GETTING THAT CAMEL THROUGH THAT NEEDLE
Mark 10:17-31
INTRO:
Throughout his history, man’s quest has been the answer to this question: “How can I live forever?”
It used to be mummification and the fountain of youth.
Today, for $100,000 you can be frozen ($50,00 for head only)
SI reports that Ted Williams was just decapitated…
Or, there’s always liposuction and new vitamins and minerals.
Some talk of “leaving a legacy”
Other put their grave stone in view of the road.
Man is desperate to find the keys to immortality.
What is God’s answer to this question?
PREV:
Today we will discover God’s answer to this question, as we observe Jesus being asked this very question: “What must I do to live forever?”
Now, you’re in church, so you probably have an idea what answer we will give. But even if you think you know what’s coming, hang on, you may be surprised! There may be some facets to the answer that you aren’t familiar with, and they may explain why your life doesn’t “feel” like eternal life.
If you are earnestly seeking the answer to this question, wait until you hear what God’s answer is…
Its all found in Mark, chapter 10, beginning with vv. 17-18.
A. A man comes to Jesus looking for eternal life
A man runs up to Jesus. Later we will discover that he is a very wealthy man. Matthew, in his account, tells us he is rather young, and Luke says he is a ruler. A picture of success and achievement, a real go-getter.
He is earnest, too. He shows great respect and sincerity.
This is unusual in the young and wealthy.
Illus.: Andrew’s wedding; the Beach Club
His question is “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He’s come to that place where he thinks, hopes that there is something more to life than he has so far.
Eternal life – more than just everlasting life!
Let’s look at Jesus’ initial response in verse 18.
B. Jesus points him to the proper source of life
“Why do you call me good? Only God is good!”
Doesn’t that sound a little testy?
Like, “whoa, dude, take a celebrex.”
But his reply isn’t testy, its intentional.
He reframes the question:
You think you have come to (as far as you know) a “good teacher” who can impart to you some secret, some pearl, some key to eternal life.
Only one can do that – God!
The fact that Jesus goes on and gives him the key has definite implications…
First things first – if you are going to look for real life, for eternal life, you must look to the proper source.
C. Often we look to the wrong sources for life
How often are we like this man? We really want life, eternal life, but we don’t look for it in the right places:
We think a certain job or accomplishment will do it.
We think a certain level of education will do it.
We think a certain relationship will do it.
Maybe you find yourself channel surfing on a Saturday morning, and instead of watching something wholesome, like a show on trout fishing or turkey hunting, you keep flipping back to that infomercial where some guy promises you the “keys to success” or “the life you’ve always wanted.”
The business world is full of people running to ‘gurus’ looking for answers – Suze Orman, etc.
Jesus serves notice here that the only place you can find the key to life, real, eternal life, is from God himself.
And the fact is many of us here today are looking to sources other than God…
By the way, eternal life is possible!
If we want to find eternal life, we must first:
I. GO TO THE PROPER SOURCE
Jesus says, in effect, you will never find what you are looking for if you keep looking in the wrong place.
Transition: Okay, so no big surprise that at church they told you that to find eternal life you must start with God. But what he says next might surprise you. Let’s read what he says, and the man’s response in Mark 10:19-20.
A. Jesus invites the man to give up his religion
After setting the framework, that eternal life comes only from God, Jesus goes on and replies to the man’s specific question: “What must I do?”
Jesus gives the answer that all good rabbi’s would give: Keep the Law!
The man sincerely responds: “All these I have kept”
“I’ve done it – I’ve followed the religious rules to the ‘T’. But I still have a nagging in my soul, an insecurity, I sense that the performance of religion isn’t enough.”
As we read v.21, notice how Jesus invites this man to go beyond religious observance.
Jesus sees his honesty, and loves him
“One thing you lack” – your religion isn’t enough, is it?
Give up everything you have, and follow me!
Give up, or go beyond your religion.
He conformed (all these I have kept), but still didn’t have peace, assurance.
He didn’t realize external conformity and inner obedience were required.
He thought the remedy was finding something else to do.
Jesus says, give up your religion. Give up thinking you can do something to get you to heaven. Give up thinking following the rules is enough.
