What Must I Do?

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17)

The question this unnamed man asked Jesus was honest and sincere - unlike the testing questions from the Pharisees. The question of what we must do to be saved is one we all ask at some point in our journey of faith. But it's curious that the man asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Something is usually only inherited when a family member dies, and in that case there is nothing to do - but live.

When Jesus noted that the man called him "good", Jesus doesn't explicitly say that he's not good.

18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. (Mark 10:18)

In fact, we do call Jesus "good" - the good teacher, the good shepherd - AND no one is good but God alone.

Because Jesus gave his life, we - the children of God - can indeed inherit eternal life.

26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." (Mark 10:26-27)