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March 15, 2020
Mark 10:13-31

“10 Commandments” / “10 Words”: words of life, love, tenderness, relationship, covenant

One thing you notice about the story ??

Jesus and The Rich Young Ruler
• 7 details we want to look at

1. Approach: running and kneeling
• Running: I have something important!
• Kneeling (1st century custom?): respect, act of worship?

2. The Address: “Good teacher…”
• Jesus: “Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone.”
• What is this young man saying about Jesus???
o Or what is Jesus saying about himself?

3. The Question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
• Getting to the heart of the matter, no time for small talk
• This is a great question to ask…This is the question to ask
o How many of us are asking this question?
o How many of us should be asking this question?....

4. The Answer: “You know the commandments: ‘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.’”
• What is this?—the 10 Words; a simplified version
• This is the expected response for a Jewish person
• This is the response of religion, people who want to get to God on their own efforts

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
• “…since I was a boy”: going back to the previous story (Mark 10:13-16)
• A measure of pride, a measure of boasting in this response?
• The keeping of the commands can become an idol—behavior becomes the focus / goal
o What must I “do”??—Jesus: you need to receive it as a child (Mark 10:15)

5. Compassion: “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “
• What a great detail…!and so important to read
• Whatever Jesus is going to say he will say it out of love—not anger, frustration, punishment

6. One More Thing: “One thing you lack,”
i. “Go, sell everything you have
ii. give to the poor [not to Jesus!]
iii. and you will have treasure in heaven [sell all and you will get even more]
iv. Then come, follow me.” [join the adventure!]

• Is Jesus being mean? Is Jesus taking away the man’s joy?
o No-Jesus loves this man (verse 21)

7. Sadness: “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Mark 10:22)
• A tragic end to the story?—Not really: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

• “Is this a command [individual] or a commandments [universal]???”
o Very nice and tidy distinction! I love it! I am off the hook!

What is Jesus saying to you / us???