One Thing Sermon Series
True Surrender
Sermon follow-up 6/23/25
Introduction
Have you ever received critical feedback about something you're passionate about? It's rarely comfortable, especially when we're looking for validation rather than honesty. Yet sometimes we need that outside perspective to see ourselves clearly.
In Mark's Gospel, we encounter a story about a man seeking feedback from Jesus—but he wasn't prepared for what he heard. This encounter reveals a profound truth about what it truly means to follow Christ.
What Does the Rich Young Ruler Story Teach Us About Surrender?
In Mark 10:17-31, we meet a man who approaches Jesus with what seems like genuine respect and an important question. He runs up to Jesus, falls on his knees, and asks, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
This question is perhaps the most important any of us could ask. But notice how he frames it: "What must I do?" This reveals his fundamental misunderstanding. He's trying to figure out how to earn eternal life rather than receive it as a gift.
Jesus responds in an unexpected way. Instead of directly answering, He first challenges the man's understanding of goodness: "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Jesus isn't denying His divinity here—He's actually affirming it. He wants to ensure the man understands who he's talking to: God Himself.
Why Did Jesus Point to the Commandments?
Jesus then lists several commandments—but interestingly, He starts with the sixth commandment, not the first. He focuses on what scholars call the "second table" of commandments—those dealing with outward behaviors toward others.
The rich man responds confidently: "Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy." He believes he's checked all the boxes. But Jesus, looking at him with love, delivers the challenging truth: "One thing you lack..."
Before we get to that "one thing," notice something crucial: "Jesus looked at him and loved him." This isn't a harsh rebuke from a judgmental teacher. It's a loving invitation from someone who genuinely cares about this man's eternal destiny.
What Was the One Thing the Rich Man Lacked?
Jesus tells him: "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this, the man's face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. He couldn't surrender what he valued most.
Jesus wasn't saying wealth itself is wrong. Rather, He identified that this man's wealth was the thing preventing him from fully surrendering to God. For this particular person, money had become his master.
Jesus then makes a startling statement: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 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."
The disciples are shocked. If wealthy people—who were considered blessed by God in their culture—couldn't be saved, who could? Jesus responds: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Why Is Surrender So Difficult Yet So Essential?
The core message is clear: entering God's kingdom isn't about what we can accomplish or control—it's about surrender. We can't earn our way to heaven. We must let go of whatever we're clinging to instead of Christ.
This is why Jesus says, "Many who are first will be last, and the last first." The kingdom of God operates by different rules than our achievement-oriented world.
The rich young ruler represents all of us in some way. We all have something we're reluctant to surrender—maybe it's wealth, success, approval, comfort, or our own plans. Whatever it is, Jesus lovingly invites us to open our hands and let it go.
How Does Surrender Lead to Greater Gain?
Paradoxically, Jesus promises that those who surrender everything for Him "will receive a hundred times as much in this present age...and in the age to come eternal life." This isn't a prosperity gospel promise of material wealth, but rather the assurance that what we gain in Christ far outweighs anything we might surrender.
Think of Judson Van Deventer, who wrote the hymn "I Surrender All." He gave up a promising career as a visual artist to pursue ministry. Though he died without knowing his full impact, his surrender led to countless lives changed—including Billy Graham, who was influenced by that very hymn.
When we surrender, we often can't see the full impact, but it's always "a hundred times greater" than we could imagine because it's God working through us, not our own efforts.
Life Application
What are you holding onto today that might be keeping you from fully embracing Jesus?
Like a parent coming home with arms full of groceries who can't embrace their child until they set everything down, we can't fully embrace the life Jesus offers until we surrender what we're carrying.
Ask yourself these questions this week:
Remember, Jesus doesn't ask us to surrender to earn His love—He already loves us. We surrender in response to that love, knowing that whatever we give up pales in comparison to what we gain in Him.
This week, practice opening your hands—literally and figuratively—as a physical reminder of your willingness to surrender all to the One who surrendered everything for you.
Introduction
Have you ever received critical feedback about something you're passionate about? It's rarely comfortable, especially when we're looking for validation rather than honesty. Yet sometimes we need that outside perspective to see ourselves clearly.
