Only God is Good

Mark 10:17-22 (The Rich Young Ruler)

Mark 10:46-52 (Bartimaeus)

We as Christians often fall into the common misconception that if we do x, y, and z, then we’ll be “good enough.” It brings us to exhaustion, depression, and many times just giving up. God does not love us based on our actions; there is nothing we can do to make Him love us any more or any less. His love is constant. If we could only give up trying to be “good” as though our strength could achieve such. Jesus said “there is none good but one, that is God.” (Mark 10:18) We cannot be good. Think of it this way: we cannot be love. We can have love in us, and we can exhibit love, but we are not love.  Likewise we, through God, can have goodness in us, and we can do good works, but we are not good.

Taking a look at the Rich Young Ruler and Bartimaeus we can see the difference between a person who thinks they’re good and a person who knows they’re not. One receives life and healing, and the other does not.

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The Rich Young Ruler: Mark 10:17-22

Let’s look first at the Rich Young Ruler, a classic story. We see this man run to Jesus to ask Him, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17) Before this rich man even opens his mouth, we can see his heart. He runs to Jesus. Running requires strength and effort. This man was going to Jesus in his own strength and ability. Then within his question we see the position of his heart personified. He first calls Jesus “Good Master,” this might sound lovely and all, but it’s really not specific at all. It’s like walking onto a college campus and wanting to speak to a professor you don’t really know…so what do you call them? “Professor” with no name after. This rich man did not know Jesus. He did not have a revelation of who Jesus really is, so he just called Him “Good Master.” Then he continues, and asks Jesus what he can do to inherit eternal life. He thinks that there is something he can do to be good. He thinks that there is something he can do to obtain life.

Jesus then, being the awesome One that He is, pinpoints the essential flaw within this man’s heart. He says, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18) Jesus isn’t implying here that He’s not good or that He’s not God. He’s asking the rich man why he’s calling Him good. We call Jesus good because we have a revelation that He is God. This rich man, however, did not have this revelation. So why was he calling Jesus good? This is because he thought man was capable of being good on his own, so he thought that Jesus was nothing more than a “good master.” Jesus was trying to get it out of his head that he could be good in his own strength; that he could obtain life in his own strength. No one is good but God, and no one can give life but God.

So then we see Jesus tell the rich man the commandments (things to do), and he responds that he has always done them. Jesus looks at him, loving him, tells 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) Now most people interpret this “thing thou lackest” as his love for his possessions. In a way, I agree. But I don’t think that’s the root of it. I think the thing this man lacked was the acknowledgment that he can’t do it on his own and that he needs God. Material possessions often give us a false precept of independence, control and success. However, when we lose these things (or give them up) we can see our need and dependency on God. This is what Jesus was trying to get the rich man to do. He wanted him to get rid of all the material possessions that were blinding him from seeing that he needed God. Then, Jesus said, “follow me.” But the man went his way and never returned. As far as we know, he did not receive life.

Only the heart that knows there's nothing they can do to be good; only the heart that knows they need God, receives life and healing.

Bartimaeus: Mark 10:46-52

Next, let’s take a look at Bartimaeus. The man who was once blind, but received healing. His story also starts out by showing us his physical posture. It says that as Jesus was walking by (with a great crowd around Him), “Bartimaeus sat by the highway side begging.” (Mark 10:46) Bartimaeus was sitting. He wasn’t using any of his strength or effort. Looking at this logically, Bartimaeus was blind with a crowd between him and Jesus. If he stood up and tried to walk to Him, he would have gotten lost and never have found Him. Bartimaeus literally could not have even gotten to Jesus in his own strength. He knew this. In his posture, we can see his heart. He knew there was nothing he could do to obtain his healing. No amount of strength or work could give him his sight. So he sat, and cried out to the One he knew could.

His cry was simple but powerful, “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47) In contrast with what the rich man called Jesus, “Good Master,” Bartimaeus called Him, “Jesus, thou son of David.” Bartimaeus called Him by name and by genealogy. He knew exactly who Jesus was and where He came from. Bartimaeus had a revelation. After this, he cried out “have mercy on me.” He did not cry out “what can I do that I may receive my sight.” He knew there was nothing he could do! He knew that the only thing that he could do was ask Jesus for His mercy! While crying out, scoffers tried to silence him. - When you’re crying out to God, expect scoffers to arise. - Jesus probably heard Bartimaeus the first time he cried, but He wanted him to overcome the scoffers. He wanted to see his dogged heart. It says that after they tried to get him to keep silent, that he “cried the more a great deal” (Mark 10:48) He became even more desperate for Jesus. A desperate heart for God is the kind that moves mountains. It’s the kind of heart that makes God Himself stand still. And that’s exactly what Bartimaeus’s cry did to Jesus. It says that, “Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.” (Mark 10:49) Though hundreds of people surrounded Jesus, Jesus stood still for Bartimaeus. He stood still for the desperate heart that realized they needed Him. 

As Bartimaeus is being called to go to Jesus, he does something amazing: “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50) – Seemingly small but in fact profound. This garment, which he so carelessly threw away, was a garment given to beggars by the State. This garment confirmed to all who walked by him that he was indeed blind, not just some scam artist ripping them off. This garment represented Bartimaeus’s entire livelihood; his ability to make money, to feed and take care of himself. All his life it represented his identity and status among the people: a real blind man. However, when he hears that Jesus is calling him…He takes off this garment. And by it, he threw away everything he had and everything he was. Tell me, would not this be equal to the sacrifice that Jesus asked the rich young ruler to do? Give up everything, and follow me. Before Bartimaeus even came to Jesus, he gave up everything he had. More than that though: this action showed Bartimaeus’s great faith in Jesus. He knew he would never need that garment ever again. Jesus was calling him. He was going to be healed. He was going to receive his sight.

Then Bartimaeus goes to Jesus, and Jesus says to him, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Mark 10:52) Immediately he received his sight! And what did he do then? He “followed Jesus in the way.” Jesus told him to “go thy way”, and that’s exactly what Bartimaeus did. He made his way Jesus’s way. Wherever Jesus was, there he would be now.

• Our way doesn’t work, our strength and ability can’t bring healing or life. Only Jesus’s way brings healing and life. And this is the heart that receives it: the heart that knows it’s not good, but knows that Jesus is. The heart that knows there’s nothing they can do but cry out to God for mercy. The heart that knows only God is good.