The rich young ruler (1) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

As he (i.e. Jesus) was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mark 10:17

The rich young ruler (1)
The man who came to Jesus in this episode may still have been young, but he was already a ruler of the Jews. He came in a hurry because he had a burning desire to speak with Jesus. In addressing Him as "Good Teacher", he showed due respect. Having this wish to meet the Lord and speak to Him, the young man must already have heard something of Him, possibly the goodness of His Person or His moral teaching. In a personal encounter he surely hoped to hear the confirmation of his own supposedly upright character.

This attitude is not unknown today. The media often refer to Jesus Christ, e.g. in connection with the Dead Sea scrolls and their evaluation. Insofar as people do not bypass Jesus with a total lack of interest, they are prepared to admit that He was a good Man, whose message of love of one's neighbour and non-violence sets us a good example.

Jesus was indeed "good", and the Sermon on the Mount reveals a standing on morality that is unsurpassed in world history. But is that all that that young man and we ourselves know of Jesus of Nazareth? Who was Jesus really, and what can we learn from Him? In the course of our meditations we hope to provide the answers to these important questions.

(to be continued tomorrow)

Today's reading: Joshua 20:1-21:26 · 1 Corinthians 15:1-11