings and become like him in faith, love, and servanthood.
How will this juvenile respond?
Let us closely study this young man's encounter with Jesus, for there is much that is enviable about his character.
The Right Attitude
The text says that the young and wealthy ruler had a good attitude. He "ran up and knelt" before the Lord! This fellow was not acting like he had all the time in the world. He knew that life was short, opportunity can pass you by unless you're quick to seize upon it. He ran up to Jesus and there he knelt. Aye. He knew something in the man was divine. Though he was rich and himself commanded authority, this Jesus was to be revered above all others. He knelt.
And you? Your life? You've been in a hurry to catch a plane, get married, finish college, but have you been in haste to encounter God? Though you be rich and popular and bow to no man, have you broke into an undignified run and knelt sweating and panting before the Lord God?
The Right Man
He had the right attitude and according to the text, he also had the right man. He did not go to Caesar or Peter. He did not visit the priest of Isis. He went to Jesus.
You well know that it is vitally important to go to the right person with your needs. No one goes to a plumber for heart surgery. Nor do you take your car to the dentist to be tuned. You must go to the appropriate person who can fix the problem. This man went to Jesus with his spiritual needs.
When John the Baptist was imprisoned and death drew near, he began to doubt his cause. "Was Jesus really the Messiah?" We are told in scripture that John sent to Jesus saying, "Are you him who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Again, right man with the right question. When Pharaoh had his dream and he could not interpret its meaning, he sent to his occult artists and his priests but no one could help him. Only when he sent to God's man, Joseph, did he find the answer. Where have you been taking your questions? Millions today are rushing to kneel at the feet of gurus, Hollywood stars, Islam, Eastern mysticism, or Marxist professors. Where have you been going to get counsel? The rich young ruler had the right attitude. He also had the right man.
The Right Time
It is also clear from the text that the young man had the right timing. Jesus was passing through his township. He'd be moving on, this itinerate preacher, and there was no time to spare if he was to have his appointment.
Now let's get something straight. One cannot come to God anytime he pleases. You can only come when the Holy Spirit calls you. It's just like the governor of a state. You can't go to him or her anytime you please. You must have an appointment. And the Holy Spirit is the only one who makes appointments for God. When he calls for you, you must come at that time or not at all. Perhaps the young man knew this, however vaguely. Perhaps this accounts for his haste. It was the most important appointment of his life!
And you? You too have an appointment with God. He will call for you and convict you, as well.
The Right Question
Right attitude, right man, right time, but notice also that he asked the right question. "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Now that's cutting right to the heart of the matter! What about me? What about my sin, my will, my area of responsibility? What must I do to be saved?
There are always those who, when confronted with the gospel, try to slip away by focusing on other people. God offers them salvation, and they say, "What about all those poor, ignorant people who've never heard the gospel?" I respond by saying, "Yes, that concerns me, too. Let's become committed Christians and go over there and do something about it!" Now that dodge is no longer working. Africa is fast becoming the seat of Christian power, as is China. African nationals are asking, "What about all those rich, educated, decadent, lost Americans who have never heard the gospel?"
It's important to ask the proper question. Don't worry about them. Worry about yourself. "What must I do to be saved?"
The Right Conduct
Jesus answered the lad by pointing to the Ten Commandments. It was as if he were saying, "You're a Jew. You believe in salvation by works of the Law. Then keep the Ten Commandments." The youngster replied saying, "All these I have observed from my youth." Can you say that? Can you stand up in public and proclaim that you have had the right conduct? Which of us has never lied? Who has not murdered, at least in the heart? Which of us is not guilty of adultery, dishonor to parents, covetousness, or theft?
In the young man's answer, "All these things I have observed from my youth," there is to be found a glaring statement about legalism and the boy himself. Obviously the young man was a Jew. He'd obeyed the Law as a means of salvation but he still was not satisfied. Something was missing. Furthermore, the boy had a blind spot, as many of us do. He said that he'd kept the Law, all of it. But as we shall see, he had broken the first law. "You shall have no other gods before me." Here in the young Hebrew's life we see the inadequacy of Judaism. The Law cannot be satisfied and itself cannot satisfy. Because we are all sinners we must have grace.
