Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers. Since becoming a dad and watching all that April does, and everything she has gone through as a mom, I’ve gained a much deeper appreciation for mothers everywhere. There is something remarkable about the way a mother gives of herself so freely and so consistently for her children.

During April’s pregnancy with our daughter Claire, she endured a great deal. Morning sickness, aches, pains, and the many physical and hormonal changes that come with carrying a child. Her body changed in extraordinary ways, all to nurture and sustain the life growing within her. It truly is nothing short of miraculous.

When labor began at 3:00 AM, it stretched on for nearly 20 hours. April had hoped and planned for a natural delivery, but circumstances didn’t unfold as expected. Ultimately, she had to undergo a major surgery, a C-section. And then, at 12:10 AM, Claire finally arrived.
Through all of that pain and exhaustion, there was joy, the joy of bringing life into the world.

But even after delivery, the work didn’t end. In many ways, it was just beginning. Caring for a newborn is demanding. Things rarely go according to plan, yet mothers adjust, sacrifice sleep, energy, and comfort, and do whatever is necessary to care for their child. Feeding, clothing, changing diapers, soothing cries in the middle of the night, meeting needs constantly and consistently. A baby is completely dependent on their mother for everything.

And that word, dependent, is really where our passage today begins to speak to us.

 Mark 10:13-27
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is[a] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,[b] “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Today’s passage is one that will likely feel familiar to many of us. It’s a story recorded in three of the four Gospels, found in Matthew 19, Luke 18, and here in Mark as well.

As we look at the Gospel of Mark, it’s helpful to remember something about how Mark structures his account. He doesn’t always present the life and ministry of Christ in strict chronological order. Instead, he often arranges his material in a more thematic way.
Because of that, when we study a specific passage in Mark, it’s important to pay close attention to what comes before and after it. The surrounding context often sheds significant light on what Jesus is teaching in a given moment.
For that reason, we’re going to read two sections today. However, our focus will primarily be on the second. The first passage will serve to set the stage and help us better understand what follows.

In verses 13–16, we see loving parents bringing their children to Jesus. What a beautiful and important picture that is. Parents, there is nothing more significant than pointing your children to Christ. God’s Word is ultimately about Jesus, and one of the greatest responsibilities we have is to make Him known to the next generation.

In this passage, the disciples wrongly assumed that Jesus was too busy or too important to be interrupted by children. Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Jesus welcomes children. He values them. He desires a relationship with them. In fact, we could easily spend an entire sermon just on this section alone. But today, we’ll focus on one key truth that rises out of it.

The disciples’ misunderstanding creates a teaching moment, and Jesus responds with these words:
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
— Mark 10:15

So what is it about a child that Jesus is calling us to imitate?
A child is completely dependent.

Anyone who has experienced parenthood understands this well. A baby cannot meet its own needs. It depends entirely on its parents for food, clothing, shelter, comfort, and care. The parent must feed the child, dress the child, bathe the child, hold the child, and provide constant attention. A baby is fully dependent on someone else for survival. Without a caregiver, they cannot make it.

And that is exactly the posture Jesus says we must have in order to enter the kingdom of God.
We come to Him not with self-sufficiency, but with complete dependence. We admit our need. We recognize our inability. And we rely fully on what He has done for us, through His death, burial, and resurrection, because He alone accomplishes our salvation.

But there is another characteristic of children worth noting as well: their expectation of obedience.
In the biblical world, children were expected to obey their parents. In many ways, that expectation feels reversed in our modern culture, where it can sometimes seem like parents are bending to the will of their children. But that was not the case in Scripture. God’s design is clear, children are called to honor and obey their parents.
And in the same way, those who come to Christ are called to that same posture of trust-filled obedience before Him.

In verse 17, we are introduced to a man often referred to as the rich young ruler.

He has a lot going for him by the world’s standards.

First, he is wealthy. We’re told later in verse 22 that he had “great possessions.” He is not lacking material security or success.

Second, he is young. Matthew’s account of this encounter makes that clear. There is something recognizable about that season of life, the strength, the energy, the drive. The days before the gray hairs, when the body feels strong and capable, and hard work doesn’t seem to leave the same lingering aches and pains. This man is in that stage of life. He is young.

