Heart of the Matter: Exploring Mark 10

Welcome to “Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology.”

Get your Bibles and turn to Mark 10. This is a live call-in show. (801) 973-TV20 / 973-8820 Email: Heart@tv20.tv www.bornagainmormon.com Welcome Boise Idaho.

Next week, we are having our first guest on the show, Pastor Greg Johnson of “Standing Together Ministries.” We hope you’ll tune in.

The Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler

Ravi Zacharias SL Tabernacle. Behind one of the Ministries that takes place outside General Conferences. Greg of Bob and Greg show. PRAY Show #7 April 25th 2006

Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

The Challenge of Riches

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.!

And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Jesus Teaches on Possibility and Salvation

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Before we go to your calls, I’d like to teach directly from the Word of God tonight.

Mark 10:17.

Let’s read through this short but highly important story.

So we have a young man, accomplished and rich, who has lived his life well. He is urgent for truth. Eager to obey. And he comes to the Lord wanting to know what he needs to do to be saved.

Can you sense the urgency and desire of this young man? Running and kneeling…

Running. It was a disgrace to run in public. Especially…

The Encounter with a Rich Ruler

A rich ruler! Kneeling. A sign of obeisance. Praise and worship.

I’ve a question to ask all the LDS viewers tonight: “What will you do when you meet Jesus face to face after this life?” Will you bow before Him? Will you praise Him? Will you worship Him? Answer this question in your heart. Now answer this: “If you think you will worship and praise Him when you see Him then, then why don’t you worship and praise Him now! In this life?

Symbolism of Worship

Raising hands in worship. I used to make fun of this. Do you know what this symbolizes? Like a child reaching to a parent. Surrendering! Beggars.

As I’ve said before: True spiritual rebirth ALWAYS brings the desire to praise and worship God . . . to praise and worship Jesus. ALWAYS.

Is this a reality in your life?

So the stage is set:

A rich and accomplished young ruler comes to the Lord and asks what HE NEEDS TO DO to inherit eternal life. Watch what Jesus does with this. It is fantastic. All the way down the line, the Master Teacher addresses every single religious misconceptions of the RYR is lugging around. He begins by revealing who He is, before He answers his question directly of, “What shall I do?

Jesus' Goodness

Was Jesus Good? The Jehovah’s Witnesses and a few other groups say that He was saying He was not, that only God was good. Do you believe that? Jesus was not good? There are a few other ways to look at this comment. Either Jesus was saying He was not good OR He was saying He was God. Was Jesus good, my friends? Then He was GOD. You get it?

Now the Rich Young Ruler was under the impression that his salvation was up to him. “What do I need to do, Good Master?” Jesus was going to show him that if his salvation was in his hands, he was a failure – even though he was really giving it his all.

19. This is a really important phrase that Mark has included in his Gospel. I’ll explain why in a moment.

Now he says, “One thing thou lackest” but He gives him six things to do! The first three are things in his life that he must give up.

• Go thy way.
• Sell what you have.
• Give to the poor.

The last three are things are the Lords.

• Come (to Him).
• Take up the cross.
• Follow me.

I propose the ONE THING he lacks is the “following Him.” Because to really follow Him, in his case, he had to give up what was of greatest importance to him: His MONEY and PROFESSIONS.

The Challenge of Tap Roots

Ever try and take a tree or plant out of the ground? Hard work. Cut away at the roots for an hour and the thing won’t budge! Got to get to the tap root of the plant – that main root that keeps the thing tied to the earth. We all have “tap root” issues. Some have a few, some just one. But here’s the thing about them: they will prohibit spiritual rebirth. You will not experience a new heart from the Lord if your secretly desire to maintain your tap root issue. And if you are reborn it will inhibit your spiritual growth once you’ve been regenerated until it is gone. It is usually the desire to retain our tap root issues that prevents most people from being spiritually reborn.

Now I have three very good friends – two LDS, one not really committed to anything – who tell me that they really long to know the LORD. They are accomplished. They are good-hearted. They serve others. Are good family men. Each of them, in private conversations, have asked me what it takes to really be born-again. I say –

Confess your sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and ask forgiveness of Jesus. (I’ve done that, Shawn). Ask Jesus to take over your life as Lord and Savior. (I’ve done that. All the time!) Ask to have a new heart, to be born-again. (I have, I really have) And tell Him you will do whatever it takes, no matter what it is, to know Him. (I’ve done that too . . .) I stare at them with a smile:

“You’re willing to give up your possessions, power, and wealth?” “You are really willing to give up taking that sneak peak at the internet porn?” “That secret drink?” “Hey, how about this one: Your marriage? Your family relations?” “Are you willing to give up your church?” Silence. I’ll say, “You can’t do it,"

Commitment to Faith

And they can’t. And I say, “When you are at the point in your life where you will genuinely turn EVERY BIT of your life over to God, he’ll step in.” And I remind them that He will take better care of them once they have relinquished their lives than they could ever take care of themselves. But they have to be absolutely willing to give it all over to Him. Are you?

The Story of the Rich Young Ruler

So how does the rich young ruler respond? Verse 22 . . . This was a good young man, brothers and sisters! This was a man who ran to the Lord! kneeled before Him! Who obeyed the Law since a youth! Who Jesus loved! It says it right here in the text. But even though the LORD was right in front of his face, he still could NOT follow Him! Can you believe it!? He DID not, after all that he had done in his life, and after all his desires, follow the Lord. And he walked away sad.

Jesus then turns to the disciples and says, He will hardly enter heaven in this state! Pure and Simple. And He drives the point home with a metaphor of sorts . . .

Understanding Salvation

What did His disciples do? They were rocked to the core! And this is the whole point of the story. Right here. Riches is a sub-plot. Tap root is the sub plot. The real point is what does it take to be saved? With men – their works, their running, their kneeling, their good living, it is impossible. Do you get it? But with God – all things are possible.

Let’s go to the phones/emails.

EMAILS / EARLIER CALLS

“You are pretty bold and egotistical to come on the air and discount the teachings of the Mormon church. I would guess a sinner who couldn’t live up to the church moral standard and got out to make it easier on yourself. Remember Jesus is indeed watching you. I will say a prayer for your salvation. Teaching against the church is going against Jesus. Many churches take the sacrament. At the last supper Jesus himself introduced the practicing of the sacrament. You are really something, full of yourself. Of course you won’t read this on the air.

Dave in Farmington.