The Look of Love

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." - Mark 10:17-31

This is the recounting of the visit of the rich young man. He comes to Jesus to find out what he must do to obtain eternal life. I noticed something in this passage that I had never really noticed before. In verse 21 it says that Jesus looked at him and loved him. What a precious scene that must have been. Here was a young man all excited and full of anticipation. He had been such a good boy and kept the commandments- probably a model pupil and son- and now he wanted to be assured of eternal life. He comes to Jesus full of excitement and anxious to find out whether he has already fulfilled the requirement or what he needs to add to his already impressive character. “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Sometimes we ponder the fact that this young man walked away and we forget that Jesus loved him. I don’t believe that Jesus was angry with him or gave up on him. The young man could not make the right choice at that time – but I wonder if he ever forgot the look of love in Jesus’ eyes as he gave him his answer. I wonder how long that look called to his heart when he considered his wealth or saw a poor person walk past him. That look probably continued to work in his heart and maybe he finally was able to trust that love more than his own riches.
Do we ever give ourselves the opportunity to see that look on the face of Jesus? Do we come to him and speak with him? Do we allow him to show us where we are having problems with our spiritual growth? Most importantly do we give him the opportunity to reveal his love to us? What would a look of love be? A look of love would have to be inviting, vulnerable, unconditional and a feeling of desirability. As you read God’s word, think about how his look of love comes to you through his words. As you enjoy the world around you, see how those words speak out to you from nature. Jesus is looking at you with that same look of love. Let that look from Jesus draw you into a closer relationship with him each day.