The rich young man approaches Jesus in the same fashion as
the previously encountered crowds of people, running over to him and falling on
his knees.Even if he is not fully aware of Jesus’ true identity, he believes
that this teacher is great enough to hold the key to eternal life. The young
man is certainly committed, in that he has determinedly upheld the Mosaic laws
throughout his life, but the very manner of his declaration indicates that he
is proud of this fact and has arrived in a situation where he worships his
rules ahead of his God.
Despite his pride and misplaced efforts, Jesus loves
him. He looks at the young man in a way
that we see him doing throughout the gospels – not merely physically looking at
him but looking through and into him. Jesus sees the young man and sees us as
we truly are and shows us the most critical features of ourselves that we so
often miss.
The young man asked the question ‘What must I do?’ and
Jesus’ later response to his confused disciples strikes at the heart of the
misunderstanding he has made, and that we regularly make ourselves. ‘With man
this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’
(church musician)