Understanding True Goodness: The Rich Young Ruler

Devotional

Day 1: The Quest for Eternal Assurance

The rich young ruler's question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" reveals a universal human quest for assurance of salvation. This question is crucial, as it highlights our innate desire to secure eternal life through our own efforts. However, Jesus redirects this quest by pointing to the necessity of understanding true goodness, which can only be found in God. The young man's approach to Jesus reflects a common misconception that eternal life can be earned through personal merit or adherence to the law. Jesus challenges this notion by emphasizing that true goodness is not about human achievement but about recognizing God's perfect standard. [06:25]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: What are some ways you find yourself trying to earn God's favor or assurance of salvation through your own efforts? How can you shift your focus to trusting in God's grace instead?

Day 2: The Law as a Mirror

Jesus' response to the young man underscores the importance of understanding the law before grasping the Gospel. The law serves as a mirror, reflecting God's holiness and our own sinfulness. It reveals our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and drives us to the Gospel, which offers salvation through faith in Christ alone. This understanding is crucial because it helps us see our need for a Savior. The law is not a means to earn salvation but a tool to show us our shortcomings and point us to the grace offered through Jesus. [13:32]

"Therefore the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways has the law acted as a mirror in your life, revealing areas where you fall short? How can this awareness lead you to a deeper reliance on Christ's grace?

Day 3: The Standard of Goodness

The young man's superficial understanding of goodness is a common pitfall. We often compare ourselves to others and believe we are good enough. However, God's standard of goodness is His own character, which is perfect and holy. Recognizing this standard is essential for understanding our need for a Savior. Jesus' question, "Why do you call Me good?" challenges us to reconsider our definitions of goodness and to see that true goodness is found only in God. This realization humbles us and opens our hearts to the transformative power of the Gospel. [16:43]

"Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16, ESV)

Reflection: How do you define goodness in your life? Are there areas where you have been comparing yourself to others rather than to God's perfect standard?

Day 4: The Test of Idolatry

Jesus' challenge to the young man to sell all he had and follow Him was a test of his heart. It revealed the young man's idolatry and attachment to his wealth. This story invites us to examine our own lives and consider what we might be holding onto that prevents us from fully following Christ. Jesus' call to the young man was not about the act of selling possessions but about addressing the heart's true allegiance. It prompts us to reflect on our own attachments and to ask whether anything is hindering our complete devotion to Jesus. [39:38]

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you might be holding onto too tightly, preventing you from fully following Christ? How can you begin to let go of this attachment today?

Day 5: The Good News of the Gospel

The Gospel is not merely good advice; it is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. It offers a righteousness that is not our own but is given to us through faith in Christ. This righteousness is our only hope in life and death, as it covers our sins and grants us eternal life. Understanding this distinction between good advice and the good news is crucial for living a life rooted in the grace and truth of the Gospel. It shifts our focus from self-reliance to reliance on Christ's finished work on the cross. [44:30]

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the Gospel as good news rather than good advice change your perspective on your relationship with God? What steps can you take to live more fully in the freedom and assurance of Christ's righteousness?

Sermon Summary

In tonight's reflection, we explored the profound encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. This narrative serves as a powerful illustration of the distinction between good advice and the good news of the Gospel. The young man approached Jesus with a pressing question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" This question, perhaps the most significant one could ask, reveals a common human desire to secure eternal life through personal effort or merit.

Jesus' response was unexpected. Instead of offering a straightforward answer, He challenged the young man's understanding of goodness. By asking, "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus highlighted the young man's superficial grasp of righteousness. This encounter underscores the necessity of understanding the law before one can truly grasp the Gospel. The law acts as a mirror, reflecting God's perfect holiness and our own shortcomings. It reveals our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and drives us to the Gospel, which offers salvation through faith in Christ alone.

The rich young ruler's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of self-reliance and the illusion of self-righteousness. Despite his outward adherence to the commandments, he failed to recognize his own idolatry—his wealth. Jesus' instruction to sell all he had and follow Him was not a universal command but a specific challenge to this man's heart condition. Sadly, the young man walked away sorrowful, unable to part with his possessions.

This narrative invites us to examine our own lives. Are we clinging to our own perceived goodness or achievements, or are we willing to acknowledge our need for a Savior? The Gospel is not merely good advice; it is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, who offers His righteousness to those who believe.

