One Thing More
An exceptional teacher knows what will challenge the pupil to go further. It is the mark of a good teacher to reach inside the student to discover what specifically is lacking. This stretches seekers as they consider striving for what is asked of them.
This is what we see happening in the tenth chapter of Mark’s Gospel. A young man approaches Jesus and for a time, everything is going so well. The man addresses Rabbi Jesus with the highest respect, calling Jesus “Good Teacher”. He kneels before him and pursues the highest end: the inheritance of life eternal. Moreover, he attests he knows the commandments when Jesus asks and that he has kept them from boyhood on.
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him …” (Mark 10:17-21)
In telling this Jesus story, the Evangelist, Mark, intentionally notes that Jesus is moved to love for the man. But look now at how the passage ends. See how the love manifests in a challenge he could only ask of someone in whom he saw the highest promise. Jesus continues in this way:
“You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)
This is not what Jesus asks of everyone he meets, but asks it here. What does Jesus ask of you? Have you prayed and listened? I hope each of us will discern it. Whatever it is, I think it will be a huge challenge: more than we conceive is possible for us. I think it will reflect Jesus’s love for us. It will prompt a response that could bring grief, but could at length, bring great fulfillment.