The Best Things in Life are Out of this World

20th Sunday after Pentecost, B

October 14, 2012

Mark 10:35-45

“Christ and the Rich Young Ruler” by Heinrich Hofmann (1824-1911)

Introduction

In today’s Gospel reading, it is tempting to think that the rich do not deserve to have eternal life. It is the poor who are the chosen people of God. It is not riches, per se, that is a hindrance to eternal life, but rather the attachment to the things of this world that is hindrance to eternal life. So we cannot say, “They are rich; they will go to hell,” and “I am poor, I will go to heaven.” No matter one’s socioeconomic status is, when one is attached to the things of this world, one cannot have eternal life.

Bishop Emerito P. Nacpil, in his book, Jesus’ Strategy for Social Transformation (1998), correctly states that the mission of Jesus was to “the last, the least, the lost” (pp. 25-53). But Jesus also came for the “elites” of society, the rich and the righteous (pp. 54-80). And these “rich and righteous” are represented by the rich young man in the Gospel reading today.

I. Some people get the best things that the world can offer.

As Jesus was going on his way, a man came running unto him, fell on his knees before him asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. According to all three of the synoptic Gospels, the man was very rich—“he had great wealth” (Mark 10:22). The Gospel of Matthew portrays him as “young” (19:22); which means he was strong and healthy. On the other hand, the Gospel of Luke calls him a “ruler” (18:18); meaning he was powerful and influential. In addition to all of these, all three Gospels also agree that the young man was also righteous: he knew his Torah and practiced it ever since he was a boy (Mark 10:20-21)—in short he was an observant Jew. He had everything that the world can offer: wealth, power, good health—and even righteousness.

Is this not what we all secretly wish for: good health, having enough money for all our needs (or, a lot of money), some political power, and on top of all of these, we want to be righteous in the presence of God?

In spite of all these things, the rich young man knew that there is something missing—or he wanted to added something to all the other good things he already has. He wanted eternal life.

II. But the best things in life are not enough.

Jesus did not condemn the rich young man for being young, rich, young, powerful, or even being righteous. Only the Gospel of Mark records these small details: “Then Jesus looked at him and loved him”. John Wesley notes that by looking at him, Jesus was “looking into his heart” and by loving him, Jesus was “doubtless for the dawnings of good which he saw in him” (Notes upon the New Testament, Mark x.21). So Jesus told the young man how to inherit eternal life: There is only “one thing” that he has yet to do, and it is:

Go on your way, sell everything that you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, take up your cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21)

Jesus was telling the rich young man to get rid of the only thing that is keeping him from inheriting eternal life. The young man was attached to the things of this world. John Wesley said on his sermon on Luke 9:23,

…the means to heal a sin-sick soul, to cure a foolish desire, an inordinate affection, are often painful, not in the nature of the thing, but from the nature of the disease. So when our Lord said to the rich young man, “Go, sell that thou hast, and give it to the poor,” (as well knowing, this was the only means of healing his covetousness,) the very thought of it gave him so much pain, that “he went away sorrowful;” choosing rather to part with his hope of heaven, than his possessions on earth.

The rich young man could not “take up the cross” of giving up all that he has to follow Jesus. He went away very sad, for he had great possessions (v. 22).

III. The best things in life are out of this world.

A. If a rich young man cannot surrender all his worldly possessions, what hope is there for us who are not even as closely rich? After the young man left, the disciples were “astonished” at what Jesus has to say about riches:

Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. (vv. 24-25).

So Jesus was not condemning wealth per se, he is stating the simple truth that, rather, the problem is putting one’s trust in wealth, not in wealth itself.

B.        This saying made the disciples “astonished beyond measure”: If the rich cannot save themselves, even if they have great riches, and because they cannot give these up, “Who then, can be saved?” Jesus answers succinctly, “With men it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible” (vv. 26-27), We can only renounce of attachment to worldly things and put our trust in God ONLY with the power of God himself!

C. Peter began to say, “Look, we have left everything to follow you!” Does this have a touch of self-righteousness? Nevertheless, Jesus reminded him of all the things which are prepared for those who had left everything to follow him, but these include persecutions.

Truly I say unto you: No one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecution but in the world to come, receive eternal life. (vv. 29-30)

--meaning, we may receive all these things in life, but we must be ready to accept persecutions also. Wesley notes (in Mark x.30) that these things are generally not “of the same kind”, i.e., our rewards are not in this world (in Hebrew, עולם הזה ‘olam hazeh), but “in value: a hundred fold more happiness than any or all of these did or could afford” in the world to come (עולם הבא ‘olam haba).

In the end, there will be a great reversal (10:31):

            “But many of the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”