Third, he holds a position of influence. Luke tells us he is a ruler, likely within the synagogue system. That means he is not only familiar with the teachings of Judaism, but he is also a respected leader within it. In other words, he is successful, disciplined, and deeply religious. He is the kind of man others would naturally look up to and admire.

And yet, despite all of that, he is asking a question about eternity.
That detail is important.
Many people throughout history have rejected the idea of eternal life altogether. The assumption is often, “When you die, that’s it. Life is over. So just live it up while you can.” Even within the religious landscape of Jesus’ day, there were groups like the Sadducees who denied the resurrection and the reality of life after death.

But Scripture is clear: eternity is real, and every person will spend it in one of two places. Heaven or hell. A place of perfect joy in the presence of God, or a place of separation, torment, and the absence of His mercy and grace.

This man, however, is asking the right kind of question. He is thinking about eternity.
And even more than that, he has come to the right Person to ask it.
There is no better place for him to bring this question than to Jesus Himself.

Acts 4:12
There is salvation in no one else, for there I no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

John 14:6
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

He also comes with the right posture. He approaches Jesus and humbly kneels before Him. That matters. When we come to Jesus, the proper response is always humility.

This man had so much going for him. By every outward measure, he looks like someone who is spiritually successful. And yet, as the passage unfolds, we discover a sobering truth, he ultimately walks away from Jesus sorrowful.

There is a critical misunderstanding at the heart of this man’s approach to Jesus.

Look closely at verse 17 and listen to his question:
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

That question reveals everything.
He assumes eternal life can be obtained through doing, through performance, effort, and achievement. But salvation is not something that can be earned, deserved, or achieved through good works.

Eternal life is not a reward for the deserving; it is a gift for the undeserving.

In other words, salvation is far more about who you know than what you do.
Do you know Jesus? Not just know about Him, but trust Him? Are you relying on Him alone to save you, or are you still depending on your own efforts to make yourself right with God?

In verse 18, Jesus responds to the man’s opening words:
“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

At first glance, that response may feel a little unexpected, but Jesus is doing something very intentional. He is pressing in on the man’s understanding of goodness, and ultimately, his understanding of himself.

This man has too high a view of human goodness. He is operating under the assumption that people can be “good enough” to earn eternal life. And that is one of the most common misunderstandings even today.

If you ask most people whether they consider themselves a good person, the typical response is, “Yes, I think I’m a pretty good person.” Then we begin to measure ourselves against others, “I’m better than so-and-so,” or “At least I’m not as bad as that person.” But the standard is never other people.

But our goodness compared to other people is not what matters. Our goodness in God’s sight, our goodness compared to God is what matters.

And when we compare ourselves to Him, Scripture paints a very different picture of humanity apart from Christ:

Romans 3:10-12
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Psalm 14:3
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Psalm 53:2-3
God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned---every one---to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ecclesiastes 7:20
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Taken together, Scripture is clear: apart from Christ, we are not “mostly good people who make some mistakes.” We are sinners who fall short of God’s perfect standard.

Jesus is correcting this man’s foundation. Before anyone can understand salvation, they must first understand the truth about themselves, and the truth is humbling.

We are not capable of earning what only God can give.

 In verse 18, Jesus says, “No one is good except God alone.”

With that statement, Jesus is not denying His own deity or rebuking kindness, He is confronting a faulty perspective. This man has too high a view of humanity and far too low a view of God.

God alone is truly good. Not “mostly good,” not “better than us,” but perfectly and infinitely good in every sense of the word.

He is a holy God.

We see this clearly in Isaiah 6:3:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”

It is worth noticing the repetition here. In Hebrew writing, repetition is used for emphasis. There is no exclamation point to add intensity, so words are repeated instead. When something is important, it may be said twice. But when describing God’s holiness, the declaration is repeated three times: holy, holy, holy.

This is not accidental. It is a way of expressing that God is not just holy, He is utterly, completely, infinitely holy.

He is set apart in every way.

God is morally perfect.
He is omniscient, He knows all things.
He is omnipotent, He possesses all power.
He is omnipresent, He is present everywhere at all times.
He is omnibenevolent, perfectly good and perfectly loving.
He is not limited by time, space, or weakness like we are.
He is holy.

