by David Phelps

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

January, 2024

One day, a man asked Jesus, “‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Mark 10:17b ESV). Let’s look at what he was asking: “‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (emphasis added). He thought it was up to him. He thought eternal life was something he had to earn or could earn.

Jesus answered the man’s question: “‘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.”’” (vs. 19 ESV).

The man replied, “‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’” (vs. 20b ESV). He had kept all the commandments. He had done everything he could. Yet he realized there was still something missing. He thought perhaps there was one thing more he needed to do.

The commandments were divided into two groups, the “first tablet” and the “second tablet.” The first included: “You shall have no other gods before me.” “You shall not make for yourself a carved image,” “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exod. 20:3-4a, 7a, 8 ESV). These all had to do with relating to God. The second consisted of commandments like the ones Jesus listed, that had to do with relating to other people.

The scripture says Jesus “. . . looking at him, loved him,” (Mark 10:21a ESV) and I think he decided to show the man how wrong he was. He said, in effect, “If you think salvation is a matter of doing, let’s see just how much you’re willing to do.” He said, “‘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.’” (vs. 21b ESV). Jesus gave him a test . . . and he didn’t pass. “He went away sorrowful.” We’re told it was because “he had great possessions.” (vs. 22b ESV)

As the man walked away, Jesus told the disciples, “‘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.’” (vs. 25 ESV).

Then Peter asked the question that was surely on everyone’s mind: “See, we have left everything and followed you.” (vs. 28b ESV). I can’t say for sure but I think maybe Peter was really saying, “What about me? I’ve left everything to follow you! What do I get?”

Jesus answered, “You’ll get what’s coming to you . . . but you’ll also receive persecutions, and so will everyone else who chooses the same path. Many who are first now will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (vs. 29-31 paraphrased).

Jesus said it’s hard for the rich to enter the kingdom—and we tend to focus on that—but I think he was really saying it’s hard for anyone to enter the kingdom. Earlier, he said that for some, “‘. . . the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.’” (Mark 4:19 ESV emphasis added). Jesus doesn’t call us to poverty but he calls us to discipleship.

Each of us encounters a “camel/needle” situation eventually. We come to a place we just can’t go. At what point do we say, “This far and no farther”? “This much and no more”? What desire in us causes God’s word to become unfruitful? Salvation isn’t about doing, so much as about priorities (Matt. 6:33, Luke 12:34). Jesus reminds us, “. . . all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27b ESV). But first, we have to acknowledge that there’s nothing we can do on our own, surrender our “camels,” and let go of the things that hold us back.

Jesus was prepared to give everything, surrender everything, and we should be too (1 John 3:16). The way of Christ is the way of the cross. It demands sacrifice. God only demands so much because God loves us so much.


“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20a ESV.)


(Based on a sermon I preached at Centenary UMC in St. Louis, October 13, 2024)


Copyright © 2024 by David Phelps