Moments with the Master Series
A TRAGIC MOMENT
Mark 10:17-22
Intro
This morning I would like for us to look into this encounter today, because I fear that there are many people attending our Baptist churches who are in the same condition as this young man. They want to be saved and they may even feel that they are saved, but they have no understanding of what genuine, biblical salvation is all about.
Well, in this passage, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms just what it takes to be saved. I do not know where you stand with the Lord today, but I do know that if you are not saved, you need to be and you will hear how you can be today. If, for some reason, you have been mislead about your salvation, then you will hear how you can come to know Jesus today. All I ask is that you let the Lord speak to your heart, and if He calls you to come to Him, then I want you to come. Let’s look together at this tragic moment.
I. THE MAN AND HIS DESIRE (v. 17)
Matthew, Mark and Luke have recorded this particular encounter and given some details on this young man. So for the sake of our study, it would be time well spent to get to know him just a little bit better.
A. The Person Who Came
• All three gospels tell us that he was a rich man.
• Matthew tells us that he was young and Luke tells us that he was a ruler.
• This probably means that he was a ruler in the synagogue.
• When all the facts concerning this man are considered, it becomes clear that this young man had many things going for him in his life.
1. He has Youth - Youth is a wonderful thing!
2. He has Wealth
3. He has Morality and Religion
4. He has Position
5. From every outward appearance, this man was the ideal young person.
B. The Problem He Carried
• In spite of all he has going for him, this man had one mighty big skeleton in his closet though!
He had found that his youth left him unsatisfied.
His money had left him feeling unfulfilled.
His morality, his clean living and his religious activity had not been able to satisfy the deepest longing of his soul.
o So, he comes with haste to Jesus.
• Maybe there are people in this room in the same shape as this young man.
o From every outward appearance, you have it made.
Life has been good to you.
You have a little money.
Maybe you have climbed up the social ladder a little ways.
Maybe your name is well known and you are well thought of in the community.
Maybe you are a good person, who has lived a clean, moral life.
Maybe you are a church member, a leader, a teacher, and everyone thinks your life is complete.
o But, in spite of all you have, there is still something missing in your life.
You know you have what it takes to live, but you also know that you are unprepared to die.
You have everything you want and need materially, but you do not have spiritual peace with God.
Everything looks good on the outside, but the insides are all messed up.
o If that describes you, then keep listening, because Jesus has a word of hope for you!
II. THE MAN AND HIS DECEPTION (vv. 17-21)
A. The Confusion (v. 17)
• As this young man comes to Jesus, he gets several things right.
• Notice:
1. He comes to the right Person
• He had evidently heard of Jesus and knows that if anyone can help him, Jesus can.
2. He comes in the right way
• He comes running, because he knows the urgency of the situation.
• Nothing in life is as urgent as your salvation!
• When you do come to Him, you will come as a broken person.
o It won’t be fun and games, but there will be an understanding that you are a sinner and He is holy.
o There will be a desire to come kneeling before Him
3. He comes for the right purpose
• This young man came to Jesus pondering the issues of eternity.
• We live in the midst of one of the most sophisticated and intellectually advanced cultures the world has ever known, yet people still do not know the answer to the most basic and important question of all.
o People do not know how to be saved.
o Thankfully, Jesus had the answer for this young man and He still has the answer you need today.
o So, if thoughts of eternity and Heaven and how to get there are bothering you, then hang on, because Jesus tells us exactly what we need to know in this passage!
4. He comes at the right time
• He came when Jesus was nearby!
o People think they can come to Jesus at anytime.
o People think they can come whenever it fits into their schedule.
o The truth of the matter is somewhat different.
• Man doesn’t come to the Lord whenever he wants; he comes to Jesus when Jesus is passing close to him.
• While this young man gets several things right, he gets the main thing terribly wrong.
o Notice his question in verse 17. “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
o He seems to think that if he can just add some other good thing, then he can have salvation as a reward.
o There are two basic problems with his question:
1. He thinks salvation can be earned
2. He thinks salvation is a reward
• He seems to think that if he can just do enough good things, then God will give him eternal life as a reward.
• Friend, salvation is not a reward for faithful service; it is the free gift of God’s grace!
o We could never do enough to reach a place where God would reward us with salvation.
o Heaven does not have a “Gold Star” plan!
o Salvation is not a reward for service, but it is the gift of grace, John 10:28!
B. The Confrontation (vv. 18-20)
• When Jesus hears what this man wants, He responds in an unusual manner.
