The Choice

“The Choice” Mark 10:17-27

Kris Holzmeyer 

Mark 10:17-27

¹⁷As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  ¹⁸“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. ¹⁹But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”  ²⁰“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”  ²¹Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  ²²At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  ²³Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” ²⁴This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. ²⁵In fact, 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!”  ²⁶The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.  ²⁷Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Romans 3:10 NLT

No one is righteous—not even one.

Romans 3:20 NLT

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

God’s Law Helps Reveal Man’s Sin

Mark 10:19-21

¹⁹But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”  ²⁰“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”  ²¹Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:22

At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad…for he had many possessions.

…you don't have to die and go to heaven…Or hang around to be born again…Just tune in to what this place has got to offer…'Cause we may never be here again…I want the best of both worlds…And honey, I know what it's worth…If we could have the best of both worlds…A little heaven right here on earth, come on…I want the best of both worlds…And honey, I know what it's worth…We can have the best of both worlds…A little heaven right here on earth…

-Van Halen “Best of Both Worlds”

Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

No One Can Serve Two Masters; But You Will Choose One

Mark 10:22-25

²²At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  ²³Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” ²⁴This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. ²⁵In fact, 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!”

Grace is God’s kindness towards humanity, without regard to the worth or merit of those who receive it…and without their deserving it.

-Charles Stanley

Galatians 2:16

Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.