The Gospel of Mark Chapter 10:17-34 10:17 “And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” “The action of this young man in running and kneeling shows that he was deeply anxious to receive an answer to his question” (McGarvey p. 543). In addition, this “ruler” comes to Jesus, unlike Nicodemus (John 3:1), in the broad daylight. This man appears to have everything from an earthly perspective: the energy and enthusiasm of youth, a loveable personality, wealth, social status, and an exemplary life, yet he feels that he is missing something. He may have been superficially satisfied with life until he heard Jesus teach. He may have grown accustomed to using his wealth to secure and guarantee for himself everything he needed. Perhaps he assumed that eternal life could be gained in a similar fashion, that is, the accomplishment of some great project over which he had control. 10:18 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good?’ No one is good except God alone’” Mark notes that this man had addressed Jesus as, “Good teacher” (10:17). Apparently, the young man had used the word “good” twice, “Good teacher what good thing must I do?” (Matthew 19:16). Jesus’ method here of dealing with this 1