Twentieth Sunday of Pentecost

God Saves Us When We Can't Save Ourselves

Mark 10: 17 - 31

Matthew 19: 16 - 30

Luke 18: 18 - 30

A troubled young man comes to Jesus to ask what he can do to save himself; Jesus replies that no matter how hard we try, only God can save us.

Jesus teaches several lessons in this passage. First, he recalls the man to his knowledge of the Ten Commandments. And second, he continues his lesson to the disciples even after the man leaves. Jesus never tired of teaching those who were closest to him - and they always felt that they still had more to learn.

Teacher, or rabbi, was a title of respect reserved for the scribes.

Many scholars believe that when a person is nameless in one of the stories about Jesus, it gives us an opportunity to insert our own names in the story. What does this story sound like if we read it aloud with our names in it?

The Eye of the Needle is the name of a street in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is so narrow and winding that camels must be unloaded before they can be led through to the other end, where they are reloaded with their packs once again.

1. What was Jesus doing when the man ran up to him?

[Jesus was walking down a road.]

2. What did the man ask?

[The man asked, "Good teacher, what can I do to have eternal life?]

3. What did Jesus reply to the man?

[Jesus replied, "You know the commandments."]

4. What did Jesus tell the man to do?

[Jesus told the man, "Go sell everything you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come with me."]

5. What did the disciples ask?

[The disciples asked each other, "How can anyone ever be saved?]

6. What did Jesus answer?

[Jesus answered, "There are some things people cannot do, but God can do anything."]

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