We were talking about God’s holiness recently in our Men’s Bible Study, and Bernaldo shared a helpful illustration. He enjoys caring for plants. A plant is alive, but when compared to a human being, there is a vast difference. We are made in the image of God, and yet even that comparison falls far short of the gap between God and man.

The distance between a plant and a human is significant, but the distance between man and God is infinitely greater.

Isaiah puts it this way:
Isaiah 55:8–9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We need a correct view of God, one shaped not by our assumptions, but by His revelation of Himself in Scripture.
Lord, help us to see You as You truly are, in Your holiness.

 We also see that this man had a mistaken view of God’s law. He assumed he could keep it. But Jesus brings the law into the conversation to expose something deeper, this man’s sin.

This was a deeply religious man. He knew the commandments. He was familiar with God’s law. But knowing the law is not the same as keeping it, and even more importantly, outward obedience is not enough. God’s law reaches beyond behavior, it exposes the heart.

In this moment, Jesus begins to list commandments five through ten of the Ten Commandments, the commands that deal primarily with our relationships with others. And in doing so, He is gently pressing this man toward a realization: you have not kept God’s law perfectly.

You are a sinner, just like everyone else.

Jesus had already taught this principle in other places. Hatred in the heart is equivalent to murder in God’s eyes, even if it never becomes an action. Lust in the heart is equivalent to adultery, even if it never becomes behavior. God is not merely concerned with external compliance, He is concerned with the condition of the heart.

And that is exactly what the law is meant to do.

The purpose of the law is to reveal sin. It acts like a mirror, showing us who we truly are in light of God’s holiness. Jesus is using the law here not to help this man prove his righteousness, but to help him recognize his need for a Savior.

No amount of religious effort can make a person righteous before God.

Romans 3:20
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The law does not save, it exposes.

Galatians 3:24
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Paul describes the law as a “guardian.” In ancient culture, a guardian was often a servant assigned to oversee and guide a child in a wealthy household. Even though the child was the heir, they were still under the instruction and discipline of the guardian. The guardian’s role was temporary, it was meant to guide and protect until the child reached maturity.

In the same way, God’s law was given to guide us, restrain sin, and show us our need for Christ. But it was never meant to be the means of salvation.

Christ is the One who makes us right with God.
Christ is the One who empowers us to live the Christian life.

Sadly, even after being confronted by the truth of the law, this man still clings to his self-righteousness.

“Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” (v. 21)

His response reveals the depth of the problem, he still believes he is enough. 

Then we come to one of the most striking phrases in this entire passage:
“…and Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” (v. 21)

That detail changes everything.
Jesus is not exposing this man’s sin out of cruelty or rejection.
He is doing it out of love.
Because love does not leave someone in deception.
Love tells the truth, even when the truth is hard to hear.

Jesus lovingly shows this man that he is not as spiritually secure as he believes. There is something missing in his life, and it is most clearly revealed in the area of his wealth.

Now, the issue is not wealth itself. Scripture never teaches that money or possessions are inherently evil. The problem comes when possessions begin to possess us, when what we own begins to own our hearts.
This man had an idol, and it was his wealth.

One way to recognize an idol in your life is to ask: Can I let it go if God asks me to? If the answer is no, then it has likely taken a place in your heart that belongs to God alone.

The Bible does not say money is the root of all evil. It says:
“The love of money is the root of all evil.”
That distinction is critical.

This man’s unwillingness to part with his possessions, even for the sake of others—=, reveals something deeper. It exposes his heart. He does not love his neighbor as himself. And if he does not love his neighbor rightly, then he also does not love God as he should.
In other words, he stands guilty of breaking God’s law.

He does not love God perfectly.
He does not love people perfectly.
And that is exactly what the law was meant to reveal.

Jesus exposes this truth, not to destroy him, but to awaken him. Because until a person recognizes their need, they will never come to Christ in true faith.
How else will he ever realize his need for a Savior if his self-righteousness is never confronted?

In verse 23, Jesus then teaches about the difficulty of entering the kingdom of God. In that culture, wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s blessing. A rich, religious man like this would have been viewed as someone especially favored by God. So when Jesus says it is difficult for someone like that to enter the kingdom, it would have been shocking.

