The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-01
THE YOUNG RULER.
Rev. Robert Latham, IN Torkralc Enquirer.

What the young rulers name was we do
not know neither do we know 10 which
one of the twelve tribes of Israel be be-
longed. With these exceptions we have
full and minute history Of the man, and
yet it is so ahortt that it may be read from
beginning to end in less than ten min.
utes. 1t will be found in the gospel by
Matthew, chapter 19:16-22; in the
gospel by Mark, chapter 10: O:17-22, and
in the gospel by Luke, chapter 1S:l5-
%.
The time that the interview between
our Saviour and this rich young man
occurred, was but q few weeks before our
Saviour was crucifed. The place where
it occurred is not definitely stated, but it
was at some point east of the river Jor-
dan, in the region ofcounty called Perea.
The probability is that it was opposite
the city or town of Jerico. Our Saviour,
with his disciples, was on his way to
Jerusalem to Keep the Passover. The
Jews residing on the east side of the
Jordan were, at the same time, going up
to Jerusalem for the purpose of keeping
the Passover. Il is highly probable that
this rich young man was also on his way
to Jerusalem TO keep the Passover, or he
may have lived in the region of country
through which our Saviour was passing.
Be this as it may, while our Saviour and
his disciples we're actually walking along
the road, the young man came running
to Jegus, and kneeliDg down to him asked
what good thing he should do in order to
inherit eternal life. So far as We are in
formed, this was the first time the rich
young man and Jesus had met, but it is
manifested that the young man bad heard
of Jesus before. There was something
very remarkable about this interview.
This is evident from the manner in which
it is related by each of the three evangel-
lists. Each, one of sthem introduced it
with behold, a word never used except to
call our attention to something wonder
full.
One marvellous thing in this interview
is that it occurred at all. Evidently the
young man belonged to class in society
which furnished few anxious inquirers
after the way of life. He, re are told,
was rich and a ruler. We are not in
formed whether the Office he held was
civil or ecclesiastical. 1t is evident,
however, that he occupied prominent
position in society. The wonder is that
such man condescended to ask advice of
Jesus at all. The class Of men to which
he belonged bas been notorious for six
thousand years for Indifference concern
ing their eternal welfare. Not one of
the twelve apostles was ruler, neither
was any one oftbe seventy sent out by
our Saviour to proclaim that the kingdom
of heaven was at hand. Very few, ifany
of the early Christians, were rulers. No
doubt there were some anxious inquirers
among the rulers, but this one and Nico.
demus are all, so far IS is now remember
ed, who came to Jesus anSiously inquir-
ing The way of life. 1t is remarkable
thing that Nicodemus is never mentioned
withoutit being stated that he came to
Jesus by night. This rich young man,
whatever was his name, came to Jesus in
open day, and in public place. This
was wonderful thing.
Another thing which made this rulers
coming TO Jesus for advice with regard to
eternal life wonderful, was that he was
young and rich. Rich young men have,
since the fall Of Adam, been noted, if not
for their profligacy. for their marked
neglect of religion. In the pleasures of
this present life, their minds are wholly
engrossed and they have neither time nor
inclination to think about eternal life,
much less inquire about it.
Viewed from human standpoint, it
was marvellous thing that this rich
young ruler, however anxious be was on
the subject, came to Jesus to inquire
what be must do 10 inherit eternal life.
With the class of persons to which he
belonged, Jesus was contemptuously call
ed the Nazarene. They did not hesitate
to tell him to his face that be had q devil,
and cast cut devils by Beelzebub, the
prince, or the most Infamous of devils.
If any of the class to which this young
man belonged, entertained q favorable
opinion OF Jesus, such was the universal
odium with which Jesus was regarded by
the rulers of the Jews, that these indi.
viduals dared not give public utterance
to that opinion. Because of this senti.
ment of disapprobation of Jesus which
prevailed among the rulers of the Jews,
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. He
was afraid of the certain odium which he
would bring upon himself if the other
rulers would learn that he had been con.
ferripg with Jesus. 1t is 3 wonder that
this young man did not 60 to some of the
learned Jewish doctors, or to the chief
priests, or 10 the great Jewish Council,
aud state his case. But be did not he
came to Jesus and in all the sincerity of
his heart, inquired what be must do to
Inherit eternal life. This must have been
regarded by the other rulers as most
wonderful thing. a rich young ruler-a
man of good position in aociety-a young
nan with bright prospects, goes in open
daylight, and on the public highway,
crowded with persons of all classes and
conditions in society, to ask Jesus what
he must do to inherit eternal life. If he
had gone to Gamaliel the act would have
elevated him in the estimation of the
rulers of the Jews, butto 60 to Jesus for