Scripture: Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”Luke’s gospel tells us this man was a “ruler,” probably in his local synagogue. He was the cream of the religious crop. You’d be proud to call this man your relative. You’d love having a synagogue ruler as a neighbor. He’d mow your lawn and babysit your kids. By all accounts, including his own, he was a law abiding Jew. But still he wondered…What do I have to do? What an interesting juxtaposition – such a well-respected, well-to-do, well-behaved man fell on his knees before Jesus, not to try to trap him, but sincerely asking the million dollar religious question. “What must I do?” How could he wonder? Based on what he says next, he’s pretty sure he’s kept all the commandments. But here’s the problem: in a religion of law and works – no matter how well I do, no matter how much I do – the question is always there: have I done enough? So, his question is genuine – What am I missing? Before Jesus shows him the solution to his spiritual crisis, Jesus needs him to see how deep the problem goes.
