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A rich young ruler once came to Jesus, asking how to be saved: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus counseled this young man, who professed to have kept the law of God from youth, “Sell all that you have and give to the poor . . . and come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). The disheartened young man walked away sorrowful, for he had great wealth. Commenting to the disciples, Jesus said: “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! . . . 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” (Mark 10:23, 25).
This metaphor was a way of saying that it is impossible for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom. The disciples got it and replied, “Then who can be saved?” (Mark 10:26). Jesus’ answer was that “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).
In essence, Jesus’ counsel to the rich young ruler was this: “If you want Me, if you desire to be saved, if you want true intimacy with Me, if you want eternal life, then your relationship to everything, even the good things, must change. Where you look for joy, where you find security, what gives you hope, what takes the edge off your loneliness—all these must change. Riches cannot be your treasure; I must be your supreme treasure.” Jesus’ challenge is to think of yourself without riches, without the ability to direct a staff, without a house, without wealth and its imagined security. Picture yourself poor, with nothing, stripped of everything but Him. See yourself without treasure, just Him.
The young man could have heard that and thrown himself at the Master’s feet. “You are all I want; You are all I need. To have Your forgiveness, Your grace, Your love—that’s all I want. My wealth is just money. You are enough for me.” If he had said that, he would have been in the kingdom. Eternal life would have been his. But when Jesus said, “I must be your treasure,” he was grieved and walked away sorrowful.
Mark tells us that Jesus loved this young man. Jesus fully understood this rich young ruler and loved him with the compassion of someone who understood the temptations of wealth and power. Jesus understood what He was asking this rich young man to do. He understood what it means to possess great wealth and descend into deepest poverty. Jesus is the rich young ruler who did not walk away sorrowful but who walked into our world of poverty and degradation as the Man of Sorrows. In coming from heaven to earth, He sold, as it were, everything for the poor.
When the truth that Jesus is the ultimate rich young ruler who gave it all up for the poor melts our hearts and amazes us, filling us with joy and wonder, we will be transformed. Beholding Him in His glory and sacrifice is transformative. We become like Him (2 Cor. 3:18).