The man who came so close

Sermon notes from Sunday 2 June 2019 pm

Mark 10 verses 17 - 27

Here is a man who came so close to the Lord, to the place of God`s salvation yet he walked away with his head turned down.  In his mind this is what he wanted and in his heart this is what he needed.  He turned away from the Saviour.  Think of Judas Iscariot on the night of Gethsemane.  He came up to Jesus, kissed him on the cheek and then turned away.  The young scribe was described by Jesus "thou art not far from the kingdom."  Agrippa told Paul "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."  That is disappointing.  When we put it into the spiritual, to look into the face of Jesus, hear the way of God`s salvation then turn and reject it.  That is a disaster.  How many have sat and will sit in the gospel meeting who will hear that gospel of saving grace, hear the invitation to come to the cross, almost there, love to be there, to be saved, to know Christ as Saviour but somehow you hear it and walk away.  That is sad but a sadder picture is those who are in a lost and Christless hell tonight whose minds can go back to mission meetings when they heard how they could be saved yet they turned away and were lost.  We see a man tonight who comes so close.

First of all we see a man who comes with haste.  This man meant business - "there came one running".  Perhaps he sat in his home, pondered in his mind, thought deeply about the things of God. He had heard so much about Jesus, how he came into the world to seek and to save sinners, he was able to deliver people from their sin.  Maybe he had heard Jesus and his invitation "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  Maybe the weight of his riches were weighing on him.  Now he had much of this worlds goods, he had invested very well in so much to gain so much but Jesus said "what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul."  He was rich, young and in a position of authority.  He had all that he could ever want.  There is one thing he doesn`t have - God`s salvation, assurance that he would be ushered out into the presence of Christ if he closed his eyes in death.  This is a man who means business.  He felt the pain and emptiness of his soul that he came running.  He knows he has to act in haste.  He doesn`t want to miss the Lord.  This was out of character, you wouldn`t have seen a rich man running down the street in bible times.  Zacchaeus was another rich man, he came out of his house, couldn`t see the Lord so he ran down the street and climbed a sycamore tree.  That was out of character but even more so climbing a tree.  He did not care what the crowd said of him.  There are those today who care what people would say - imagine going down to that church, attending those meetings, they will not come into the church because they are afraid of what others would say.  Even some would go further and say they would not get saved because of what people would say.  Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchaeus knew if he was ever to meet the Lord he would have to do it there and then.  This would be his final opportunity to meet Christ.  Maybe tonight this is your final opportunity to get right with God.  There might not be another gospel meeting.  "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near."  God may not always be found.  He may not always be near.  The opportunity is now to come.  The man who comes near is the man who comes in haste.

The man came with a hunger.  Think of the day when Jesus fed the multitude.  He healed the sick, taught as they sat on the mountainside.  Night came and the disciples asked Jesus to turn them home because they needed something to eat.  Jesus told them to feed them.  They told him they only had 5 loaves and 2 fishes.  The Lord took the fish and bread and fed the people.  There was enough left over afterwards.  Maybe this man knew all about that day, perhaps he had been in the crowd.  He had a physical hunger that was satisfied that day.  This was a spiritual hunger though down in his soul.  He knew he needed to come to Christ.  Perhaps you have that same hunger.  You know you have a need of the Saviour.  You have been convicted by the Holy Spirit to come to Christ.  Peter on the day of Pentecost preached about Jesus coming into the world as a baby, dying on the cross.  For the people gathered there when they heard this message they realised a spiritual hunger in their souls that could not be filled.  They cried out "what will we do?"  They were getting close to the kingdom of God, to the door of heaven.  Cornelius was on his knees praying when the angel came from heaven.  He told him "thy prayers have been heard, send for Peter, he will tell you words whereby you will be saved."  Cornelius was a great man, a respected man but he was not saved.  He was a religious man but so close.  If anything had happened to him he would have been lost for all eternity.  So close.  Don`t ignore the hunger for Christ tonight.  This man was not saved yet he came to the one who could fulfil that hunger.  This man came to the feet of Jesus and asked "what must I do."  You will find Christ if you seek him with all your heart.

This man comes with a hindrance.  Jesus didn`t hold up his hands and stop him half way.  He came right to the feet of Jesus and Jesus took time with him.  He is guaranteed an attendance with Christ.  You have a guarantee tonight from the Lord.  The Lord listened to him.  "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."  No matter who we are Jesus will listen and he doesn`t matter if you are a king or a pauper.  All he asks is for you to come.  He will do the rest.  This man came with a hindrance.  His religion was of no benefit to him.  He had kept the commandments so well.  The Lord told him "one thing you lack, I want you to take all your possessions, sell them and give them to the poor, then come, take up your cross and follow me."  That is the hindrance.  He couldn`t do it.  His wealth and possessions were the hindrance from him getting saved.  Despite Jesus` love for him he could do no more.  He loved him with an everlasting love.  Jesus was grieved because he turned his back, could not go through and attain salvation yet Jesus would not push his way into his life.  This man felt he owned so much but he didn`t.  His posssessions owned him.  When it came down to it he couldn`t give them up.  His possessions ruled his life.  When he thought he could break them he couldn`t do it.  That was the hindrance.  What is it in your life?  What is the hindrance tonight?  Is there a desire to go on and through with God but somehow you couldn`t do it.  Maybe God desires for you to step out but there is a hindrance there.  Pilate when Jesus stood before him it was the fear of the crowd that stopped him from releasing Jesus.  "If you let him go you are not Caesar`s friend."  Pilate made his choice.  Will you make a choice tonight?  Recognise where you are, at the very door of heaven, sitting at the feet of Christ, his arms are outstretched biding you to come.  What is your hindrance - a friend, a loved one, a work associate, a old habit you cannot give up, something you are striving for - which is more important than the Lord?

This man leaves with hopelessness.  He looked into the eyes of the Lord, so close.  Imagine that for a moment, sitting on his knees listening to every word from Jesus.  So close.  Remember Agrippa on his throne.  Paul was standing before him in chains and rags.  Paul spoke to him, how he could be saved.  Agrippa told him "almost thou persuadest me."  How many times have you been almost persuaded?  The reality of his hopelessness - he was grieved and saddened.  He walked away without Christ.  He didn`t feel he was ready.  Paul says to be close is to be without Christ, without God in this world and in a world to come.