Joy In Abandonment

Introduction:

• General Welcome

• Today we will be in Mark 10:17-31 looking at the Rich Young Ruler

• The title of the message is, “Joy in Abandonment”

o Christianity often feels like a list of dos and don’ts

o The idea of abandoning things doesn’t always sound “fun”

o There is, however, tremendous and lasting joy in abandonment

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Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

“17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “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 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”

21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard 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 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

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Context:

• It is easy with passages like this one to compare ourselves to the disciples who left everything as opposed to

the rich young ruler

• The rich young ruler approached Jesus with urgency (ran up), submission (knelt down before him), and desire

(he asked him)

o This is more than most “professing” Christians can say

• When given to people in a story to relate to, it is always best to take the side of humility

o In this story, we can all learn from the rich young ruler

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Main Point: “To know and follow Jesus is to radically abandon everything in this world – to radically abandon everything in this world for Jesus is to know true and everlasting joy”

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First Point: “In following Jesus, we must abandon self…”

Verse 17 says, “17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

• On the surface, this question is simple – but misguided in two ways

• He is right to call Jesus, “good teacher”

o The same word here used for “good” is also used to describe people

o Yes, Jesus is good – but in a way that redefines goodness

• His questions focus is on what he can do – he was unknowingly exalting self

o Aloe Black song “I’m the man” – you can’t be “the man” and follow Jesus

o NFL regular season MVP illustration – in the last 22 seasons, the MVP has NOT won the Super Bowl

? Teams that win it all rely on those around them

? If want to reach the end, we have to be fully reliant on Jesus by abandoning ourselves

• Up to this point… the rich young ruler sets a good example

o He sought Jesus urgently by running

o He showed submission by kneeling

o He showed desire by asking

o And even though he was misguided – he took it to the right place, the one that can fix it all

• In the following verses his example takes a turn

Verse 18-19 say, “18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “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.”