An  Intimate Moment With a Rich Young Ruler

Scripture Passage - Mark 10: 15-22

 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: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do 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.

Meditation - The following account is a fictionalized version of the text.  Parallel passages identify this man as young (Mt 19:22) and as a certain ruler (Lk 18:18).

A certain rich young ruler had done well with the traditions. He had been taught the traditions since he was a child. He had first been trained at home by his parents, his grandparents, his uncles and great uncles. And he had memorized all the synagogue laws at an early age.   

When he was old enough, he went to the most expensive school, the finest in all of Judah! It had the best teachers who trained the boys in the way of the traditions. And the certain rich young ruler was top in his class.

Now that he had grown into manhood, he took for granted that he was a good man. He was certain, in fact, for he always followed the traditions to the letter. It was easy for him now. He didn’t even have to think about it much, it was just old habits to him. And he knew if he followed the traditions, it was safe to assume he had not broken any of the Law of Moses- that’s how the traditions worked.

The traditions also taught that wealth was the sure sign of God’s approval. And since God had blessed him with wealth, he must be good enough.  

The certain rich young ruler often went to the teachers to ask questions. It was a game of sorts. For sometimes, if a student posed a question that stumped the teachers, a new tradition would be established. Perhaps one day, mused the certain rich ruler, he would stump the teachers of tradition.

The certain rich young ruler had heard about the new teacher from Galilee. Rumor had it that when Jesus spoke, His insights were keen, and He seemed wise beyond His years. He had also heard that Jesus’ eyes shone with life and His words stirred in men’s hearts. But what was really different about Jesus was that He had  amazing power- the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, even lepers were being cured….”That’s really interesting,” the certain rich young ruler thought. ….

The certain rich young ruler wanted an opportunity to question Jesus. He wanted to come up with a really good question, one that showed how much he knew, and impress Jesus. Then he got an idea. And glancing up at that very moment, the certain rich young ruler saw Jesus outside his house. Anxious, he hurried out the door.

The certain rich young ruler ran up to Jesus and quickly fell to his knees showing proper respect for the teacher.  "Good teacher," the certain rich man asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus looked at the young man before Him. He recognized the fine features of his face, the fine clothes, and his fine mind.  He’d watched over this fellow since the beginning of time. Jesus remembered he had been a pretty good kid growing up. And he had managed through the teenage years without too much damage. The certain rich young man was well educated now. He would be a tough nut to crack…

Jesus knew the drill was to try and stump the teacher. So Jesus fired off the first shot. "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 

The man was caught off guard. Jesus was right, only God was good…He tried to respond but he couldn’t think of anything to say… 

Jesus waited a moment, and saw the man was speechless. That was a good sign… The rich man had asked what he could do… Jesus sighed… How could He let this certain man see for himself he couldn’t do anything to inherit eternal life!?  Jesus decided to begin with the basics.

“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…’ ”

The certain rich man responded before Jesus even finished the Ten... "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

Jesus looked at him and loved him. Jesus knew this man would never see Him as Savior if he couldn’t admit he had broken God’s law. As they looked eye to eye, Jesus looked for the signs. Was this man ready to give up the useless traditions? Was he ready to admit the simplest transgression – that yes, he had told a lie, and yes, he had taken things that belonged to someone else- and that no number of animal sacrifices could erase trespasses?

The man was expressionless, so Jesus tried another approach. Jesus responded, "One thing you lack. 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. And the certain rich young ruler went away sad… because he had great wealth.

Jesus sighed, and turned away sad, because the certain rich young man had great wealth.

Prayer - Use Psalm 25:1-11 as a guide

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.

Remember, O LORD, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them His way.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant. For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Teach me O Lord, Your marvelous truths. Help me to put away any useless things and my useless traditions and ideas. Search me O God and know my heart. Show me my transgression and need for a Savior, that I might inherit eternal life. Then help me, Lord, to follow after You, day by day, step by step, moment by moment.                                                                                                                 Amen