“You don’t know

what you don’t know.”

This statement

speaks to the reality of our unintentional ignorance.  It’s true that we often do not know what we

do not know.

What is worse is

when we totally miss it.  When we’re

completely and thoroughly informed, but still totally miss it.  Parents know this scenario full well.  You’re looking your kid straight in the eyes,

going over instructions in detail, they are nodding their head in agreement,

but you know that they have no clue what you are asking them to do.

We often don’t know

what we don’t know, but what’s worse is when we’re aware, but still just don’t

get it. 

It’s when we can

quote something, but not really know what it means.  It’s when we can solve the mathematic

equation, but have no idea what it is used for. 

It’s when you laugh along with everyone, but didn’t get the

punchline.  It’s when you do what you’re

asked to do at work, but don’t understand why you’re doing it.

All of us are this

way when it comes to following Jesus from time to time.  Sometimes, we go through the motions, but

don’t really grasp the purpose behind why we’re doing what we’re doing.  We quote His word, but don’t fully understand

what He was saying.

We’re not alone when

it comes to missing it in this way.  His

very first disciples had those moments fairly often!

Several times, Jesus

warned His disciples about His death and resurrection in detail.  This threat was the buzz of the town as the

religious leaders were waiting for the right moment to kill Jesus.  He and His disciples were about to enter

Jerusalem where this would all soon take place.

His disciples were

still amazed by His teaching that many who are first here on the earth will be

last in Heaven and vice-versa.  All of

the others were terrified of what was about to take place.

Mark 10:32-34

32 They were on

their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were

astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going

to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of

Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.

They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who

will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will

rise.”

If Jesus’ disciples

were physically there with Him, face-to-face, and were bluntly told exactly

what was going to take place missed it, how easy is it for us to do the same?

Just before Jesus

had this side-chat with them, He had such an encounter.  Hopefully, this morning, we can learn from

this young man’s mistake so that we don’t miss it as He did.

This morning, let’s

ask God for ourselves, “Where am I missing it?”  This encounter was so memorable and important

that Matthew, Mark, and Luke record it in their accounts.

Mark 10:17-34 (Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

17 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?”

Reading this, we

would think, “Awesome!  Praise

God!  Let’s get this man

saved!”  However, Jesus responds a

bit differently than we would expect.

18 “Why do you call

me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the

commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall

not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor

your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he

declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at

him and loved him.

This short, simple

statement gives us a bold reminder of the context of what Jesus is about to

say.  At this point, Jesus is looking at

the man with sincerity.  His attitude

toward Him is motivated by His love and appreciation for this public display

desiring eternal life.

By the world’s

standards and by outward appearances, this man has be