Respite for the Remnant

The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22 NASB)

¹⁷ As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ 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.’” ²⁰ And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.” ²¹ Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But he ^[a]was deeply dismayed by ^[b]these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

There was a discussion in a recent Bible study about this fellow cited in Matthew, chapter 10.
Some thought it might be pride that motivated him to approach Jesus that day–up close and personal—and ask, “What shall I do that I might inherit eternal life?” because, read on, he had already done so much in his eyes, at least what he knew to do according to the Law. And this came out when Jesus cited the Commandments.

So, I think it might be inferred that he asked what else could he do, after his impressive testimony. Maybe it was something in his tone of voice?

But it could have been pride, of course.

Things were really working out for him.

But a little bird tells me he wasn’t completely satisfied.

Is That All There Is?

Reminds me of an old pop tune: “Is That All There Is?” (Peggy Lee, 1969) only, in contrast to the lyrics of Lee’s song, the young ruler didn’t sink into a kind of nihilistic malaise fueled by ennui and alcohol. He knew, maybe even had a gut feeling, that There. Was. Something. More–after this life, even after all his good works–because…ah…what?

So that day when the man, The Man, was in the neighborhood, His reputation of miracles, healings, and deliverances having preceded Him by that time, the rich young ruler sprinted through the crowd coming to a stop on his knees at the feet of Jesus.

(Side note: likely raising a number of proper eyebrows, too! I mean, didn’t such a prestigious one have people running to him to pay obeisance at his feet in time of need?)

Must have been worth it, however, to take the risk of humbling himself in the dirt in front of this itinerant, controversial teacher from Nazareth (that village of little import).  

It was likely not a good look for Mr. Privileged, either, who had a position in halls of power, maybe a mansion on a hill, robes and regalia custom fit at a shop named something like Lord and Levi.

One can only imagine.

But yes, pride, maybe.

Nevertheless, he risked stepping outside his statusphere for as long as it took for Jesus to answer.

From My Perch

Taking a risk, myself, by offering a different point of view, I think perhaps something in the rich young man’s multi-privileged (blessed?) life was still missing and he knew it.

On his knees in the dirt, out of breath from the run, sweaty from the exertion, I think he would get his answer—do what he had to do (he was good at that)–however much he had to pay, pray, or power-broke.

The sixty-five-thousand-shekel answer, however, from this Teacher Who looked at him with loving eyes, was not another etching on a stone of do’s and don’ts but a piercing of the young man’s heart where he’d always thought his impressive spiritual treasure was safely stored.

SHOCK OF AGES

But I mean wasn’t he following the law down to every jot and tittle (or so he thought) as per what all the other teachers taught? Ten Fool-Proof Ways to Rise to the Top?

(Scene 3: Jesus speaks, the young man drops jaw, feels the burn, but knows that what Jesus tells him is true, alright.

Enter: Sorrow.

Exit: Rich Young Ruler.)

Epilogue

But more than anything, I wonder if this young man was there when Jesus, Miracle Worker of miracle workers, Prophet of prophets, yielded to whip, thorn, cross, and nail and then forgave His executioners.

Earth shook, dead arose.

Multiple shocks.

Maybe, thought the young man, he could do something impossible, too.

Perhaps he even approached what few of Jesus’ followers didn’t run off, to learn more about Him, ask a few more questions…

And perhaps they told him what Jesus said after the rich young ruler left, that day, enbalmed in great sorrow. You know, the part where Jesus added, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God” (v. 27).

Later

Well, we won’t know until eternity if he decided to put his faith in Jesus and do what He said.

But we can know today that, we, too, may run to Jesus with our questions and He will stop for us. And listen. And answer.

Will we be shocked, too, by what He says? Maybe sometimes.

Comforted? Corrected? Encouraged?—All of the above in the fullness of time at His feet, asking, seeking, studying.

Saved?—eternally, by trusting Him–not the coins of our mortality destined to moth and rust.

And I imagine those loving eyes are gazing down on us, too, this very hour, whatever our Important Question is.

For starters, I think He might say,

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30, KJV)

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If you, too, have been wondering how you can “inherit eternal life,” consider: Salvation ABC’s

Spoiler alert (but in a good way): Jesus already did the do’s. Back then. On that tree. For the young man, you, and me…