Amos 5:6-7,10-15; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30; Psalm 90
October 10, 2021
Lloyd Penner
Mark 10: 17-31
This is a remarkable story. Jesus is about to start a journey. Most of the stories in the Gospel of Mark begin with Jesus and his disciples on the move which gives the Gospel of Mark a dynamic quality. In the passage we heard a man runs up to Jesus, kneels before him and says, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Clearly this man is serious about his spiritual life. He knows he lacks something and he believes that Jesus is a true guide to eternal life. By calling Jesus “good” he is following Jewish custom which is to show great respect to teachers the rabbis.
Jesus’ response to the man is also in keeping with what a rabbi would say. Keep the commandments. It is significant that all the commandments that Jesus mentions are the ones that tell you how to treat your fellow human beings not the commandments about how to relate to God. Do not steal, commit adultery, kill, give false witnesses or defraud another and honour your father and mother.
When the man replies that he has kept all of these commandments since his youth Jesus does not challenge him. I think Jesus was impressed by the man’s obvious sincerity. One thing we know for sure. Jesus felt a personal connection with the man because it says Jesus loved him. This is one of the few times in the Gospels that the authors use these words to describe Jesus’ response to a person. Given this, what are we to make of the next thing Jesus says? “You lack one thing, go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me.” The man is dumbfounded. He did not expect this. He goes away grieving for he had many possessions. John Longhurst, in a Free Press article last weekend, wrote that sometimes its right for people of faith to swear. Maybe the man muttered under his breath, “Damn it, why did Jesus make things so hard for me? And maybe Jesus said under his breath, “Shoot, this guy was so close to gaining eternal life and becoming my disciple.
What Jesus is really saying to the man is, “You may have kept those six commandments but your priorities are wrong. You are in love with your possessions. They control you. If you want to inherit eternal life you need to change your priorities-your lifestyle. This is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus tells someone that they need to dispose of all their earthly possessions. He did so because for this man his possessions were the big issue.
What is the big issue in our lives that may be keeping us from fully following Jesus? Is it materialism? What is it? Each of us needs to examine our priorities. Is it the desire for security? In these insecure times it is natural that we long for security. One thing the pandemic is teaching us is that even with all our scientific knowledge and technology we are still vulnerable. Positively, this knowledge can open the door for us to deepen our spiritual life. It can draw us closer to God and to each other. It reminds us that there is only one real security and that is in the love of God. God’s love never takes a holiday. Our part is to open our hearts to this love. Thanks be to God.