The Right Answer
Yes, it seems the lad had it all -- right attitude, right man, right time, right question, and the right conduct. There is at least one thing more that was right about this man: He had the right answer. Jesus said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Jesus looked into the heart of that young man. He saw beneath the veneer of outward finery. The clothes, the education, the poise, the golden rings did not mean a thing to Christ. The heart did. And there Jesus saw idolatry. He saw a heart worshiping creation and not the Creator. He saw a god held in higher esteem than Jehovah. He saw the idol of money. He still looks into the heart of man today and all too often sees the same god: money, materialism, things! This is the god the rich man put before the Lord. And we are doing it too.
Isn't this just the way of God? He has those X-ray eyes. He sees beyond the sham to the inner self. He wastes no time in putting his finger on the problem. "Go! Sell all these idols. Give your money away. Follow me!" I tell you, for that young man and for you and me, that is the right answer. "I'm jealous," God is saying. "I'm not willing to share you with anyone or anything!"
The Wrong Decision
The right attitude, the right man, the right time -- there is much that is enviable about this young visitor. The Bible says, "Jesus looked upon him and loved him." He had the right question, the right conduct, and God gave him the right answer. The text warns that it is possible to be very right but totally wrong. With all he had going for him, our young friend still made the wrong decision! Hearing Jesus' answer "his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions." He cared more for what his money could do for him than he cared about the kingdom of God.
Years ago, Methodist evangelist Gypsy Smith preached. Afterward, a mother and her small son came forward to meet him. She shook his hand and they exchanged a few words, then Reverend Smith turned to the wee boy and stuck out his hand for a shake.
The boy's hands were tightly clasped behind his back. "Come on, son. Let's be friends. Give me your hand." Slowly the child's left hand came out. "Now your right hand, son. Come on. Be polite." After much persuasion, the right hand finally came out, but it was clinched in a tight fist. Only when his mother threatened him did he open his palm to shake hands and when he did, three glass marbles hit the floor. He'd rather hold onto his cheap playthings than meet the evangelist. But isn't this just like our rich friend in the text? Isn't it so like many of us? We are so wrapped up in what we've got that we cannot turn it loose to gain what we need.
So near, this young ruler! And yet so far! The irony of it is that if he'd just said to Jesus, "Give me five minutes to get rid of my wealth and I'll come follow you," the Lord would have certainly said, "No, no. Keep your money. You've shown where your God is. Go home and serve me with your belongings."
But he wouldn't let go of his marbles to shake hands with God. Jesus watched as the young fellow walked away. He did not call him back. He would not dilute it. I cannot dilute it either! Today will you drop everything and follow Christ? Really the question is: Will you put God first, very first, in your life?
Get Out of the Way!
Some years ago I was in attendance at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conference when a preacher called for commitment to Christ. That's when a young athlete from UNC stepped forward and placed a football on the table, saying, "I never want that to get in the way of my service to the Lord." Will you do that with your money? Will you give it to God saying, "I never want money to get in the way of my service to Christ!"?
So near. So near, this rich young ruler. And yet so far away! And you? What of you?
Suggested Prayer
Lord, save me from money. Save me from anyone or anything that might get in the way of my service to you. For Christ's sake. Amen.
-- Mark 10:17-22
Imagine for a moment that you are lost in the woods. It's getting dark and you are afraid. There is drizzling rain that chills you to the bone. And you are lonely. Off in the distance you see a light and you move in that direction and discover an untended campfire. No one is there. But never mind! You're warm now. Something about the cheery crackle chases away your loneliness. With all your needs met for the present, you curl up and fall into a contented sleep. Some hours later, however, you awaken to discover that the fire has burned out. There is nothing left but cold, unfeeling ashes. You're cold again. It's dark again. There is the loneliness. So you pick yourself up, look about you, spot a twinkle of light in the distance, and move in that direction. It's another campfire. Again you fall asleep only to awaken to another campfire gone out. Again you are cold, lonely, and afraid… lost in the forest. It is possible to spend your entire life like that -- running around from one campfire to another. "If I can just get a new car, I'll be happy!" "All I need is that new house and things will get better." One more rung up the social ladder, a raise in salary, head cheerleader, a promotion, a beach cottage -- does it sound familiar? When you get what you want, curl up and sleep with it contentedly, one day you awaken and you know it is all ashes.
