6/1 The Price Tag Placed on Eternal Life – The Call to Discipleship
/The Price Tag Placed on Eternal Life – The Call to Discipleship
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words.
But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
I read an article in the Korea Economic Daily, and it goes like this: “While eating, a senior colleague suddenly asked me, ‘Seok-hwan, how long do you think you’ll live?’
Caught off guard, I casually replied, ‘Probably until around 100.’ He scolded me, saying I was being overly optimistic.
But I pointed out that with today’s average life expectancy surpassing 80, and by simply adding 10 years to the age my parents passed away, I could easily expect to live past 100. I emphasized that reaching 100 seemed realistic.
But he told me not to be mistaken — that I would live until 120. 120 years.
The number hit me hard. I had never considered living that long.
Even my bucket list is set to age 100, with all the things I want to do based on that timeline. I envisioned my prime in my 70s and planned to enjoy life leisurely for the next 20 years after that.
But now, the idea of living to 120 — an extra 20 years — was a shock. Looking back, an extra 20 years during my youth or adulthood wouldn't have seemed so dramatic.
But post-retirement, the difference between dying at 100 and at 120 is massive. Just thinking about it is not enjoyable — it’s actually dreadful.
When I told my wife, she just said, ‘Let’s just stick to 100.’” Now let me ask you:
If you were to live to 120, would you be happy or worried? Living a long life should be a gift.
But after reading this article, I began to see longevity as a challenge — one that nations, families, and individuals must now prepare for. The writer then goes on to suggest some countermeasures for dealing with aging:
Prepare for the future with a solid pension plan. Maintain good health.
Plan for a meaningful life in later years. I’m 56 years old, which means I could potentially live another 60+ years.
I once hoped to live by God’s grace until 80, but now I’m facing the possibility of 40 more years beyond that. To live an extended life of 40 additional years, we must prepare — financially, physically, and spiritually.
If you’re in your 30s or 40s now, you may need to prepare for another 80 to 90 years ahead. And for us who believe in the Lord, we will live forever.
So today, I want to speak on the theme: “The Price Tag on Eternal Life.” The story of “one man” we’ll talk about today is recorded in both Matthew 19:16–30 and Luke 18:18–30.
These two passages, along with the version in Mark, are considered part of the Synoptic Gospels — so called because they share a similar perspective, though each has its own nuances. In Matthew’s account, the man is described as a rich young man, while Luke refers to him as a rich ruler.
Taken together, we understand that he was a wealthy, young man in a position of authority — likely in his early 30s. The fact that he ran up to Jesus and knelt before Him suggests he was a humble and earnest seeker.
He approached Jesus to ask a burning question that was on his heart. In Matthew 19:16, he asks, “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
This question reveals his mindset — he believed that eternal life could be obtained by doing good works. It also implies that he had lived a morally upright life and valued righteousness.
The “eternal life” referred to here is used interchangeably in the passage with “the kingdom of God” (v. 23), and “being saved” (v. 26), as the disciples later ask, “Who then can be saved?” In Mark’s version, the encounter begins with:
“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’”
The word “way” here comes from the Greek word hodon, meaning a road or a path. It subtly hints at the direction Jesus was heading — the road to Jerusalem, where He would ultimately give His life.
This contextual detail reminds us that Jesus was walking toward the cross. It’s a powerful contrast: one man is walking toward laying down His life, while the other is seeking to gain life.
The two paths intersect here — but they are moving in opposite directions. Not long before this moment, in Mark 8:35, Jesus had said,
“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it.” This young man was trying to save his life.
Jesus, on the other hand, was preparing to give His away. When the young man calls Jesus “Good teacher,” Jesus replies,
“Why do you call me good? No one is good — except God alone.”
This doesn’t mean that Jesus isn’t good. Rather, Jesus was challenging the man’s understanding of “goodness.”
He wanted the man to think beyond human goodness and recognize the absolute goodness that belongs to God alone. After all, even the best human goodness falls short of God’s perfect standard.
We may be “better” than someone else — but never perfectly good in God’s eyes. Then Jesus points him to the commandments — specifically those from the Fifth to the Tenth Commandments — which deal with human relationships.
Interestingly, when Jesus gets to the Tenth Commandment, “Do not covet,” He restates it as, “Do not defraud.” This seems tailored to the young man’s situation.
Perhaps Jesus was implying: “Don’t increase your wealth through dishonest means.” Much like how we might tell children, “Obey your parents,” instead of saying, “Honor your father and mother,” because we know their struggle is often with obedience.
