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7/28 Reading Portions: Judges 11:12-40; Acts 15; Jeremiah 24; Mark 10
Mark 10:22
Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions
POSSESSED
Although the rich man who approached Jesus wasn’t possessed by a demon, he was possessed by his riches and self-righteousness. Although he knelt before the Lord Jesus, he attempted to flatter the Master by calling Him, “Good Teacher” (Mark 10:17); and although Jesus was good (since He was God and perfect Man, Mark 10:18), Jesus informed the man of what Paul, quoting Psalm 14, would tell the Romans several years later:
None is righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10
The man was confidently held captive by his outward righteousness (Mark 10:20). He was also a prisoner to his wealth, which the Lord Jesus perceived. The Lord told him to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor so he could have treasure in heaven by following the Treasure of heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 10:21). The man went away downcast and heartbroken because, sadly, he didn’t hear what Jesus told His disciples a few verses earlier:
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15
A person is saved by God’s grace alone. We cannot justify ourselves before God with our good works in keeping the law externally. Although the Greek word for child can be used of a youngster or teen, it can also be used to describe an infant or toddler, which seems to be the case, as the Lord took up the children in His arms to bless them (Mark 10:16). An infant has no good works to boast his way into heaven. Neither does the infant have possessions valuable enough to purchase eternal life (if such a thing were possible, and of course, it isn’t). Our sins against a holy God are so eternally insidious that it took nothing less than God the Son to become a flesh and bones Man, to live the perfect life that you and I cannot, and for Him to become the perfect substitutionary atoning sacrifice for our sins, shortcomings, iniquities, and transgressions. Christ Jesus alone did this. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Do we own things or does stuff own us?
Sometimes I cannot tell.
Yes, surrender it all to Jesus,
Or else we’re doomed to hell.