Embracing Humility: The Path to Eternal Life
Summary
Today, we gathered around the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10, exploring the profound question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This question, posed by a man who had kept all the commandments and lived an exemplary life, reveals the heart of the gospel—our inability to save ourselves and the radical sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. The passage is framed by two rebukes: children and a blind beggar are pushed aside by those who think themselves spiritually superior, yet Jesus insists that the kingdom belongs to such as these. The humility and vulnerability of a child, the desperate faith of a beggar—these are the postures that open the door to God’s kingdom.
We are confronted with the impossibility of entering eternal life by our own merit. Jesus’ words are stark: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” The rich young ruler’s goodness, his moral record, even his humility, are not enough. Jesus exposes the fatal flaw of humanity: we judge ourselves “good” by comparing ourselves to others’ failures, not by the perfection God requires. True goodness is not measured by the absence of obvious sins, but by the presence of perfect love and sacrifice—a standard only Christ fulfills.
Jesus, the true rich young ruler, gave up everything—his divine privilege, his life itself—to pay the ransom for our souls. The call to follow him is not a call to mere moral improvement or religious performance, but to surrender, to servanthood, to a love that costs us everything. Our own efforts, our attempts to “be good,” are not only insufficient—they can become spiritually dangerous, blinding us to our need for grace. The gospel is not about what we can do for God, but about what God has done for us in Christ. Our response is not to earn, but to receive, and then to serve out of gratitude and love.
The invitation is clear: lay down your self-sufficiency, your pride, your possessions, your need for recognition. Become like a child, like a beggar, like a servant. Receive the costly love of Christ, and let your life become a grateful offering in return.
Key Takeaways
- Spiritual Superiority Excludes the Vulnerable
It is possible to become so confident in our spiritual knowledge or maturity that we begin to look down on others, even rebuking those whom Jesus welcomes. The disciples rebuked children and a blind beggar, missing the heart of the kingdom. True spiritual maturity is marked by humility and a willingness to embrace the vulnerable, not by exclusion or superiority. [56:15]
- The Fatal Flaw of Human Goodness
We often define ourselves as “good” by comparing ourselves to others’ failures, but Jesus reveals that only God is truly good. Our fallen understanding of goodness is based on degrees of badness avoided, not on the perfection God requires. This self-righteousness blinds us to our need for grace and keeps us from the humility that opens the door to salvation. [01:13:54]
- The Impossibility of Salvation by Human Effort
No amount of moral achievement, religious observance, or personal sacrifice can earn eternal life. Jesus makes it clear: salvation is impossible for us to achieve, but possible with God alone. The ransom for our souls is so costly that only the sacrifice of Christ can suffice—our role is to receive, not to perform. [01:09:51]
- Servanthood as the Pathway to the Kingdom
Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood, not rulership or recognition. To enter the kingdom, we must humble ourselves like children, become desperate like beggars, and embrace the call to serve others. The gospel levels all distinctions—possessions, positions, and prestige are nothing compared to the call to follow Christ in sacrificial love. [01:05:54]
- Our Response: Grateful Surrender, Not Performance
The only fitting response to the costly love of Christ is to offer our lives in grateful surrender. Our works are not a means to earn God’s favor, but a loving response to his grace. When we truly grasp that we are chosen, ransomed, and loved by God, our service becomes an act of worship, not a performance. [01:32:43]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[52:50] - Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler
[54:24] - Jesus’ Loving Challenge
[55:11] - The Impossibility of Entering the Kingdom
[56:15] - Rebuking the Vulnerable: Children and Beggars
[58:07] - The One Thing Lacking
[59:13] - Blindness of Wealth and Ambition
[59:54] - The Answer to Spiritual Blindness
[01:02:40] - The Bookends: Children and Beggars
[01:04:42] - Rulership vs. Servanthood
[01:05:54] - The Call to Servanthood
[01:07:16] - The Question of Salvation
[01:09:51] - The Impossibility of Human Effort
[01:13:54] - The Fatal Flaw of Human Goodness
[01:17:57] - Perfection Requires Sacrifice
[01:20:14] - The Ransom: Christ’s Sacrifice
[01:24:18] - The Costliness of Redemption
[01:28:06] - The Value of a Soul
[01:30:09] - Our Worth in Christ
[01:32:43] - Grateful Response and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Rich Young Ruler and the Impossibility of Earning Eternal Life
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### Bible Reading
Mark 10:17-31 (ESV)
17 And 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?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 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.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 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.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
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### Observation Questions
1. What question does the rich young ruler ask Jesus, and how does Jesus respond to his question? ([52:50])
2. According to Jesus, what is the one thing the rich young ruler lacks? ([54:24])
3. How do the disciples react to Jesus’ teaching about how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God? ([55:11])
4. What does Jesus say is possible with God that is impossible for man? ([01:09:51])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus points out that “no one is good except God alone” when the young man calls him “good teacher”? What is Jesus trying to teach about human goodness? ([01:12:11])
