Keys of Courageous Faith:
Count The Cost
Mark 10:17-31
Introduction
Courageous faith always finds its strength in knowing the presence of Christ, hearing his Word, and following his example. This month we have followed the growing courage in the faith of the disciples as we make our way through Mark. We saw them face thousands of hungry people. We watched them face a storm and a ghost! We were amazed as they saw Jesus transfigured and speaking with Moses and Elijah. In each of these accounts their faith challenged and they grew in their willingness to follow the Messiah. Also in each of these our faith is challenged and we have opportunity to grow. In today’s text we will join the disciples once again as they grow in courageous faith in Jesus. As they grow, let us grow with them!
Jesus has just rebuked his disciples for trying to keep little children away from him. (MK 10:14-16 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.)
3. At that moment a young man runs up to Jesus and throws himself at his feet. This man joins a long list of people who interrupt Jesus on his journey. Jesus willingly engages with him - and we know some things about him. This story is included in MT, MK, LK:
-He was eager - he ran up to meet Jesus!
-He was young - Matthew tells us- had dreams of the future!
-He was rich - he had opportunities many others would not!
-He was a ruler - Luke tells us - a man of influence or power
-He was religious and sought to live a good life.
Read Mark 10:17-22
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
3 important questions that we want to hear.
1. What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? (10:17)
This question recognizes that this life is not all there is. Our lives are relatively short. Job 14:1-2 “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.” John 5:28-29 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
It recognizes that there is something required of us. John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to
the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
It recognizes that eternal life is an inheritance, not purchase. Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…
It is the place where we step from our path to the one God has set before us. Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
It is a courageous question and can only be answered by courageous faith! There is another implied question here.
2. What Do I Lack? (10:21)
Jesus acknowledges his good life. No one is good except God alone (18) - helping the man recognize he was not just talking to a rabbi. Keep the commandments (19-20). 10:21 “Jesus looked at him and loved him…” It appears at this time that this good young man has it all together. But Jesus knows something about him that we cannot see.
"One thing you lack”
So far everything about his religion is self-focused, self-powered - he is a good person but his trust is not in God, it is in his wealth. Jesus asks him something he doesn’t ask of anyone else: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (21). Why did Jesus ask the young man to do this?
-He could see the man’s heart. (John 2:25 “…he himself knew what was in man.”)
-He could see the man’s potential - he didn’t allow everyone to follow him! He invites this man!
-He wanted the man to receive his promise: ‘treasure in heaven’
He counted the cost and “went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
This is someone Jesus loved (vs 21) and talked to plainly about his situation. He was unwilling to follow because of his wealth. (vs 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.) He went away sad. What a change from his demeanor when he first came up to Jesus.
If you have questions about this, so did the disciples! (10:23-25)
3. Who Then Can Be Saved? (10:26-31)
Mark 10:27 “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Wealth, goodness, prestige, youth, eagerness - could not. Something else was needed. Our greatest efforts cannot achieve salvation for us. Salvation is only possible with God!
Kernaghan “The Bible presents God as One who does impossible things - enabling Sarah to conceive when she was ninety, sending water gushing from a rock in the desert, and sustaining a widow with an inexhaustible supply of flour and oil. Perhaps helping adults become children should be added to the list.”
Peter said ‘We have left everything to follow you!” (28)
Barclay: “A man’s Christianity might involve the loss of home and friends and loved ones, but his entry into the Christian Church brought him into a far greater and wider family than ever he had left, a family who were all spiritually kin to him.”
When we reach eternity, do you think we will regret anything we left behind to follow Jesus?
Conclusion:
Prior to this text Jesus said “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” -
I encourage you to have courageous faith and follow Jesus! What is the “one thing you lack” when it comes to your commitment to God? What decision do you need to make?
Courageous faith always finds its strength in knowing the presence of Christ, hearing his Word, and following his example.
Many have wondered if he ever changed his mind and came back to live for Christ?
He walked away sad - will you?
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Questions For Discussion
1. In television, movies, or literature, name a person of great wealth who mistreated those under him. What about
someone of great wealth who blessed those under him?
2. If someone asked you, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”, what would you say to them?
3. One commentator wrote, “This text is an anxious one. It is hard to imagine anyone hearing it who would not feel that anxiety.” What about this text causes you some anxious feelings?
4. A common belief in the New Testament world was that if someone is wealthy it is because they have been favored by God due to their goodness. Do you think people generally believe this today? Does God sometimes bless with wealth?
5. Twice in our text Jesus says, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (MK 10:23,24) How many of us thought of someone else and not ourselves? In what way does this declaration affect every one of us?
6. Toward the end of our text (vs 29-30), Jesus promises that whatever is left we will receive it a hundred times. What does he mean by this, in your opinion?
7. In Mark 10:31 Jesus makes a statement of interest. How does that relate to this text? To the people mentioned in this text? To us today?
Resources
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible: Mark (revised). Westminster, 1975.
Keller, Timothy. King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus. Dutton, 2011.
Kernaghan, Ronald J. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Mark. IVP, 2007.
Lane, William L. NICNT: The Gospel of Mark. Eerdmans, 1974.