The rich young ruler was a man like this. He had reached the top of the ladder only to find that it was leaning against the wrong wall. He had been running about from one campfire to another and he was tired right to the bone. He came to Jesus to make an urgent inquiry.
Both Jesus and the young man in the story have much in common, for you see both were actually rich young rulers. Jesus according to Philippians 2:5-11 was God, heir of the very universe and its trove of honors and riches. But Christ "emptied" himself, was made incarnate, and now he stood before this young man in the text.
He stood asking for a relationship of the first order. To be met on equal terms. "I give myself to you. Empty yourself and receive me."
In short, he was asking this worldly rich young ruler to give up his dependent clingings and become like him in faith, love, and servanthood.
How will this juvenile respond?
Let us closely study this young man's encounter with Jesus, for there is much that is enviable about his character.
The Right Attitude
The text says that the young and wealthy ruler had a good attitude. He "ran up and knelt" before the Lord! This fellow was not acting like he had all the time in the world. He knew that life was short, opportunity can pass you by unless you're quick to seize upon it. He ran up to Jesus and there he knelt. Aye. He knew something in the man was divine. Though he was rich and himself commanded authority, this Jesus was to be revered above all others. He knelt.
And you? Your life? You've been in a hurry to catch a plane, get married, finish college, but have you been in haste to encounter God? Though you be rich and popular and bow to no man, have you broke into an undignified run and knelt sweating and panting before the Lord God?
The Right Man
He had the right attitude and according to the text, he also had the right man. He did not go to Caesar or Peter. He did not visit the priest of Isis. He went to Jesus.
You well know that it is vitally important to go to the right person with your needs. No one goes to a plumber for heart surgery. Nor do you take your car to the dentist to be tuned. You must go to the appropriate person who can fix the problem. This man went to Jesus with his spiritual needs.
When John the Baptist was imprisoned and death drew near, he began to doubt his cause. "Was Jesus really the Messiah?" We are told in scripture that John sent to Jesus saying, "Are you him who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Again, right man with the right question. When Pharaoh had his dream and he could not interpret its meaning, he sent to his occult artists and his priests but no one could help him. Only when he sent to God's man, Joseph, did he find the answer. Where have you been taking your questions? Millions today are rushing to kneel at the feet of gurus, Hollywood stars, Islam, Eastern mysticism, or Marxist professors. Where have you been going to get counsel? The rich young ruler had the right attitude. He also had the right man.
The Right Time
It is also clear from the text that the young man had the right timing. Jesus was passing through his township. He'd be moving on, this itinerate preacher, and there was no time to spare if he was to have his appointment.
Now let's get something straight. One cannot come to God anytime he pleases. You can only come when the Holy Spirit calls you. It's just like the governor of a state. You can't go to him or her anytime you please. You must have an appointment. And the Holy Spirit is the only one who makes appointments for God. When he calls for you, you must come at that time or not at all. Perhaps the young man knew this, however vaguely. Perhaps this accounts for his haste. It was the most important appointment of his life!
And you? You too have an appointment with God. He will call for you and convict you, as well.
The Right Question
Right attitude, right man, right time, but notice also that he asked the right question. "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Now that's cutting right to the heart of the matter! What about me? What about my sin, my will, my area of responsibility? What must I do to be saved?
There are always those who, when confronted with the gospel, try to slip away by focusing on other people. God offers them salvation, and they say, "What about all those poor, ignorant people who've never heard the gospel?" I respond by saying, "Yes, that concerns me, too. Let's become committed Christians and go over there and do something about it!" Now that dodge is no longer working. Africa is fast becoming the seat of Christian power, as is China. African nationals are asking, "What about all those rich, educated, decadent, lost Americans who have never heard the gospel?"
It's important to ask the proper question. Don't worry about them. Worry about yourself. "What must I do to be saved?"
