The Rich Young Ruler and Jesus and our way of showing Jesus

Mark 10: 17-31

     CS Lewis was won to Christianity by several things.  One was he had a good teacher in his youth who taught him to see the true from the false , a Scotsman named Kirkpatrick.   Another way was that he was” surprised by joy” ( an actual title on one his books later on), experiences of music, a landscape or a forgotten memory.  He came across the writings of a Scottish minister , George Mc Donald who led him to discover joy in imaginary worlds.  Then he re-encountered Christ . 

 

       The rich young ruler was attracted to Jesus.  Perhaps he had seen how he treated children earlier in Mark 10.  Jesus was a winsome figure to him.  His own life was full of everything he wanted but he lacked the one thing he needed. It was an empty life although he had enough of this world’s goods.

Here is the question, “ are we winsome?”  Do people see something different about our lives and our attitudes?  The rich young ruler came running to Jesus .  He knew there was something in Jesus that He did not have. 

 

        Being open to others and allowing them to share their concerns is a part of being winsome.  Do others feel they can talk to us about their deepest concerns or are we not concerned?  I looked up winsome.  It comes from joy, wynn, delight---attractive in a “ sweet engaging way”.  Jesus was winsome.

 

         Secondly, Jesus was very clear and truthful to the young man.  He was clear in a loving way.  The young man , about 30 , asked, “ What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:17  He had kept the commandments .  Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said,” one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” 10:21  He loved the young man.  This is so interesting to me because the young man had enthusiasm and possessions but he had no idea at all of spiritual truth.  Here he was face to face with the Son of God, yet when Jesus said this he was sad.

 

         When we speak to others about spiritual matters they may be sad or even angry, but we still need to find a way to  speak the truth in love to them.  We are not responsible for their response.  We do have the marvelous joy and privilege of allowing others to see Jesus’ love in us and through us. 

 

          Lastly, Jesus in his discussion with this young man asked for a commitment.  He lacked the one thing he needed and that was a willingness to follow Jesus with a total commitment.  Morgan in the Great Physician concludes:

   “In that sorrowfulness there is hope.  If he had gone away angry we might have wondered and been hopeless.  But he went away sorrowful.  We have no record of the ultimate result…..Either he went back to his wealth….or else going home, he pondered further his meeting with Jesus , until the moment came when rising he obeyed completely…”

 

    This reminds me of what CS Lewis said about his own conversion, “ You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet.  That which I had greatly feared had at last come upon me.  In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night , the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.”

 

Praise Be to His Holy Name for ever and ever. Amen.