The Missing Piece
Kenzie Schulz · Tidal Church Moncton · December 28, 2025
Kenzie Schulz explores Mark 10 and the rich young ruler, showing that eternal life can't be earned by success or obedience. Jesus invites us to recognize our need for Him and to rest in being fully accepted and loved by God.
Topics: Grace, Identity, Discipleship
Transcript
[0:00] I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and that you have some time this season to rest and to catch up with the people you love. Now, did anyone here get any Legos for Christmas this year? Okay, a few of you. One of my neighbors actually let me borrow this. He's about 13, so I'm being very careful with it. Now, did anyone here give any Legos for Christmas this year? Okay, some of you may. Maybe Santa gave some as well. Now, as a kid, I loved playing with Legos. I loved Mega Bloks, Lincoln Logs, basically any toy that I got to put together myself.
[0:49] In fact, there are a few pictures of little Kenzie playing with these types of toys, and that's my dad with me there. It's fun starting out with all of these tiny pieces and then creating something big and unique out of them. There's just one problem, you see. Especially as a kid, I had a tendency to lose a piece or two along the way, so I would get almost to the end of the instructions and I would have most of the big chunks built and ready to put together. But then I would see, hang on, it says I'm supposed to have another of this type of piece, but I don't see that anywhere.
[1:38] And even if it's something small, a missing piece can be a big deal if that's what holds the whole thing together. There was this one time, I would've been about seven or eight at this point, when I got almost to the end of a whole Lego set, and for three or four days I could not find the last piece. I checked under the table. I made sure I hadn't already put it somewhere I wasn't supposed to. Could not find it. Well, my mom was doing laundry and she could hear a clinking sound coming from the dryer. Sure enough, I had put the last Lego piece into the pocket of my pants and forgotten about it.
[2:29] Life can be a little bit like that too sometimes, can't it? Maybe you've come a long way in building the life that you want to have. You've got the school or the career section all put together and the home section is almost complete, but something is still missing. And just like a Lego set, even a small missing piece can make a big difference. Around this time of year, when there's a break in our routines, we tend to think about these types of things that we would like to change or improve in life. Maybe for you it's that, you know, I wasn't really thinking about it until now, but I haven't been sleeping well this year.
[3:20] I have caffeine before bed or I stay up late on my phone and I try to make up for it on the weekends, but I still feel tired even when I sleep in. Or maybe it's that, you know, I just realized I really didn't get to spend time with my friends this year. I keep saying that we should hang out some time, but some time never seems to come and I make other plans or they make other plans and we just don't get to spend time together. How about you? What's your missing piece? What's missing from you? Having a life that's more joyful, more peaceful, more connected and growing and moving forward?
[4:12] If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, maybe you believe that there's a missing piece in your relationship with Him, something that would help you grow closer to God or that would make your life look more like the life that He had on earth. It could be that, you know, I only really tend to pray to God when I feel like I need something from Him. My prayers feel like lists of requests rather than a conversation with someone who knows and cares for me. Or it could be that I'm not really that involved in loving and serving my community.
[4:57] I want my neighbors and city and coworkers to know the love of Jesus, but right now, I'm not sure how they would see that in the way that I live. What's missing from your walk with God or just from your life in general? What would make everything complete and give you confidence that you really are living life to the full? In Mark chapter 10, there's a story of a man who came to Jesus looking for the missing piece in life. This same story also shows up in Matthew 19 and Luke 18, and if you've grown up going to church, you probably know it as the story of the rich young ruler.
[5:50] The funny thing is, though, that exact title doesn't show up in any of the three versions, so where do we get it? Well, Matthew mentions that the man was young and Luke calls him a ruler and all three versions talk about him being rich. We'll see that here in Mark in just a minute. So he's a rich young ruler. Now, just to give you a bit of background, when Luke calls him a ruler, many scholars believe that that's referring to him being in charge of a local synagogue. This is someone who not only has dedicated his own life to obeying God, but he's influential in his community and leading them to do the same.
[6:44] He is the image of success and righteousness according to the standards of his day. But is this truly what it means to live in God's blessing, to be a part of God's kingdom and ultimately to have eternal life with Him? Let's hear their conversation and see what Jesus has to say. And as He, Jesus, was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
[7:30] And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honor your father and mother." And he said to Him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing. Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me."
