A Curious Comeback ~ Bob Coy

So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?" Mark 10:18 (NKJV)

As Jesus continued His teaching ministry, a man with an important question approached him. "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17).

On the surface, this seems like a noble thing. Here's a man who wants to know what he needs to do in order to make things right with God before he leaves this life. Sounds like the kind of question Jesus would applaud and compliment. But He doesn't. Instead, He responds with the question, "Why do you call me good?" That's a curious comeback. Why, of all things, would Jesus ask this? Was He somehow deflecting the compliment? Was He perhaps suggesting that He wasn't as good as this man made Him out to be? Just the opposite, for in that time and culture the term "good" went way beyond the way we use it today. More accurately, it meant "moral perfection," which is something that only God can lay claim to (Psalm 14:3).

So in essence, Jesus' question here is a direct challenge to this man. He's saying, "You're ascribing God-like attributes to me, but do you really and truly believe that I speak with the authority of God?" It's easy to give Jesus a lot of lip service, but what do we do when He exercises His divine authority in our lives? Do we do what He tells us, or slough it off? Our response reveals how deep His authority really runs in our lives.

As the story goes, Jesus did exercise His divine authority by telling this man to do something he didn't want to hear. Sadly, he drifts out of the drama defeated and depressed (Mark 10:21-22). "Good" was just a term that was relative to what this man wanted to hear and do, which raises a good question. How would our story read?

Discuss with your group what factors you consider when you are judging whether something is good or bad.

Dig into Mark 10:17–27. Why do you think Jesus responded this way to the man’s question? What point was Jesus making here? How does this story both convict and encourage you?

Decide as a group to pray for those who teach and preach the Word of God to you. Ask God to provide them with the divine inspiration they need to fulfill their calling.