“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?”” Mark 10:17 ESV
Reflection: what are the “terms and conditions” of following Christ?
I would image few of us read and understand many (most?) of the contracts we sign. Think about when you bought your last new phone or smart device. After signing the agreement of the phone, we load some apps (Facebook, Google, WhatsApp, Weather, etc), to make the phone more useful. So the most common thing most do is to click “accept” to the terms and conditions of these apps you load on your phone without reading them. If you spent some time looking into the terms and conditions, you might change your mind before loading an app; even buying the phone. Some are pretty invasive into your life, into your private life. But this is often true also when we get a bank loan or even an account, insurance, and set up retirement accounts. These contract details, the terms and conditions, are often referred to as the “fine print”, because traditionally they would literally be written in a smaller font size, smaller print.
So, why do people not read the “fine print” of the contracts they sign?
Well, the companies that want to sell us their services and products make the contracts very lengthy and, with a fine print, difficult to read. And, since we want the benefits of their products and services, we are perhaps a bit lazy. So, we sometimes click accept, or sign without fully understanding what we are signing. Mark writes a story about a rich man, a man who had plenty of means, a wealthy man, who was probably also well connected in society. He was used to getting his way, perhaps by clever words, or even demands. Mark states that he knew the law well, which he had followed to the “letter of the law”. But, as we looked at previously with the law of marriage and divorce, he had not understood God’s intentions behind the law. He had not read the “fine print”; the details of the contract of the commandments.
What is very interesting to notice here, in our focus verse, is that, as Jesus was leaving, the man comes running after him. “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?”” Mark 10:17 ESV. Why didn’t he ask Jesus while He was in town? Why wait until he was leaving? Perhaps he had listened, and thought about Jesus message. Perhaps he was busy with his business. We don’t know. But, the fact that he knelt before Jesus tells us that he recognized the authority of Jesus, above him. And, his question to Jesus seems like the man is very sincere, right? At least on the surface. Knowing full well that this man was clever with words, clever with the law, Jesus responds,
“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 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.’” Mark 10:18-19 ESV. The man is very happy with Jesus answer and question back to him. Because, that is exactly what he has done, all his life. “And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”” Mark 10:18-20 ESV. Then, Jesus proceeds telling him the “fine print”, the terms and conditions, that clearly he had not understood before.
“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.” Mark 10:21 ESV. What? Give up all his possessions? Give it all to the poor? This had never been preached in the synagogue. In fact, they praised people with possessions. Can you image the shock Jesus words must have been to this rich man? But, Jesus knew his heart, and knew that selling his possessions was the only way for him to enter the kingdom of heaven. Because, his possessions were in a way his god. And we read the result from this interaction, “Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:22 ESV. He wanted eternal life, but was unwilling to give up his earthly possessions.
So, it is also a question to each of us today, whether we understand and accept the terms and conditions of following the Lord. What are we willing to give up, to gain life?
“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!” 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! 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.” 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.””Mark 10:23-27 ESV
