Mark 10 is packed with questions. Jesus asks ‘Whys’ and the disciples, as well as followers, ask Jesus ‘whats’ and ‘hows.’
And they ask the big, macro, question: how can I inherit eternal life? what must I do to inherit this life?—
17 “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?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandment: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.
‘Jesus…loved him.’ We can’t say with certainty why Jesus loved him. But…
This man ran up to Jesus; he fell on his knees. He was seeking, desperately seeking. And Jesus responds as he looks at him, as he see , with love.
Jesus asks this kneeling man an imperative question. Whenever Jesus was about to gift a seeker with a miraculous healing, he gives a clear direction. To the father who’s son was demon possessed the directive was believe. Here, the imperative request is to sell all he possesses and give the sale’s proceeds to the poor and follow. Here is their dialogue.
“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.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The man wanted an eternal inheritance; is told directly how to achieve it, and walks away without following Jesus. Following is hard.
The disciples are no longer afraid to ask questions after seeing this man walk away. And they ask their ‘eternal question’: …
24 ‘The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”’
‘Who then can be saved?”’
Jesus assures them: nothing is impossible with God. And they are with; they are following Him.
Follow, and be saved. Jesus is their, our, inheritance. He saves. Even the impossible me; he saves.
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