“There
came one running … and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life?
“And
Jesus said unto him, …
“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery,
Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy
father and mother.
“And he answered … , Master, all these have I
observed from my youth.
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Mark 10:17-21)
“Then Jesus
beholding him loved him.”
As I heard these words, a vivid image filled my mind of
our Lord pausing and beholding this young man. Beholding—as in looking deeply and
penetratingly into his soul, recognizing his goodness and also his potential,
as well as discerning his greatest need.
Then the simple words—Jesus loved him. He felt an overwhelming love and
compassion for this good young man, and because of this love and with this
love, Jesus asked even more of him. I pictured what it must have felt like for
this young man to be enveloped by such love even while being asked to do
something so supremely hard as selling all he owned and giving it to the poor.
My dear brothers and
sisters, now anytime you feel you are being asked to do something hard—give up
a poor habit or an addiction, put aside worldly pursuits, sacrifice a favorite
activity because it is the Sabbath, forgive someone who has wronged you—think
of the Lord beholding you, loving you, and
inviting you to let it go and follow Him. And thank Him for
loving you enough to invite you to do more. (from Then Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him)
~ S. Mark Palmer, of the Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
