Seeking Jesus First Mar. 3, 2025

Have you ever missed an opportunity to follow Jesus Christ?

Three of The Gospels relationship this story of a young man coming and wanting to follow Jesus but turning away because he though the cost would be to great.

“Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17–22, NKJV)

Jesus spoke right at the heart of this man when He said, “Sell all that you have and come and follow me.” The man did not receive it at that time, “He went away sorrowful.” Out of the three gospels that mention this story, only Mark tells a strange story about a man who showed up with nothing but a linen sheet when Jesus was being arrested.

“Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.” (Mark 14:51–52, NKJV)

Is it curious that a man was coming to follow Jesus at that time but had nothing but a linen sheet? It is almost like this man had sold everything and came to follow Jesus. It is also curious that only Mark tells this fact about this certain young man. Is it possible that it had been Mark himself who was the certain young man? How else would he know that part of the story as Mark was not one of the original twelve?

Mark became a follower of Jesus, a partner in Paul’s ministry, and then a partner of Barnabas, and later, once again, partnering with Paul. If you miss an opportunity to get close to Christ, whether it is your own fault or just bad timing, don’t let it become an excuse for missing the next opportunity. Turn around and come and follow Him now.