Mark 10:17-31
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them 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 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
"Good teacher, what must I do?"
The news about Jesus is widespread throughout the country. Some people have accepted Him as "the teacher" and some others still hesitate to believe in Him.
"As He was setting out on a journey, a man knelt in front of Him asking, 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" (v. 17). The man kneeling in front of Jesus acknowledges that he believes that Jesus is both God and man. He is not asking for any miracle or a position Jesus can provide him with. He is asking about what to do to improve his way of life that allows him to inherit life eternal. It seems like an exceptional inquiry that this "Good teacher" is the one who can advise.
Jesus is aware of how faithful to Biblical teaching this man is. But, as usual, He asks him about the commandments and how he abides by them. The answer was perfect, but Jesus is going far and away beyond the commandments. Charity is greater than any restrictions or legal practices.
Share what you have with the poor! All that you have is from God. Share it with God through the needy ones with gratitude and experience His presence in your life. Do it with a joyful spirit. "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver!" 2 Corinthians 9:7.
"The man went grieving for he had many possessions" (v. 22). The Gospel doesn't say if he did what Jesus advises him to do or if he did it later. It does say how difficult is it to give up what the man possesses, and to give freely and joyfully without grief.
If Jesus' love is deeply rooted in his heart and mind, he will be able to challenge the impossible and make it possible. The man remains free to transform the impossible into the possible.
Do we think to ask Jesus what we must do to improve the quality of our Christian life?
How do we respond to this invitation Jesus offers to this man?
Do we believe that Jesus is our Teacher and have the personal courage to implement what Jesus is asking us to do?
With Jesus the impossible becomes possible. "For mortals it is impossible, not for God: for God all things are possible" (v. 27).
Kneel in His presence and ask the question, "Good Teacher, what must I do?"
The opening to the left of the archway by the steps is called the “Eye of the Needle.” This is part of a first century gate at the Russian Orthodox church in Jerusalem. The smaller section was available to people at all times, while camels and cargo could only enter/exit during certain hours.