What more does the man need?
B. Jesus invites the man to gain a personal relationship
After you get rid of your stuff, “Come, follow me.”
Here is what you lack: A personal devotion.
Jesus calls the man to the self-sacrificing devotion which is the characteristic of every true follower!
“You’ve got the religion part down. What you are missing is me.”
Jesus invites him to enter a personal relationship.
C. Jesus makes the same invitation to us.
Often, we turn this personal relationship back into nothing more than a religion.
“A personal relationship with Jesus” becomes a religious phrase to describe a new set of rules we’re following. “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus” means we have signed up, prayed a prayer, attend a certain kind of church. But its far from personal.
Jesus says follow me! Enter into a relationship with me where you are known by me and I by you.
This week my journal/devotional asked “Do you know Christ well enough to hear him when he speaks?”
If we want real, eternal life, we must:
II. REPLACE RELIGION WITH A RELATIONSHIP
Give up on external rule-following for an inner devotion and obedience to a person – Jesus Christ.
Transition: This personal relationship, this inner devotion has some startling results, as we shall see. Let’s check out the man’s response as I read v. 22.
A. Jesus calls this man to remove the obstacle to life
Jesus had called this man to a radical step of obedience – unloading his stuff. He perceives that this is the one thing keeping him from a radical, personal relationship with God – his wealth. He offers the man a securities exchange.
The man refuses the challenge. He wasn’t willing to do it!
In reality, the man had a greater love for his possessions than for life, eternal life.
B. Jesus call us to remove the obstacles to devotion in our lives
In the same way, Jesus calls us to remove anything in our lives that hinders all-out commitment to Him.
A relationship that detracts from your commitment.
A possession or hobby or leisure activity.
Pride, self-reliance.
A schedule, focus on climbing the ladder.
Until you give it up, you won’t have eternal-quality of life. Your life will continue to be void of peace, joy, etc.
Money is a special problem. Notice what Jesus says about this as I read vv. 23-27.
Its tough for rich people to get to heaven. Why?
Doesn’t God like rich people? Of course he does!
But money, or the pursuit of it, is a snare, a diversion, a false source of security.
This astounded the disciples, because wealth was seen as a blessing, a sign of God’s favor.
Jesus reiterates with that famous saying about shoving a camel through the eye of a needle.
I’ve heard amazing messages on this through the years:
“Camel” is really “rope”, so its possible, just difficult.
“Eye of the needle” refers to a gate in the wall that required a camel to walk on its knees.
We just don’t want to believe it says what it says:
Its like shoving a camel through the eye of a needle.
Its a picture of impossibility!
We still want to believe that somehow we can be rich, because deep down, a lot of us have that desire.
So people with money can’t get to heaven, right?
Not exactly. Jesus’ point is that no man, not even a rich man, can get to heaven, have eternal life on his own. This goes back to the man’s wanting to know what to do.
But with God, all things are possible!
What obstacles are their in your life? What is it that keeps you from the kind of devotion to Christ that brings real life? This is why we can go to church, be “Christians,” but not live any differently. We don’t experience eternal life, which begins now! We neglect this step, and pay for it!
If we want real, eternal life, we must:
III. REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES
We must rid ourselves of anything that gets in the way.
Transition: Okay, just when this seems rather hard, rather daunting, Jesus injects some really good news! Notice what he says about rewards as I read vv. 28-31.
A. Devotion to Christ has it present rewards.
With all this talk about leaving things behind, Peter gets all excited – we’ve left everything! Aren’t we special?
Jesus says, relax, its impossible to give something up for Me without being rewarded. Following Christ may require that we give up something (relationships, lifestyle, things, etc.), but remember the rewards!
If following Christ results in your separation or estrangement from your family, it will be balanced by the spiritual family that is yours as the body of Christ. Even possessions were viewed this way by them.
But note: persecutions come with them!
B. Devotion to Christ has it future rewards
In the end, the reward is everlasting life! But the value system is different in God’s kingdom…
As we pursue this eternal life, we must:
IV. REMEMBER THE REWARDS
Remember that our sacrifice has a purpose!
My kids choose what sports they participate in largely based on what kind of rewards there are…