Key Takeaways

1. The rich young ruler's question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" highlights a universal human quest for assurance of salvation. This question is crucial, as it reveals our innate desire to secure eternal life through our own efforts. However, Jesus redirects this quest by pointing to the necessity of understanding true goodness, which can only be found in God. [06:25]
2. Jesus' response to the young man underscores the importance of understanding the law before grasping the Gospel. The law serves as a mirror, reflecting God's holiness and our own sinfulness. It reveals our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and drives us to the Gospel, which offers salvation through faith in Christ alone. [13:32]
3. The young man's superficial understanding of goodness is a common pitfall. We often compare ourselves to others and believe we are good enough. However, God's standard of goodness is His own character, which is perfect and holy. Recognizing this standard is essential for understanding our need for a Savior. [16:43]
4. Jesus' challenge to the young man to sell all he had and follow Him was a test of his heart. It revealed the young man's idolatry and attachment to his wealth. This story invites us to examine our own lives and consider what we might be holding onto that prevents us from fully following Christ. [39:38]
5. The Gospel is not merely good advice; it is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. It offers a righteousness that is not our own but is given to us through faith in Christ. This righteousness is our only hope in life and death, as it covers our sins and grants us eternal life. [44:30]
** [44:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Introduction to the Encounter
[00:57] - The Rich Young Ruler's Question
[02:20] - The Purpose of the Story
[03:06] - Prayer for Understanding
[04:24] - The Urgency of the Question
[05:40] - The Ultimate Question
[07:09] - The Inheritance of Eternal Life
[09:07] - Jesus' Unexpected Response
[10:49] - The Challenge of Goodness
[13:32] - Understanding the Law
[16:43] - The Standard of Goodness
[19:48] - The Function of the Law
[23:54] - The Law as a Schoolmaster
[29:31] - The Misunderstanding of Righteousness
[39:38] - The Test of Idolatry
[42:12] - The Sorrowful Departure
[44:30] - The Call to the Gospel

Sermon Clips

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” [00:57:04]

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [01:44:52]

The story that I just read is an account of a man who came to Jesus for advice. He was looking for the right counsel. He was asking in one regard what could be considered the ultimate question. And hearing something about Jesus, knowing Him at least by reputation, He sought Jesus out for this advice. [04:11:30]

The Scriptures tell us he ran up to Jesus, and he addressed Him politely, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Is there any more important question anyone could ever ask Jesus? What do I need to do to participate in this inheritance that I’ve heard You speak about or have heard that You did teach? [05:49:31]

Jesus stops him in his tracks. Wait a minute. “Why are you calling Me good?” “Well, you know, I was just trying to be polite. I have a great respect for You. Your reputation has preceded You. I hear You’re the most wise rabbi in the arena around here. Why wouldn’t I call you good?” Jesus said, “Why do you call Me good?” [12:57:59]

Before the discussion goes any further, Jesus challenges the man’s understanding of goodness. And before there was any hope of this man hearing and understanding the gospel, Jesus knew that he first had to understand the law. And it was immediately apparent to Jesus that whatever else this young man knew, he had no idea of the law. [13:32:09]

We have such a superficial understanding of goodness, beloved, that fundamentally we’re no different than this young man, who came up and tried to flatter Jesus by calling Him good. Jesus saw through it right away. He said in this man’s exuberance, in his enthusiasm, he had already betrayed he didn’t have a clue about what goodness is. [14:55:79]

The law reveals the righteousness of God Himself, because the law is an expression coming forth from God’s own character. Why did the Old Testament Psalmist have an affection for the law when He would say, “O, how I love Your law.” When’s the last time you heard a Christian say, “O, how I love Your law.”? [21:18:85]

And so part of that first use, the Apostle Paul says is that the law is the schoolmaster who drives us to Christ. Because when the law reveals the holiness of God, at the same time it reveals my unholiness and drives me to the gospel. But that first use of the law had been completely missed by this man looking for advice from Jesus. [23:48:99]

Jesus is not taking the opportunity here to legislate a universal moral axiom for Christians that they all have to give up all of their private property and give it away. That’s not the point. He’s dealing with this man, with this man’s sin, with this man’s besetting sin, with this man’s idolatry, where he defines his entire life by his wealth. [40:27:30]

You see by preaching the law to this man, Jesus was trying to drive him to the gospel. Instead he walked away. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t spiteful towards Jesus, but the demeanor by which he left was one of sadness. He was sorrowful. He shook his head because he had great possessions. “I can’t do it. I just can’t do it. I won’t do it.” [42:08:31]

Look in the mirror, see what the law reveals to you, and let the law drive you to the gospel, which is your only hope in life and in death because the gospel is not good advice. It’s good news. [44:53:40]

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