To reinforce the point, Jesus gives an illustration:
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.

The camel was the largest commonly known animal in that region. The eye of a needle is one of the smallest openings imaginable. Jesus is intentionally using an impossible comparison to make a clear point: salvation cannot be achieved by human effort.

You may have heard the explanation about a gate in Jerusalem called “the eye of the needle,” where a camel could supposedly pass through if it removed its cargo. But there is no historical evidence that such a gate ever existed, and that explanation actually weakens Jesus’ point rather than clarifying it. Jesus is not describing something difficult, He is describing something impossible.

And the disciples feel the weight of that reality:
“Then who can be saved?”

Jesus answers plainly:
“With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Jesus makes it unmistakably clear:
“…With man it is impossible…”

That statement cuts through every assumption we naturally bring to the table. It is not difficult for a person to save themselves, it is impossible.

Romans 3:20
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

This is the repeated message of Scripture.
Good deeds cannot save us.
Religious effort cannot save us.
Moral improvement cannot save us.
The law was never given as a ladder for us to climb up to God, it was given to show us how far short we fall, and to drive us to Christ in desperation.

The law exposes sin so that we will stop trusting in ourselves and turn fully to Jesus.
One of the greatest barriers to coming to Christ in this kind of dependence is self-sufficiency.

Wealth, in particular, often creates that illusion. When someone has financial resources, they are used to solving their own problems. They are used to having options. They are used to security they can see and control. And that can easily lead to the belief, “I don’t really need anyone.”

But that thinking collapses when it comes to eternity.
It is impossible to save yourself.

This man was not only rich in wealth, he was also rich in religious works. And that can be just as dangerous. Religious people often struggle to see their need for a Savior because they point to their involvement: “I go to church. I serve. I give. I live a good life.” In their minds, they are spiritually wealthy.

But Jesus is showing that all of it falls short.
Our best efforts are not enough.

Isaiah 64:6 
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”

Even our most impressive attempts at righteousness, apart from Christ, are stained and insufficient before a holy God.

It is impossible to save yourself.

Jesus finishes the thought with this powerful statement:
“But not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

What is impossible with man becomes possible with God.
Salvation is not human achievement, it is divine intervention.

Jesus Christ willingly left heaven, came to earth, lived a perfect life, and went to the cross to rescue sinners. On the cross, He bore the full weight of our sin and the judgment we deserved. And then He rose victorious over sin and death. In doing so, He accomplished what no human effort could ever accomplish, He made salvation possible.

The wrath of God against sin has been fully satisfied in Christ.

The Bible describes our condition apart from Him as spiritually hopeless:
“Dead in our trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1)

And what can something dead do? Nothing. A dead person cannot respond, cannot revive themselves, cannot produce life. In the same way, we cannot make ourselves spiritually alive or good enough to earn salvation.

That is why Jesus told Nicodemus:
“Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Salvation is a miraculous new birth.
We go from spiritual death to spiritual life.
And that is entirely the work of God.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the greatness of God.
The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ.
The Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts and gives us new life.
And the Holy Spirit enables us to live the Christian life.

It is, from beginning to end, a miraculous work of God.

Come to Jesus the way He describes, like a child, in complete dependence.
Not trusting in yourself, not trusting in your goodness, but trusting fully in what He has done.

Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.”
That means the debt is paid in full.
Your sin has already been dealt with at Calvary.

Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:13
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

So the question becomes: will you receive Him?

This is a time to respond, to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to your heart.
If He is showing you your need for a Savior, don’t ignore that conviction.
Call out to Him in faith.

You can simply come to Him and say, “Lord, I need You. I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I am trusting in what You did on the cross and Your resurrection to save me. Please forgive me and give me new life.”

And if you are trusting Christ today, then the only natural response is surrender.
We don’t just come to Him for salvation, we come to Him as Lord.
We no longer live for ourselves, but for Him.

That is what the rich young ruler refused to do.
He walked away because he was unwilling to fully surrender.
And he left without the gift of eternal life.

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction.
A true follower of Christ is not perfect, but they are surrendered.
They desire to obey Him.
They are willing to let go of anything that competes with Him.