In Mark's Gospel, we encounter a story about a man seeking feedback from Jesus—but he wasn't prepared for what he heard. This encounter reveals a profound truth about what it truly means to follow Christ.
What Does the Rich Young Ruler Story Teach Us About Surrender?
In Mark 10:17-31, we meet a man who approaches Jesus with what seems like genuine respect and an important question. He runs up to Jesus, falls on his knees, and asks, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
This question is perhaps the most important any of us could ask. But notice how he frames it: "What must I do?" This reveals his fundamental misunderstanding. He's trying to figure out how to earn eternal life rather than receive it as a gift.
Jesus responds in an unexpected way. Instead of directly answering, He first challenges the man's understanding of goodness: "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Jesus isn't denying His divinity here—He's actually affirming it. He wants to ensure the man understands who he's talking to: God Himself.
Why Did Jesus Point to the Commandments?
Jesus then lists several commandments—but interestingly, He starts with the sixth commandment, not the first. He focuses on what scholars call the "second table" of commandments—those dealing with outward behaviors toward others.
The rich man responds confidently: "Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy." He believes he's checked all the boxes. But Jesus, looking at him with love, delivers the challenging truth: "One thing you lack..."
Before we get to that "one thing," notice something crucial: "Jesus looked at him and loved him." This isn't a harsh rebuke from a judgmental teacher. It's a loving invitation from someone who genuinely cares about this man's eternal destiny.
What Was the One Thing the Rich Man Lacked?
Jesus tells him: "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this, the man's face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. He couldn't surrender what he valued most.
Jesus wasn't saying wealth itself is wrong. Rather, He identified that this man's wealth was the thing preventing him from fully surrendering to God. For this particular person, money had become his master.
Jesus then makes a startling statement: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 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."
The disciples are shocked. If wealthy people—who were considered blessed by God in their culture—couldn't be saved, who could? Jesus responds: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Why Is Surrender So Difficult Yet So Essential?
The core message is clear: entering God's kingdom isn't about what we can accomplish or control—it's about surrender. We can't earn our way to heaven. We must let go of whatever we're clinging to instead of Christ.
This is why Jesus says, "Many who are first will be last, and the last first." The kingdom of God operates by different rules than our achievement-oriented world.
The rich young ruler represents all of us in some way. We all have something we're reluctant to surrender—maybe it's wealth, success, approval, comfort, or our own plans. Whatever it is, Jesus lovingly invites us to open our hands and let it go.
How Does Surrender Lead to Greater Gain?
Paradoxically, Jesus promises that those who surrender everything for Him "will receive a hundred times as much in this present age...and in the age to come eternal life." This isn't a prosperity gospel promise of material wealth, but rather the assurance that what we gain in Christ far outweighs anything we might surrender.
Think of Judson Van Deventer, who wrote the hymn "I Surrender All." He gave up a promising career as a visual artist to pursue ministry. Though he died without knowing his full impact, his surrender led to countless lives changed—including Billy Graham, who was influenced by that very hymn.
When we surrender, we often can't see the full impact, but it's always "a hundred times greater" than we could imagine because it's God working through us, not our own efforts.
Life Application
What are you holding onto today that might be keeping you from fully embracing Jesus?
Like a parent coming home with arms full of groceries who can't embrace their child until they set everything down, we can't fully embrace the life Jesus offers until we surrender what we're carrying.
Ask yourself these questions this week:
- What am I clinging to that prevents me from fully surrendering to Jesus?
- Am I trying to earn God's love through my accomplishments rather than receiving it as a gift?
- If Jesus looked at me today and said, "One thing you lack," what would that one thing be?
- What would it look like for me to live with open hands this week, ready to surrender whatever God asks of me?
Remember, Jesus doesn't ask us to surrender to earn His love—He already loves us. We surrender in response to that love, knowing that whatever we give up pales in comparison to what we gain in Him.
This week, practice opening your hands—literally and figuratively—as a physical reminder of your willingness to surrender all to the One who surrendered everything for you.
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