Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
(ESV)
—Mark 10:17-22
by: Jasmine Lynch.
Many individuals want eternal life, but on their own terms. This young man was earnestly seeking but found it hard to do what Jesus told him to do. Should we see this as Jesus’ prescription for all of us to inherit eternal life? If so, there would be no need for Jesus because our good deeds could save us. Obviously, Jesus knew that this young man loved his possessions more than he loved God. He needed to be challenged. We are saved by grace through accepting Jesus, and then the forgiveness of our sins and development of good deeds will follow naturally.