[8:20] Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. The rich young ruler seemingly has heard of Jesus already. He's heard of this rabbi from Nazareth who isn't part of any official religious order and yet has insights about God and eternal life beyond anyone else he's heard from. In Mark's gospel, the first words out of Jesus' mouth are these: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel."
[9:05] Jesus is going around announcing that the kingdom of God, the realm of God's good, just, and saving rule, is breaking in and taking shape on earth, and He is calling people to repent, to turn from their rebellion against God, toward Him, and to put their trust and devotion in this surprising good news. Not only is Jesus going around saying this with His words, but He's backing it up with His actions. He's demonstrating that the kingdom of God is at hand through signs and wonders, healing the sick, casting out unclean spirits, feeding thousands of people with only a few loaves and fish and having leftovers to spare.
[10:07] The rich young ruler has come to believe that Whatever is missing from his life, Jesus has it. Something's missing, and I think Jesus has it. Maybe for some of you that's your story and the reason why you came here today, or you're joining us online, something's missing, and I think Jesus has it. And the rich young ruler believes this strongly enough that when he actually gets to meet Jesus in person, he runs up, falls on his knees and asks, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
[11:01] Jesus responds to this question in a very interesting way. He probes at the rich young ruler's ideas of what it means to live a good life. He starts by addressing the ruler's standard of goodness. "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." From the ruler's perspective, Jesus is another human success story, albeit one far different from himself. But Jesus doesn't allow the ruler to stay at this surface-level definition of goodness. He reminds the ruler that true and ultimate goodness is found in God alone, not in human effort and achievement.
[11:55] He then goes through a short list of commandments on how to live in obedience to God. The ruler responds, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." And Jesus doesn't even try to argue about whether he has really been this faithful to God's law. The ruler is a shining example of a life blessed by God. He's got the resources, he's got the platform, he's got the influence, he's got the moral credibility. He's the full package. Surely if there is anyone who Jesus won't have anything new to say to, it's going to be this man.
[12:47] In fact, Jesus is probably gonna see how they can be partners in ministry. After all, he's got so much to offer. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, loved him, not loved all the things he had to offer, not loved all the ways in which this man could benefit Him, but loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing. Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me."
[13:39] Imagine the look on the rich young ruler's face when Jesus says this. What would it be like for you to hear Jesus say, "Come, follow Me," knowing what it would cost? Jesus doesn't offer a missing piece to put the Lego set together. He doesn't give the ruler a new commandment to follow or another practice to fit into his life. Instead, He asks the ruler to take the whole thing apart, to give up all his success and status and to come and follow Him.
[14:27] Our modern Western culture teaches us, even as Christians, to acquire the skills, the resources, and the platforms we need to have maximum impact on the world, on our own strength. The rich young ruler would've fit right in and been a model member of our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and many of our churches. But Jesus wasn't interested in the ruler's success, his wealth, his influence, even his obedience to the law. He loved the man himself and wanted him as His disciple.
[15:18] Unfortunately, the ruler turned and walked away sorrowful, choosing the earthly life that he had put together rather than the eternal life found in Jesus. Let's continue on in verse 23. And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God." And the disciples were amazed at His words, but Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God.
[16:04] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." And they were exceedingly astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." Jesus confronts and dismantles the idea that I can become a citizen of the kingdom of God by building a kingdom of me.
[16:53] Material success cannot earn us eternal life. In fact, like we just saw here, it can even become an obstacle to us loving and pursuing God with our whole hearts. And the disciples are exceedingly astonished at this teaching. If the people who have the most to offer to God, the most resources, the biggest platforms, the most impressive talents, if they can't get into His kingdom, then who can? Right before the passage we started with today, there's a short story in verses 13 to 16 that gives us an interesting contrast to the story of the rich young ruler.
[17:48] It says, "And they were bringing children to Him again, Jesus, that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them." Don't worry, Jesus, we won't let these kids annoy or distract You from Your real important work. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to Me. Do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
[18:33] And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them. The rich young ruler who had everything to bring to the table did not enter the kingdom of God, but children who had nothing to bring except themselves joyfully received the gift of the kingdom, and they became its citizens. Why? Because the entrance fee into the kingdom of God is not a series of achievements. The entrance fee into the kingdom of God has already been paid for you.
[19:24] You can't earn eternal life, not through success, not through riches, not through obedience, and you don't have to because God already wants you. Back to where we were before. In Mark 10, Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left everything and followed You." Good news, Jesus, we've already done for You what that rich young ruler wouldn't do. We've left everything we had before to follow You. Is that the missing piece? Is that how we inherit eternal life?
