Christ looked upon the young man and longed after his soul. He longed to send him forth as a messenger of blessing to men. In the place of that which He called upon him to surrender, Christ offered him the privilege of companionship with Himself. "Follow Me," He said. This privilege had been counted a joy by Peter, James, and John. The young man himself looked upon Christ with admiration. His heart was drawn toward the Saviour. But he was not ready to accept the Saviour's principle of self-sacrifice. He chose his riches before Jesus. He wanted eternal life, but would not receive into the soul that unselfish love which alone is life, and with a sorrowful heart he turned away from Christ.

Kristus så på den unge mand og længtes efter at frelse ham. Han længtes efter at sende ham ud som sit sendebud, der kunne være til velsignelse for andre. I stedet for det, som han opfordrede ham til at give slip på, tilbød han ham den forret at vandre sammen med ham. "Følg mig," sagde han. Peter Jakob og Johannes havde glædet sig over denne forret. Den unge mand betragtede også Jesus med beundring. Han følte sig draget til Frelseren, men han var ikke villig til at følge Frelserens princip med hensyn til selvfornægtelse. Han valgte sine rigdomme i stedet for Jesus. Han ønskede det evige liv men ville ikke give rum i hjertet for den uegennyttige kærlighed, som alene betyder liv og han gik sorgbetynget bort fra Jesus.