All Out & All In
(Mark 10:17-31)
As Jesus’ ministry nears its culmination, He makes His final journey toward Jerusalem. This is where He will endure the cross, be laid in a tomb, and ultimately accomplish everything necessary for your salvation. But before we reach the moment Jesus is worshipped as King upon entering Jerusalem, Mark’s Gospel introduces us to an intriguing encounter: the story of the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-31).
What makes this story stand out is the profound question posed by the young ruler: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is not just any question—it is the right one, especially in light of Jesus’ ministry. From the moment He began His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed one consistent message: the arrival of the Kingdom of God. And in this passage, we see that the Kingdom of God and eternal life are two sides of the same coin. They are the essence of what Jesus has been offering everywhere He goes.
Interestingly, only two people in the Gospels directly ask Jesus about eternal life—the Rich Young Ruler and a lawyer (Luke 10:25). Both men sought clarity on what Jesus had been teaching and offering: the way into God’s eternal Kingdom.
In our Gospel lesson from Mark, we gain deep insights into what is required to receive eternal life. As we understand what Jesus asks of this young ruler, we begin to see more clearly how He accomplishes the salvation necessary for us, especially as His journey toward the cross intensifies.
Inheriting Eternal Life
The young ruler begins his encounter by doing everything that seems right. He approaches Jesus with respect, acknowledging Him as a “Good Teacher,” and asks about the most important topic of all—eternal life. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that inheriting eternal life isn’t about:
• How much you know about Jesus: The ruler knew who Jesus was and believed He had the answer.
• Keeping the Law: The ruler claimed he had kept the commandments faithfully from his youth.
• Checking off religious boxes: The young ruler was moral, knowledgeable, and devout. Still, he lacked something.
Jesus reveals to him (and to us) that inheriting eternal life requires much more than outward righteousness or knowledge. It’s about something deeper—a total transformation and complete dependence on God. Jesus’ message becomes clear:
• You will always lack something, no matter how perfect your life seems on the outside.
• Where you lack, Jesus makes up for more than enough—He provides all necessary for you to enter the Kingdom of God.
• Entering the Kingdom of God is hard—twice as hard. Jesus even goes so far as to say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom.
• Salvation is impossible for man. No matter how good, religious, or moral, you cannot earn your way into eternal life.
• But with God, all things are possible! What is impossible for us, God makes possible through Jesus’ work.
The Rich Young Ruler
The Rich Young Ruler is portrayed as having everything going for him. He is described in different Gospel accounts as being “young” (Matthew), a “ruler” (Luke), and “rich” (Mark). He has status and wealth and comes to Jesus with great respect, bowing down to Him and calling Him “Good Teacher.” This shows his belief in Jesus’ authority and kingship. On the surface, this young man seems like an ideal candidate for eternal life.
Even when Jesus lists the commandments, the ruler confidently responds that he has kept them all from his youth. He believes he is righteous according to the Law. Yet, despite all these credentials, he still lacks something essential.
One Thing You Lack
Jesus looks at the rich young ruler with love and compassion and says, “One thing you lack.” Despite his riches, knowledge, and moral standing, one critical element prevents him from entering the Kingdom of God: total surrender. Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. This isn’t simply about letting go of material wealth—it’s about being All Out of the things of this world and All In for the Kingdom of God.
To inherit eternal life, Jesus calls the young man—and us—not to be half-hearted but to go All Out of anything that holds us back from fully trusting Him. Whether wealth, pride, status, or self-reliance, Jesus challenges us to abandon whatever competes for our heart’s allegiance. He invites us to be All In with Him, entirely devoted to the Kingdom, and willing to let go of everything else to follow Him completely.
All Out and All In
As the ruler walks away saddened by Jesus’ words, we are reminded of the high cost of following Christ. Jesus doesn’t call us to partial commitment—He asks us to go All Out from our attachment to the world and to be All In for Him and His Kingdom. It means to follow Jesus, not simply to add Him to our lives, but to make Him our life.
The rich young ruler’s wealth had become his security and identity, and he wasn’t willing to go All Out of that. But to follow Jesus, we must be willing to forsake anything that stands in the way of our total trust and dependence on Him. It is a call to be All In for the Kingdom of God, knowing that what we give up pales in comparison to the eternal life and abundant blessings that await us when we are fully committed to Christ.
Ultimately, it isn’t about how much we can do or how good we can be. The question is whether we are willing to go All Out of the things of this world and be All In for Jesus. As Jesus says, God makes what is impossible for us possible. The call to discipleship is an invitation to go All Out of our self-reliance and be All In on the grace, power, and provision that comes from following Christ wholeheartedly. As Jesus continues His journey toward the cross, He accomplishes everything necessary for us to inherit eternal life. Our task is simple: surrender, trust, and follow Him.
Peace be with you!
- Pastor Bruce