The young man responds, “All these I have kept since I was a boy.” And it appears he really had lived a morally upright life.
But note — Jesus hadn’t yet mentioned the first 4 commandments, which relate to one’s relationship with God. From the conversation so far, we see that the young man had done well in terms of his human relationships.
This is a person who has lived a good life. He was a rich man, he held an official position, he did good deeds, and he kept all the requirements of the law.
Then we can expect praise from him. "Well done, my faithful servant!" It is a compliment.
However, the conversation takes an unexpected turn. When Jesus saw him, he lovingly said to him, "Go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, for there is one thing you still lack, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me" (verse 21).
When the man heard this, he was very sad and went away, because he had a lot of wealth. If you question God, you may have to do a lot of work.
This rich young man may have just asked the Lord a question. How proud he must have been when he said that he kept all the commandments from his youth.
Perhaps he asked this question because the Lord wanted him to say, "You have nothing more to do." If the Lord had asked him to go and pray more, he would not have been so sad or disappointed.
But the Lord tells us that the rich young man, who has done all the good deeds and is humble, lacks one thing: to sell his wealth and give it to the poor. Not only that, but He tells him, "Follow me."
This call is truly shocking. There was a blessing that he received, but it did not help him to do something, but it became a reason for disqualification.
The Lord says that this man's wealth is not enough to help him gain eternal life. In a culture where doing good deeds and becoming rich is accepted as the result of a life pleasing to God, throwing away what God has given you and saying, "Follow me" is like a slap in the back.
Why did Jesus ask this man like this? When Jesus called the other disciples, they were fishermen, but He didn't tell them to sell everything and say, "Follow me."
It was the disciples' decision to leave the nets and boats, not what Jesus demanded. He didn't tell the tax collectors to give up their jobs.
Scholars say there are two possibilities: One is that he thought he could gain eternal life without having to sell his possessions. The second possibility is that he trusted material things more than others.
This story is preceded by Jesus blessing the children (Mark 10:13-16). 13 And the disciples rebuked those who were bringing little children to him, hoping that Jesus would touch them.
14 When Jesus saw this, he was angry and said, "Suffer little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such people." 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.
16 He took the little children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. What are the characteristics of children?
There is no power. There is no wealth.
dependent. There is no position.
Jesus embraced the children who were led by someone's hand and blessed them. The children are left in the hands of the Lord and accept the Lord's embrace and blessing as it is.
However, Jesus says that the kingdom of God belongs to these children who do not reject Jesus and accept His acceptance, embrace, and blessing as they are, and this is eternal life. On the contrary, this person has power, wealth, and status.
Completely independent. He is a person who can live safely in the world with all he has, do good, and be respected.
He is also sincere and authentic. Moreover, this man is not satisfied with this present life and runs to Jesus.
He asked Jesus wonderful questions, such as how to receive eternal life. The children accepted Jesus, and he thought he could have eternal life with what he had.
Jesus' request to a rich young man who thought that eternal life was what he could get by doing good deeds and to follow him was to make a special arrangement to meet this man's spiritual needs. In order for the rich man to receive the eternal life he wanted—the kingdom of God—it would not come by his own works, but only by God.
Did this rich man really want eternal life enough to give up his all? It wasn't.
Thus he went back with a sad face. Because the price tag of eternal life that Jesus offered him was all that he had.
He had no choice but to go back with a sad face. He wanted eternal life without having to sacrifice anything, so he chose to continue on his path rather than give up everything.
There are minimum conditions for a good marital relationship. It is the same for maintaining friendships between friends.
If you really want the other person, the minimum conditions for maintaining the marriage will automatically be met, but if you don't really want the other person, even the minimum conditions will not be kept. These minimum conditions include giving up remote control, who will empty the trash, who will clean the toilets, and prepare meals.
This minimum principle will also apply to maintaining the relationship between individual believers and the church and the Lord. If I really want a good church, I will keep the minimum conditions that I have to do.
Therefore, if you really want the other person in any relationship, the minimum conditions for maintaining the relationship will be observed. It would be nice if all relationships were maintained well with at least a minimum, but in reality, relationships require more than the minimum.
There would have been no problem for this man to sacrifice a little of his wealth for eternal life. However, the price of eternal life that Jesus showed him was all that he had.
Do you want to give your all, the real Christianity, the real church, and the real relationship with the Lord? Jesus will not make the same demands of everyone that He would make of the rich man, but I think He will make the right demands to meet your and my spiritual needs.
What is eternal life that it requires everything we have? "This is eternal life, that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).
