DAY TWENTY-EIGHT – Saturday, March 25, 2023
Mark 10:17-31
This is one of the more familiar encounters which Jesus has during his ministry. It takes place specifically in the region of Perea - to the east of the Jordan River. Indeed, this episode was seen to be so important in the earliest years of the Church that it is to be found not only in Mark, but also in Matthew and Luke.
Jesus’ protagonist in the story is most often referred to as the rich young ruler. Obviously, he came from an influential family and although the Gospel doesn’t say what his position in society was, it is probably safe to assume that he held a post in civil government or was a synagogue official.
Jesus’ final instructions to the rich young ruler are usually interpreted to be exceptional for average Christians. We are not all called to follow Jesus by giving away everything we have, but we are expected to recognize that all of our possessions come ultimately from God and that we will be judged by how we utilized these goods.
So, what is the lesson to be drawn from this incident? Why did Jesus insist that the rich young ruler give away all of his possessions and follow him? The young man initially justifies himself merely by observing rules. He doesn’t display a heart for servanthood or demonstrate any measure of care for the poor. He wants to keep all of his wealth. When Jesus looks at him and loves him, as we are told, Jesus sees what potential the young man would have had if only he were willing to see that to inherit eternal life requires more than simply following a set of rules, no matter how important those rules might be.
To merely observe the works of the law can never justify us. We are justified by faith, but what kind of faith must this be? In Galatians 5:6, St. Paul says that it must be a faith that works through love - it therefore cannot just be a static acceptance of the truths of Christianity. We must actually live out our faith by tangibly loving God and also by demonstrably loving our neighbour.
Sean Madsen
Mark 10:17-31
This is one of the more familiar encounters which Jesus has during his ministry. It takes place specifically in the region of Perea - to the east of the Jordan River. Indeed, this episode was seen to be so important in the earliest years of the Church that it is to be found not only in Mark, but also in Matthew and Luke.
Jesus’ protagonist in the story is most often referred to as the rich young ruler. Obviously, he came from an influential family and although the Gospel doesn’t say what his position in society was, it is probably safe to assume that he held a post in civil government or was a synagogue official.
Jesus’ final instructions to the rich young ruler are usually interpreted to be exceptional for average Christians. We are not all called to follow Jesus by giving away everything we have, but we are expected to recognize that all of our possessions come ultimately from God and that we will be judged by how we utilized these goods.
So, what is the lesson to be drawn from this incident? Why did Jesus insist that the rich young ruler give away all of his possessions and follow him? The young man initially justifies himself merely by observing rules. He doesn’t display a heart for servanthood or demonstrate any measure of care for the poor. He wants to keep all of his wealth. When Jesus looks at him and loves him, as we are told, Jesus sees what potential the young man would have had if only he were willing to see that to inherit eternal life requires more than simply following a set of rules, no matter how important those rules might be.
To merely observe the works of the law can never justify us. We are justified by faith, but what kind of faith must this be? In Galatians 5:6, St. Paul says that it must be a faith that works through love - it therefore cannot just be a static acceptance of the truths of Christianity. We must actually live out our faith by tangibly loving God and also by demonstrably loving our neighbour.
Sean Madsen
