Rich Young Rulers
Mark 10.17-31
Introduction
This past Friday our nation remembered the 19th anniversary of 9/11. About 8 months after September 11, 2001, my 8th grade class took a field trip to Washington DC. This is one of my favorite school memories because my dad went on the trip as a chaperone. We went to Gettysburg, Baltimore, and then, DC. In Washington we visited the Lincoln Memorial, some museums, but the coolest part of the trip was the tour of the White House. Because the trip was so soon after 9/11 security was at an historic high. The White House wasn’t offering the previous amount of tours they had but a girl in my class had a cousin who worked there so we got a tour! Entrance into the White House is nothing compared to what Jesus says here about entrance into the Kingdom of God.
Before we dive into the text let’s remind ourselves of the setting. Tim Keller helpfully describes the Gospel of Mark using the name of the world-renown London train station, King’s Cross. The first half of the book reveals to us that Jesus of Nazareth is the long awaited King of the world. He was foretold in the Old Testament and now he is here. The second half of the book tells us the King is going to the cross. The transition happens in chapter 8 when Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ.
Since Peter’s confession Jesus has explicitly foretold his death and resurrection several times. He was transfigured on the mountain, he healed a boy with an unclean spirit, and then he began teaching on the Kingdom of God. He taught about greatness in the Kingdom. Then he taught on marriage because God made marriage to picture the gospel. Last week we saw him teaching on children because that’s what logically follows marriage. Now he addresses money. Please notice the progression and importance. How you think about money has everything to do with how you will spend eternity.
Enter the Kingdom Losing Possessions
There’s a bit of a narrative transition here. The text literally reads, as he was going out into the road one, also running to him and kneeling, asked him, “Teacher, what can I do in order that I might inherit eternal life. It’s imperative that we note that the rich young ruler (as he’s historically been called; Matthew tells us he was young and Luke, that he was a ruler) seems genuine in his question. Unlike the Jewish leadership he is respectful of Jesus and genuinely concerned. The Pharisees would’ve told him to keep the Law and follow their teachings.
Jesus gives an unexpected answer: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” There’s a bit of word play that doesn’t translate. In verse 17 Mark doesn’t actually write a man ran up, but one ran up. Then in verse 18 Jesus literally says no one is good except one, God. Now we know from reading the pericope canonically that Jesus isn’t teaching that he himself isn’t good. The book of Hebrews teaches Jesus was without sin (Heb 4.15). Jesus is challenging this man’s presuppositions. He didn’t know Jesus was the sinless Son of God. He merely thought Jesus was a good teacher. Jesus is getting ready to show him that God alone is good and that the man is not. The one who ran up to Jesus is not good; there is one good, God.
Jesus then begins quoting the 10 commandments. We read them during the call to worship. As a side note, let me encourage you dads out there, it is your job to disciple your children. You may be sitting there thinking, “I don’t know where to start.” Start with the 10 commandments. They were the first written Scripture and they were written by the hand of God. Show your kinds right and wrong and show them how Jesus is the answer to the 10 commandments. It’s that simple!
Anyway Jesus starts quoting the 2nd tablet of the Decalogue. And the rich young ruler gains confidence. He tells Jesus he’s kept all of these commandments from his youth. And we observe the divine omniscience and wisdom of Jesus here. If I were Jesus I would’ve gone all Sermon on the Mount on the guy; “Have you ever lusted? Have you ever been angry? Have you ever coveted?” But Jesus doesn’t say that. Mark says that Jesus looks at him intently and he loves him.
In love Jesus tells him there’s 1 thing he lacks. This is the 3rd time in 5 verses that Mark uses the number 1. This one who needs the one God must do one thing: sell everything he has, give it to the poor, follow him and he will have treasure in heaven. The ESV says that the man was disheartened. That word can either be translated, “Shocked” or “saddened.” Either way, it’s not the answer he was looking for and he goes away sad. Why? Because he had great possessions. As the man walks away Jesus looks around at his disciples and says,
“How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Can we let that sink in for a moment? I know, I know, you’re all waiting for me to say that this is not a universal command, that it was just specifically for this man and that’s true, but before we get there, can we feel the weight of Jesus’ teaching? Jesus said, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matt 6.24). Paul wrote, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs (1 Tim 6.10).
Jesus gives them a word picture that drives the point home. He says it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of God. The church has struggled with this saying for millennia. Some have tried to tame Christ. They have argued that κάμηλον, camel is a textual variant and Mark actually wrote κάμιλον, which means rope or thread. The spelling of the two words is different by only one letter. The point, they contend is that in order to get thread through the eye of a needle one has to be focused and dedicated.
In the 19th century liberal pulpits proposed that there was a small gate in the Jerusalem wall called “the eye of a needle” and in order for a camel to get through this gate it would have to remove all of its luggage and crawl on its knees. The point would be that the wealthy would have to humble themselves for entrance into the Kingdom. This proposal lacks any historical or biblical evidence. Jesus’ words are far more surprising than these two options. Jesus is using absurd language to make a point. Like the idium, “a snowball’s chance” or “to bottle the ocean.” It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.