[20:13] Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the gospel who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first."
[20:59] Obedience doesn't earn us eternal life. Jesus has already secured our salvation and welcomes us into life with Him, and that life will involve costly obedience. It will be a life with new priorities in a new direction for a new purpose that goes against the grain of the world and will even result in persecution and personal loss. Yet it will be a life filled with far more joy than the treasures of earth could ever offer.
[21:48] Earlier we read Jesus' statement that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a child and not reject it like the rich young ruler? I would offer two sides of the same coin in response to that question, two things for us to recognize and become more aware of. First, recognize your need. Recognize your need before God. Recognize that your success, your achievements, your obedience and good works do not earn or reduce your need for God's grace.
[22:44] Back on November 17th, Pastor Mark preached a message as part of our series on the book of Malachi. If you haven't had the chance to watch or listen to that sermon, or even if you have already, I would highly recommend you do so again. In that sermon, Pastor Mark talked about how we live in a world that is custom designed to meet, to numb, or to distract us from our needs. We have become experts at avoiding desperation, and it makes sense. Facing our desperation, facing our need, and being aware of our own limitations can often be a painful and scary thing to do.
[23:40] Yet that same desperation can lead us more deeply into trust and dependence on God. Acknowledging our need before God can actually open the door to experience His goodness more fully. The kingdom of God does not belong to rich young rulers. It does not belong to people who have achieved enough on their own strength to be self-assured and self-satisfied. It belongs to the physically and spiritually poor, to those who mourn and weep, to the physically hungry, and to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
[24:34] It belongs to people who are deeply aware of their dependence on God and in that dependence experience His steadfast love and faithfulness. How quick are you to recognize your need before God? If you struggle in this area, here's some good news. As Christians, we have a wonderful tradition of practices that are at least partially designed to help in this matter. Disciplines like fasting, tithing, and Sabbath keeping involve us actually increasing our level of need to then draw us nearer to the God who provides.
[25:26] Jesus may not ask you to give up all your earthly possessions. He may very well, but He may not. Regardless, there are ways that all of us can learn to hold onto our resources less tightly, less fearfully, and in a less self-centered fashion, to see them as mere gifts that do not compare to the Giver, to be willing to let them go and follow the One who promises treasure in heaven. So that's one side of the coin, but here's the other: to recognize your acceptance.
[26:17] Recognize your need before God and recognize your acceptance by God. I started off this message by asking about the missing piece in your life, the thing missing from everything being complete and more joyful and peaceful. Now, when I was preparing the message, I was initially planning to say that the missing piece in life is Jesus. Don't get me wrong, that's absolutely true. Jesus is the missing piece from each of our lives, who brings salvation and eternal life and hope and joy and peace and purpose.
[27:08] But Jesus is more than another piece to add onto your life. You see, it's not just that He is the missing piece for you, it's that you are invited to be in Christ, to be a part of Him and what He's doing on earth. You, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you. You are the missing piece that God didn't need to make room for, but who He wanted. You are the one sheep for whom the Good Shepherd leaves the 99.
[27:58] You are the lost son and daughter for whom the Father throws a feast as He welcomes you home. You are the rebel against the kingdom of heaven, separated from God and dead in your sins, for whom the King gave up His throne and gave up His life to make you a citizen of the kingdom. Do you struggle to see yourself as being fully accepted by God? Do you believe that God only loves you sometimes, that He loves parts of you but not the whole, or that He loves a future, better version of you, but not you as you are now?
[28:55] Seek Him and you will find Him. Call out and draw near to Him in prayer. See His character revealed in His Word. Surround yourself with brothers and sisters in Christ who will encourage you and show you God's love. If you need to seek out a counselor who can help you unlearn the lies that you have come to believe about yourself and the way that God sees you. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Come and experience for yourself that the Lord is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.
[29:50] Heavenly Father, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank You, God, that You left Your throne, that You dwelled among us, that, Lord, You showed us and taught us what Your kingdom is like. God, thank You that You gave up Your life to pay the entrance fee so that we would have eternal life in You and that we would get to be citizens of Your kingdom. God, we sing, hallelujah. Thank You, Lord. Thank You. God, we need You.
[30:38] Help us to be more aware of our need for You and, God, in that need, let us experience Your goodness and steadfast love. Thank You, God, that because of Your Son, we are accepted before You. Thank You, God, that You welcome us into eternal life with You. In Your name we pray, amen.