Knowing God and Jesus, the Son of God, who is the Savior, is eternal life. What is the price tag for knowing God and his Son, Jesus?
When the Lord calls you and me to be His disciples, He will surely ask for all that you and I rely on. We need to think about why everything is required.
You have to ask questions. Do I want true Christianity enough to give everything?
Do I want a church that is true enough to give everything? Do I want a relationship with the Lord that is true enough to give everything?
Today's verse can be more frustrating than hopeful for those who really become disciples. Because we, like this young man, will turn away with a worried and sad face.
It was because I also turned around because I couldn't live by the price tag of knowing the Lord. I was a person who didn't have much to throw away.
I still felt guilty and kept looking for the Lord, but when I received the answer, I turned away with a sad face again and again. Rather than condemning the rich man, we should now look at the eyes of Jesus who looked at the rich man.
Mark records Jesus' gaze on this young man. "When Jesus saw him, he loved him" (verse 21).
At first, the tone of the passage seemed to flow in the direction of 'Why can’t he do it?' However, in fellowship with the Lord, the Lord's gaze on this young man came to me strongly.
This young man's image was also my self-portrait. I was in the image of him who couldn't do it, aesthetically, and hesitantly leaving.
You may have been there. No, it will have to be in the future.
But when he turned around with a sad face, I saw hope. A sad face expresses despair, but it also includes hope.
I kept searching for answers to live and met Jesus, and every time Jesus gave me a special mentor and gave me answers, and I knew the answers, but I couldn't live according to those answers either. I was so afraid...
When I threw away everything I was relying on and did as God said, I really didn't know what was waiting for me, but that uncertainty... Because I don't have the confidence to handle it.
When I meditated on what the Lord had done to me at that time, I was also troubled and sad like this rich young man, but the Lord did not condemn me. He was not the one who kept pointing out that I could not do what the Lord asked.
The Lord was patient with me. There is something I really want, and the price is too high.
So, what do you do? Do you forget?
Or do you save money and prepare to buy it? If you want to buy something really valuable, you will save money.
In Matthew 13:44-48, there are three parables about the kingdom of heaven. 44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, and when a man finds it, he hides it and rejoices, and goes back and sells all that he has and buys it.
45 And the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who seeks a good pearl. 46 When he finds a pearl of great value, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
47 And the kingdom of heaven is like a net that is set up in the sea and gathers all kinds of fish. 48 And when the nets are full, they pull them out to the water's edge, and they sit down and put the good things in the vessels, and throw away the bad things.
Heaven is the kingdom of God and eternal life. Eternal life is to know God and His Son, Jesus.
If we truly want to know the Lord, we must pay the price for eternal life. In verse 44, the person who found the hidden treasure found it and hid it.
He hid it because he couldn't come back right away. He returns home rejoicing.
Then he comes back and buys the field. The time when he returns home is the time when he prepares to buy the field.
In the same way, the merchant who found the most valuable pearl in verse 45 went and sold everything he had to buy it. These are the people who have paid a high price to buy the best ones.
If we were Jesus' disciples, we would not want cheap grace and Christianity. I can't value that I don't pay anything.
It is easy to think of it as something insignificant that can be thrown away at any time. In my heart, you and I will want to give our all for Christianity and the Lord.
I've been on this path for 30 years. It is not that I was tempted to do something else, but I knew that there was the most valuable treasure on this path.
I couldn't buy right away, but the Lord gave me time. He was patient.
I want you to know how much I exert myself for you, and for those who are in Laodicea, and for all those who have not seen the face of my flesh that they may be comforted in heart, and united in love, that they may understand all the riches of sure understanding, and the mystery of God, Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:1-3).
The words, "Sell all that you have and follow me," made the young man turn away with a sad face. But the Lord will be patient with this rich man.
The Lord waited for me and was patient. The Lord will also be patient with you.
He will allow you the time you need and wait. How precious is life, let us set our eyes on the treasures.
Jesus is a treasure. The Bible testifies.
He said it was the mystery of God. I can't throw my entire life, having experienced the miracle of salvation, into something worthless.
I want you to learn to love others as God has loved you, so that they know their worth. "Do I really want the Lord enough to give my all?"
We do this because Jesus loves each of us and supports us. There is no cheap eternal life.
There will be no cheap grace. Now you have a job to do.
Go back and save money to buy treasures. It is as much as the price tag placed on knowing the Lord.
Stay healthy. And prepare how to live meaningfully.
It is because eternal life awaits you, not for 40 years.
