The young man was searching for what he so desperately needed. He had everything that a man could desire, yet there was still a fear in his heart that gnawed at him- a fear that all his efforts may not be enough to win God’s favor. He had been blessed with affluence, surely a sign of God’s favorable benevolence. He had kept the Torah fervently since his boyhood, but still there was a disquiting feeling in his soul. He had to make sure of his efforts. There was talking of this Jesus, a man who spoke with authority on the things of God. If anyone could help him, surely it was Jesus.
After much searching, the young man found him. He ran up to him, regardless of the shameful display it was for a man of his stature to be seen begging. He implored of Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
In the minds of many people, this would have been the perfect time for Jesus to simply say, “Believe on me, that I have come to save you,” if mere belief had been what was needed. He did not. Instead, he commented on the man’s statement, asking, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” With one question, Jesus asserted that (1) Man is not basically good, and therefore not deserving of salvation, and (2) put forth a choice to the young man as to whether he viewed Jesus as God, or as a mere teacher. Jesus pointed out the man’s first problem, a wrong view of himself.
Jesus looked into his eyes and said, “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.” Why was Jesus so concerned about keeping the law? Was he advocating salvation through works? But Jesus had another plan. He was leading the young man to the place where he could see his problem.
The young man was taken slightly aback. These things were basic. This is not what he had come for. He could have heard this from any number of Rabbis. His answer was frustrated, and somewhat self-righteous. “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Is there something he was missing? Why did keeping the law still leave him feeling so empty?
Jesus looked at the young man, and loved him. It was not a shallow love, such as fills many of us, but a love that was rooted in a love for God. His love was one that rejoiced in truth, and did not trifle with men’s souls with words that tickled their ears. Jesus knew that keeping the law would not save. That is what he was helping this young man to see.
“You lack one thing,” he said gently. “Go and sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”
This was like a blow to the chest for the young man. Sell all he had? He had been blessed with riches, why should he give them all up? Was it really worth it? Give them up just to follow this self-proclaimed teacher carpenter man? The young man slowly turned, and walked away sorrowfully.
The disciples were stunned. They stood there silently, waiting for their Master to speak. Jesus turned and looked at them, and after a moment said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus had taken this young man to the heart of his problem- his heart. He was willing to ouwardly seem religious and zealous for the things of God, but on the inside, he had little capacity to enjoy and treasure God. He desired and treasured his riches far more than he treasured Jesus. Unfortunately, all his outward conformity could not save him. Only a change of the heart.
Jesus spoke again to his still-stunned disciples. “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.”
The disciples were stunned by his words. A camel going through the eye of a needle? That was utterly impossible! How preposterous it was to think that something so large could go through such a small opening! If it was that difficult for a rich ruler to enter into the kingdom, what hope could a poor fisherman possibly have? The disciples asked, “Then who can be saved.”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible- but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Only by the grace of God could a man enter into heaven and gain eternal life. It is not something that can be decided by the will or purpose of man, but it is utterly dependent on the regenerating work of God. This is what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemas that “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it wills, and so does the spirit of God. Salvation is by the free and sovereign grace of God, making alive those whom it will. And those who are made alive by the spirit are given a new heart- a heart able to see and savor the beauty of Jesus Christ; a heart willing to “count all things as loss for the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ;” a heart that is willing to forsake all and follow Christ, and to cling to Him for its joy and delight. A man’s heart has no ability apart from the Spirit to treasure Christ, but by His grace alone, we are made alive to see Christ as the treasure worth more than life.