It is easier for the largest animal in the ancient Near East to go through the smallest hole in the ancient Near East than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. What a word for us who live in the richest country in the history of the world! The poorest in America are wealthier than some royalty of the past.
Of course it is true that justification is not by selling your possessions alone. Jesus is speaking directly to this man’s heart. This is how Jesus loves him by digging right to the core of his idolatry. He loved his great possessions more than anything. That’s why he went away sorrowful. Jesus is saying you have to love me more than your stuff. “Sell it all and follow me and you’ll find treasures in heaven.” Notice the contrast; sell your earthly treasure to find heavenly treasure.
What’s the point? You can only enter the Kingdom of Christ empty-handed. Do you love your money too much? Do you obsess over your 401K? Retirement? Income? House? Cars? Do you put that before God and neighbor? Is money your functional savior? Your god? Don’t live for money. You won’t take it with you when you stand before Christ on the last day.
Enter the Kingdom through the Lord’s Power
The disciples are exceedingly astonished at what Jesus is saying. It turns out Jesus’ words are not only offensive to 21st century Westerners but also to 1st century Middle Easterners. The disciples obviously associated wealth with blessing. Who can be saved if not the wealthy? Jesus gives them a big God answer. “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” No one can save themself but God is sovereign in salvation. We are all spiritually bankrupt. Remember 2008 when the government had to bail all those corporations out? Man, that’s what happens in salvation; God bails us out. God can fit a camel through the eye of the needle. As absurd as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle it is for more miraculous for a rebellious sinner to lay down their arms and that’s what God does.
Hear me this morning you cannot save yourself. It is only when the Spirit regenerates your dead heart that you are made right with God. It is a work of God alone. Cry out to Jesus now. He alone can save you. And he will.
Enter the Kingdom in Last Place
Peter now tries to reassure himself after this hard teaching. He says even though the rich young ruler wouldn’t leave everything and follow you we did. Jesus affirms him. Did you notice in verse 24 that he calls the disciples children? This is the only time in Mark when he does that. I think it’s because in vv. 13-16 he taught on children entering the Kingdom. He’s saying you guys are like the children; you have given up everything to follow me.
Then he comforts them for their faith. Anyone who leaves houses, siblings, parents, land for the sake of Jesus and the gospel will receive blessing and persecution that lead to eternal life. I want to note two things in these three verses: (1) the gospel and (2) the goal.
First, the gospel. It’s the word εὐαγγέλιον, which means good news. Mark uses the word more than Matthew, Luke, or John. He uses it 7 times (8 times if you count the long ending of Mark, which Mark probably didn’t write). This is the fifth time we see the word in the book. The gospel is the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the message that he lived sinlessly in the place of his people, died as their substitute on the cross, bearing God’s wrath in their place, and was raised on the third day the firstborn from the dead. This is God’s only message of salvation and if you have not repented and believed the gospel I believe with all of my heart that God brought you here this morning to hear the gospel. Trust Christ. He is your only hope in life and death.
Second, we see the goal. Jesus says if you leave family, home, or land for him and the gospel you will find one hundred times the amount of family and home here and now even though it will be mixed with persecution as well, but ultimately what you’ll find is eternal life. There have been Christians who have physically experienced this. First of all the disciples; they left their lives behind and God used them to create the church and spread the gospel. Missionaries who have gone to foreign lands and have found the church there to be a surrogate family. Some Christians have emotionally experienced this, being ostracized by their family because of Christ and they have found a second family in the church. That may be true of you. Jesus is telling you that it’s worth it because he’s worth it.
The final truth we see in this text is found in verse 31. Jesus says, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Some of you are athletes, you’re real competitive and this just doesn’t sit right with you. Jesus says his Kingdom is backward, it’s upside down; it’s not of this world (John 18.36). The world doesn’t understand this.
Jesus says the first will be last and the last will be first. It is children who enter the Kingdom of God not rich young rulers. After all, our King is going to the cross. We follow a king who washes feet. We are called to a life of service. Not to money, but in God’s power. Can I encourage you? Whether you’re one of the older saints of Christ Community Church who is nearing the end of the race or a young athlete who is near the starting line, or anywhere in between, Run your hardest to finish last. Outdo your spouse in serving them. Give your time and emotion to your children. Pour into the church. Christians finish last.
Conclusion
The rich young ruler didn’t understand Jesus. He asked Jesus how to enter the Kingdom and Jesus told him to follow the 10 commandments. At that point he should’ve said, “I can’t do that.” If he had, Jesus would’ve said, “I know. That’s why I’m here. I came to do it for you.” You see this story is about two rich young rulers. Jesus who was in his early 30s at this point is the king of creation. He left the throne room of heaven and emptied himself, humbling himself to death on the cross. Abandon your idols and look to Christ. Jesus is better. As It turns out that entering the Kingdom of God is a lot harder than entering the White House. And yet, entering the Kingdom of God is a lot easier than entering the White House.