2. The sermon mentions that the story is “bookended” by the disciples rebuking children and a blind beggar. What does this reveal about spiritual superiority and who the kingdom of God is really for? ([56:15])
3. How does Jesus’ call to “sell all you have and give to the poor” challenge the rich young ruler’s understanding of what it means to follow God? ([54:24])
4. The sermon says, “The gospel is not about what we can do for God, but about what God has done for us in Christ.” How does this truth confront our natural desire to earn or prove our worth before God? ([01:30:09])
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### Application Questions
1. The disciples tried to keep children and a blind beggar away from Jesus, thinking they were unimportant. Are there people or groups you tend to overlook or exclude in your own spiritual life? What would it look like to welcome them as Jesus does? ([56:15])
2. The rich young ruler defined himself as “good” by his moral record. In what ways do you find yourself comparing your goodness to others, and how does this affect your relationship with God and people? ([01:13:54])
3. Jesus says, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Is there an area in your life where you are still trying to “earn” God’s approval or blessing? What would it look like to surrender that area and trust in God’s grace? ([01:09:51])
4. The sermon describes Jesus as the “true rich young ruler” who gave up everything for us. What is one thing you are holding onto that might be keeping you from fully following Jesus? ([01:17:57])
5. Servanthood is described as the pathway to the kingdom. What is one practical way you can serve someone in your life this week, especially someone who might be overlooked or vulnerable? ([01:05:54])
6. The only fitting response to Christ’s costly love is grateful surrender. What does grateful surrender look like for you personally? Is there a specific step of obedience or generosity you sense God calling you to take? ([01:32:43])
7. The sermon warns that our own efforts to “be good” can actually blind us to our need for grace. How can you remind yourself daily that your worth and acceptance come from Christ’s sacrifice, not your performance? ([01:30:09])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray a prayer of surrender, asking God to help them lay down self-sufficiency and receive His grace, just as children and beggars did in the story.
Devotional
Day 1: Salvation Is Impossible for Man, But Possible with God
No matter how impressive our credentials or how diligently we strive to do what is right, salvation is not something we can achieve by our own efforts or goodness. The rich young ruler, despite his moral achievements and sincere seeking, was told by Jesus that inheriting eternal life is impossible for man but possible with God alone. This truth humbles us, reminding us that our hope rests not in our performance but in the God who makes the impossible possible through His grace and power. [01:09:51]
Mark 10:26-27 (ESV)
And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Reflection: Where in your life are you still trying to earn God’s approval or salvation by your own efforts, and how can you surrender that striving to trust in God’s power and grace today?
Day 2: True Goodness Belongs to God Alone
We often measure goodness by comparing ourselves to others or by the absence of certain “bad” behaviors, but Jesus teaches that only God is truly good. Our fallen understanding of goodness leads us to judge in degrees of badness rather than the perfection God requires. Recognizing that our own goodness falls short, we are invited to rest in the perfect goodness of God, who alone can save and transform us. [01:13:54]
Mark 10:18 (ESV)
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself comparing your goodness to others, and how can you shift your focus to God’s perfect standard and grace?
Day 3: The Call to Sacrifice—Following Jesus Costs Everything
Jesus calls us not to fit Him into our schedules or give Him a token part of our lives, but to surrender everything in following Him. The rich young ruler was asked to give up his possessions, and we too are called to lay down whatever holds us back from wholehearted discipleship. True perfection and following Christ require sacrifice, not just outward compliance but a willingness to give all for the sake of Christ, just as He gave all for us. [01:17:57]
Matthew 19:21 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Reflection: What is one thing—be it comfort, possession, or ambition—that you sense God asking you to surrender so you can follow Jesus more fully?
Day 4: Christ’s Sacrifice Is the Ransom for Our Souls
The price for our redemption is far beyond anything we could pay; only the costly wounds of Christ at the cross could purchase our freedom from sin. Jesus, the suffering servant, gave His life as a ransom for many, accomplishing what was utterly impossible for us. Our worth is not in what we own or do, but in the immeasurable value God placed on us by paying the ultimate price—His own life—for our salvation. [01:24:18]
Psalm 49:6-8 (ESV)
Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice.
Reflection: How does knowing the costliness of Christ’s ransom for you change the way you view your worth and the way you live today?
Day 5: Servanthood and Humility Open the Door to the Kingdom
Jesus teaches that greatness in His kingdom is found not in status, possessions, or spiritual superiority, but in humble servanthood and childlike dependence. The kingdom belongs to those who come as children or as desperate beggars, not to those who trust in their own strength or achievements. Embracing humility and serving others is the way we access the life Christ offers, following His example as the One who came not to be served but to serve and give His life for many. [01:05:54]
Mark 10:43-45 (ESV)
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can serve today in a way that costs you something, reflecting the humility and love of Christ?
Quotes
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