Listening to a sermon on Mark 10 yesterday, I was struck by a juxtaposition in Jesus’ encounter with the rich, young ruler in Mark 10:17-31. Specifically, after the young ruler has announced–quite sincerely, I think–that he has kept all the commandments from his youth, Mark tells us in his typically direct language:

Jesus, looking at him, loved him…

(more, although I was struck primarily just by this image of the look of love; link probably via Wesley Hill?)