The Right Conduct
Jesus answered the lad by pointing to the Ten Commandments. It was as if he were saying, "You're a Jew. You believe in salvation by works of the Law. Then keep the Ten Commandments." The youngster replied saying, "All these I have observed from my youth." Can you say that? Can you stand up in public and proclaim that you have had the right conduct? Which of us has never lied? Who has not murdered, at least in the heart? Which of us is not guilty of adultery, dishonor to parents, covetousness, or theft?
In the young man's answer, "All these things I have observed from my youth," there is to be found a glaring statement about legalism and the boy himself. Obviously the young man was a Jew. He'd obeyed the Law as a means of salvation but he still was not satisfied. Something was missing. Furthermore, the boy had a blind spot, as many of us do. He said that he'd kept the Law, all of it. But as we shall see, he had broken the first law. "You shall have no other gods before me." Here in the young Hebrew's life we see the inadequacy of Judaism. The Law cannot be satisfied and itself cannot satisfy. Because we are all sinners we must have grace.
The Right Answer
Yes, it seems the lad had it all -- right attitude, right man, right time, right question, and the right conduct. There is at least one thing more that was right about this man: He had the right answer. Jesus said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Jesus looked into the heart of that young man. He saw beneath the veneer of outward finery. The clothes, the education, the poise, the golden rings did not mean a thing to Christ. The heart did. And there Jesus saw idolatry. He saw a heart worshiping creation and not the Creator. He saw a god held in higher esteem than Jehovah. He saw the idol of money. He still looks into the heart of man today and all too often sees the same god: money, materialism, things! This is the god the rich man put before the Lord. And we are doing it too.
Isn't this just the way of God? He has those X-ray eyes. He sees beyond the sham to the inner self. He wastes no time in putting his finger on the problem. "Go! Sell all these idols. Give your money away. Follow me!" I tell you, for that young man and for you and me, that is the right answer. "I'm jealous," God is saying. "I'm not willing to share you with anyone or anything!"
The Wrong Decision
The right attitude, the right man, the right time -- there is much that is enviable about this young visitor. The Bible says, "Jesus looked upon him and loved him." He had the right question, the right conduct, and God gave him the right answer. The text warns that it is possible to be very right but totally wrong. With all he had going for him, our young friend still made the wrong decision! Hearing Jesus' answer "his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions." He cared more for what his money could do for him than he cared about the kingdom of God.
Years ago, Methodist evangelist Gypsy Smith preached. Afterward, a mother and her small son came forward to meet him. She shook his hand and they exchanged a few words, then Reverend Smith turned to the wee boy and stuck out his hand for a shake.
The boy's hands were tightly clasped behind his back. "Come on, son. Let's be friends. Give me your hand." Slowly the child's left hand came out. "Now your right hand, son. Come on. Be polite." After much persuasion, the right hand finally came out, but it was clinched in a tight fist. Only when his mother threatened him did he open his palm to shake hands and when he did, three glass marbles hit the floor. He'd rather hold onto his cheap playthings than meet the evangelist. But isn't this just like our rich friend in the text? Isn't it so like many of us? We are so wrapped up in what we've got that we cannot turn it loose to gain what we need.
So near, this young ruler! And yet so far! The irony of it is that if he'd just said to Jesus, "Give me five minutes to get rid of my wealth and I'll come follow you," the Lord would have certainly said, "No, no. Keep your money. You've shown where your God is. Go home and serve me with your belongings."
But he wouldn't let go of his marbles to shake hands with God. Jesus watched as the young fellow walked away. He did not call him back. He would not dilute it. I cannot dilute it either! Today will you drop everything and follow Christ? Really the question is: Will you put God first, very first, in your life?
Get Out of the Way!
Some years ago I was in attendance at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conference when a preacher called for commitment to Christ. That's when a young athlete from UNC stepped forward and placed a football on the table, saying, "I never want that to get in the way of my service to the Lord." Will you do that with your money? Will you give it to God saying, "I never want money to get in the way of my service to Christ!"?
So near. So near, this rich young ruler. And yet so far away! And you? What of you?
Suggested Prayer
Lord, save me from money. Save me from anyone or anything that might get in the way of my service to you. For Christ's sake. Amen.
