Jesus, Rich in Compassion

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,"...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. (Mark 10:17-22)

Neatly dressed, self-possessed, with an intelligent face and a purposeful stride--this is how I picture the man in this passage, who is referred to in the other gospels as the rich, young ruler. I wonder what was going through his mind as he wove his way through the crowds of Jesus' followers toward the Teacher himself. Did he glance discreetly at the disciples' rough robes and travel-worn sandals? Did he compare them with his own fine clothes and the glitter of the rings on his fingers? When he peered over his shoulder to make sure that his servants were still waiting with his camels, did he notice that none of these people had either servants or camels?

Whatever his impressions of Jesus' followers, the rich, young ruler managed to find Jesus and respectfully pose the question that would define him in Scripture. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus starts talking to him about the law, and the rich young ruler shakes his head, unsatisfied with this answer. No, I've already tried that, he tells Jesus, wanting a different solution. So, Jesus offers this man a way out from under the law--sell everything you own and follow me, he says. The young man's face falls. This wasn't the answer he was looking for. Slowly, he turns and walks away.

The rich, young ruler stands out to me among the multitudes who came to see Jesus. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he understood that the law was not able to produce life in his soul. Sadly though, he still had the idea that righteousness could be obtained through the right system. So when he asks Jesus how he can have eternal life, I think he's not so much looking to be saved as he is searching for a better set of rules. When Jesus offers a new relationship governed by one rule--make Me your treasure--the man walks away disappointed.

Mark says it was Jesus' love for the rich, young ruler that moved him to offer such a challenging invitation. In his great compassion for us, Jesus will identify the thing that keeps us from following him and demand we give it up. Whatever it is, he will ask us to love him more than we love that.

So, Jesus....How Was Your Weekend?

I'm not sure what your Saturdays usually look like. Mine are pretty relaxed--sleep in, spend time with friends, maybe read a book or catch a movie. Recently, I read a passage in Luke that describes a Saturday in Jesus' ministry (4:30-41). He had just arrived in Capernaum and began his day at the synagogue, teaching with authority that astonished his listeners. At some point in the sermon, a demon-possessed man interrupted Jesus, announced Jesus' messiahship, and threw himself on the floor. Jesus didn't miss a beat and immediately silenced the spirit, commanding him to leave the man. And that was His morning.

Next, Jesus headed to Peter's house, where he was introduced to Peter's sick mother-in-law. Jesus rebuked her fever and she promptly began serving as hostess. By dusk, word had spread throughout the town that a visiting rabbi had shaken up the synagogue and the spirit world. As the sun set and the sabbath concluded, sick and possessed crowds fill the streets outside Peter's home, anxious to be touched by this man with a power that makes darkness shudder.

By the end of the day, Jesus had healed everyone who came to him. My study Bible points out that he could have performed a "group healing" and gone to bed early. Instead, he tends to each person's need. Jesus "laid his hands on every one of them and healed them" (Luke 4:40).

What a beautiful picture of Jesus' ministry this passage paints. Both then and now, the broken and weak line the way to the only One who can help us, hope and hurt written across each face. We don't know much about him yet, but we know he is powerful and kind. Along with David, we can testify "that you, O God, are strong and that you, O Lord, are loving" (Psalm 62:11-12) Who is like Jesus? He confronts evil and sickness without reservation and with total victory. He takes time to teach and talk to people, and isn't just concerned with displaying his power and authority. And this was one day in his ministry! I am so impressed with Jesus--on Saturday and every other day!