Twice in this passage, Mark tells us that Jesus looked carefully. There are weightier theological details in this passage. But for this morning, this is what jumps out.
Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him.
Jesus looked at them carefully and said…
It’s highly unlikely that Mark was sitting watching these events with a parchment and writing instrument in hand, detailing them as they happened. Rather, this was written well after the event.
And these are details the writer(s) felt compelled to include. What does it say?
Jesus isn’t rushing. He’s not looking past the moment. He sees.
He sees the individual — not just his question or his wealth or his résumé — and he loves him. Even knowing how unlikely it was that the man would follow.
Jesus doesn’t love the result. He loves the individual.
And then he sees his disciples. He sees their confusion. He sees their fear. And he speaks — not with scolding, but with truth that leads toward grace:
It’s impossible with human beings, but not with God. All things are possible for God.
Discipleship, relationship with Jesus begins with being seen and being loved.
Mark 10:17-31
As Jesus continued down the road, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?”
Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. You know the commandments: Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother.”
“Teacher,” he responded, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions.
Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “It will be very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!” His words startled the disciples, so Jesus told them again, “Children, it’s difficult to enter God’s kingdom! It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
They were shocked even more and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible with human beings, but not with God. All things are possible for God.”
Peter said to him, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “I assure you that anyone who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms because of me and because of the good news will receive one hundred times as much now in this life—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms (with harassment)—and in the coming age, eternal life. But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.”
Psalm 49:16-20
Don’t be overly impressed when someone becomes rich, their house swelling to fantastic proportions, because when they die, they won’t take any of it with them. Their fantastic things won’t accompany them down under. Though they consider themselves blessed during their lives, and even thank you when you deal well with them, they too will join the ancestors who’ve gone ahead; they too will never see the light again. Wealthy people? They just don’t understand; they’re just like the animals that pass away.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for seeing me, not simply with divine eyes, but with the eyes of Jesus. I do feel seen. I feel known. And I’m grateful that, more and more, with these moments of realization, my response is more often safety and gratitude than guilt and shame. Please: continue to shape me all the more in relationship, as with a loving father than a tyrannical judge.
But now then, Lord, give me the same eyes. Help me to pause and to see for worth and not to react. Help me to love from start to finish. I don’t want to “get over it.” That is, I don’t want to have to swallow my reaction. I want to love from the start. So help me, God.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.