• He confronts this young man in two specific areas.
1. He confronts him regarding the Person of the Savior
• When this young man called Jesus Good.
o Jesus reminded this young man that no one was good but God.
o This was designed to make this young man consider how he viewed Jesus Christ.
o Obviously, this man only believed that Jesus was a great teacher.
• That is one of this man’s problems!
o Before he, or anyone, for that matter, can be saved, they must come to the place where they have a correct understanding of who Jesus Christ is.
He is not just a good moral man, a teacher sent to show us the way.
He is God in the flesh and He is the Way!
• Friend, do you know Who Jesus is?
o He isn’t just another stop on the scenic road to Heaven.
o He is the only hope you have of salvation
o Finding out Who Jesus is is one of the primary, elementary steps in coming to know Him!
2. He confronts him regarding the Problem of Sin
• When Jesus reminds this young man that only God is good, he is trying to get this young man to see that he is a sinner.
o When Jesus rattles off this list of commands, it isn’t to imply that salvation comes by keeping them.
o Jesus is trying to get this man to see that he is a sinner.
• Apparently, this young man believed that salvation was just something else he could add to his resume.
o But, Jesus wants him to see that he is a sinner and as a sinner he has no ground upon which to stand before the face of God.
Jesus wants him to see that regardless of what he may possess materially, he is morally and spiritually bankrupt.
o When this man responds to Jesus, he declares that he has kept the Law and has not broken it.
• This is where most people are isn’t it?
o They take an external, superficial, inventory of their lives and think they are alright.
o They say, “I don’t beat my wife. I don’t abuse my children. I don’t run around. I don’t drink. I provide for my family. I am a pretty good person. And, after all, compared to some people, why, I am almost a saint!”
o Do you know what’s wrong with that?
o The problem with people and their relationship with God is not what they are outwardly; it’s what they are inwardly!
o The heart of the problem is a problem with the heart!
o Man is a sinner.
• You can wash a pig, perfume it and put a ribbon around it’s neck and it looks clean.
o But, you turn it loose and it will roll around in the mud.
o Why? Because it’s a pig and that is what pigs do!
• A sinner may turn over a new leaf and look good outwardly.
o He may be a moral, clean, hard working person, but he is still a sinner at heart and he needs a Savior.
• That is what Jesus wanted this young man to know and that is what He wants you to know as well.
C. The Clarification (v. 21)
• Notice the love and compassion in the heart of Jesus for this young man.
o Jesus still loved this young man regardless of his sins and regardless of his improper understanding of the things of God.
o And, friend, no matter where you are today, He loves you too.
o As proof of His love, Jesus tells this young man how to be saved.
• Jesus tells him to do three things.
1. Sell his possessions and give the money to the poor
• Jesus isn’t implying that salvation is earned by giving away our material possessions.
o He is merely placing His finger on the root of this man’s problem.
o He loved his money more that he wanted God in his life.
• By the way, that is still the message of the Gospel today!
o While many are preachers are telling lost sinners, “You can come to Jesus and hang onto everything you love in the world too.”
o Jesus says, “If you aren’t willing to turn your back on everything for me, then you can’t come to me to be saved!”
2. Take up the cross
• The cross was symbolic of death.
o To take up one’s cross was to go to one’s death.
o Jesus is saying, “If you want me, then you have to die to yourself!”
o In other words, your loves, your goals, your desires, your plans, everything you have, must not come before Jesus!
• That is a message you don’t hear much today.
o Preachers tell people to just come to Jesus, You don’t have to change a thing!
o Dress like you want to, live like you want to, do whatever you want to do, just pray a little prayer and everything will be alright!”
o What a lie and straight out foolishness!
• The modern church says, “Come to Jesus on your terms and live as you please.”
• Jesus says, “If you want to come to me you have to die to yourself, and if you will do that, then I will live through you!”
3. Follow Jesus
• Here is the point of the matter!
o This young man has been following power, prestige, position and possessions.
o Jesus says, “You turn your back on all that and follow me. That is how you get eternal life!”
Closing
Friends, what you do with Jesus in this life, will determine what He will do with you in the afterlife!
• Has He called you to follow Him?
• What was your response?
• Did you forsake all to go after Jesus, regardless of the cost?
• Is He calling you now?
• What will you say?
• Will you come to Him and be saved, or will you go away from Him to continue to live without Him and maybe one day to die without Him?
• It is decision time, what will you do?
