Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.
—Mark 10:21
When Christ spoke these words to the young ruler, he went away grieved. Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (verse 23). The disciples were astonished at His words. When Christ repeated once again what He had said, they were astonished beyond measure. “Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (verses 26–27).
Christ had spoken about bearing the cross as the one condition of discipleship. This is the human side. Here with the rich young ruler, He revealed from the side of God what is needed to give men the will and the power to sacrifice all in order to enter the kingdom. He said to Peter, when he had confessed Him as Christ, the Son of God, that “flesh and blood” (Matthew 16:17) had not revealed it to him, but his Father in heaven. This was to remind Peter and the other disciples that it was only by divine teaching that he could make the confession. With the young ruler, likewise, He unveiled the great mystery that it is only by divine power that a man can take up his cross, can lose his life, can deny himself, and can hate the life to which he is by nature so attached.
Multitudes have sought to follow Christ and obey His command yet have found that they have utterly failed. Multitudes have felt that Christ’s claims were beyond their reach and have sought to be Christians without any attempt at the wholehearted devotion and the entire self‑denial that Christ asks for.
In our study of what the fellowship of the cross means, let us take today’s lesson to heart. Let us believe that only by putting our trust in the living God and the mighty power in which He is willing to work in the heart can we attempt to be disciples who forsake all and follow Christ in the fellowship of His cross.