ONE THING THOU LACKEST…..

 

READ TEXT….

 

Mark 10:17-31 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 to inherit eternal life?"  (18)  And 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 BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"  (20)  And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."  (21)  Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for 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 at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.  (23)  And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"  (24)  The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  (25)  "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  (26)  They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"  (27)  Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."  (28)  Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."  (29)  Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake,  (30)  but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.  (31)  "But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."

 

The question……

 

Mark 10:17,  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 to inherit eternal life?" 

 

Qualities of this man…..

 

          1.       Power – position – wealth – could help Jesus’ cause

                  

          2.       Look at his demeanor - Ran up to Jesus – knelt (worshipful)

 

          3.       Very spiritual – recognized Jesus as teacher or truth – someone great – perhaps even a great prophet – probably saw miracles

 

                   “Good teacher” = “Most Excellent Master”

                   Not a reference to Jesus moral character

                   a term commonly spoken for a great teacher

 

Mark 10:18,  And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 

 

                   A mild rebuke…..           

 

                   I picture this …. denominationalist, “Reverend…..”

                   Response, “Only one is reverend – that is God.”

 

          4.       Look at his question –

                   not “what can I give”

                   not “what do I need to know”

                   not “what can I join”

                   BUT, “What can I DO”

 

                   TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE….

 

                   Saw the importance of his spiritual condition

                   Worked hard at it…. (a keeper of the commandments v.20)

 

 

Jesus’ response….

 

Mark 10:19,  "You know the commandments, 'DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'" 

 

          1.       Jesus is saying….

 

                   You know what the Bible teaches….

                   Read your Bible – keep the commandments –

                   you know what it says….

 

          2.       THIS IS A PROPER RESPONSE!

 

          3.       If a Christian comes to me ….

                   “David, what do I need to do to go to heaven”

 

          4.       PROPER RESPONSE…..

                   “Follow the Bible”

                   “Do whatever God asks of you there…”

                   “Follow all the commands given to the Christian.”

 

The young man’s reaction….

 

Mark 10:20,  And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up." 

 

          1.       I have been a FAITHFUL JEW…..kept the commandments

                   (Pharasee, Sadducees, Scribes would have answered the same)

 

          2.       He was probably known as one who was faithful

 

          3.       By religious standards he probably was very religious

 

          4.       Today…“I was raised in the church…”

                   “My daddy laid the first board in this church building”

                   “My mother taught Bible classes here since before I was born.”          

         

BUT WAS ALL THAT GOOD ENOUGH? NO!

 

Mark 10:21,  Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for 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." 

 

1.       Jesus “felt a love for him….”

2.       Being God – knew his heart – he loved the riches of this life

 

3.       Tells him what he needs to hear ….

 

          Different from the Pharisees & Sadducees – this man was sincere

          Jesus responded to the insincere with sharpness –

          To this man with love –

          But told the truth –

                   “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17)

                   “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

 

4.       Not always easy to hear…..

 

Mark 10:22,  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 

 

          It is a lot easier to talk a good game – than to actually live it….

          It is hard to be all that you need to be…..

 

Mark 10:23-25,  And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"   The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!   "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

 

WHAT WOULD JESUS RESPOND TO YOU?

 

You ask….. “Lord, what must I do to be saved?”  “Lord, am I ready?”

“Lord, will I go to heaven if I die today?”

 

WOULDN’T YOU LOVE TO HAVE HIM HERE TO ASK?

 

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE ANSWER?

1.       He says, “Read your Bible, the word that instructs you to heaven.”

          And he goes on to say, “Obey the gospel, treat people honestly, worship the way I have directed, go to church every Sunday.”

 

          You say, “I have!”

          “I have studied it much of my life.” 

          “I go to church every Sunday.” 

          “I treat people as I would like to be treated….”

 

2.       And he says…. “But there is something that you still lack…..”

          What is it?  He knows ---- and you know.

 

          Secret sin

“How would you respond?” – go away sorrowful; or change your life so that you can go to heaven?

          You need to treat your husband/wife better…

“How would you respond?” – go away sorrowful; or change your life so that you can go to heaven?

          You need to rearrange your life to take care of your spiritual obligations. – Put your spiritual work first- secular second.

“How would you respond?” – go away sorrowful; or change your life so that you can go to heaven?

          You need to be at every service…… not making excuses.

“How would you respond?” – go away sorrowful; or change your life so that you can go to heaven?

          You need to truly love your brethren – even those who have hurt you.

“How would you respond?” – go away sorrowful; or change your life so that you can go to heaven?

          Evangelism?

Rich young ruler was to give up all his possessions….ARE YOU WILLING TO give up – recreation time; pride; that sin; or anything that it takes?

 

The REAL question of this text…..

 

Mark 10:26,  They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" 

 

IT IS ASTONISHING…. By our estimation:

          1.       Give sacrificially; leave everything to follow Jesus is a lot to require…

 

Luke 9:57-62  As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go."  (58)  And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  (59)  And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."  (60)  But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God."  (61)  Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home."  (62)  But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

Jesus requires putting him FIRST in every facet of your life….. family, friends, recreation, job, and your very life…..

 

So the question….WHO CAN BE SAVED?

 

Mark 10:27-31)  Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."  [Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,”] Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."     Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." [many considered as first in this life – or last in this life] 

 

It doesn’t matter what others think about you – God knows who you really are….and what you are yet lacking.  And you know what you need to give up to inherit eternal life.

 

Will you go away from here today sorrowful?  or Saved?

 

Won’t you give up whatever you need to give up to be completely His? 

 

Repent right now, before it is too late.  Give yourself completely over to Him while these questions burn in your heart.