10132021 – Mark 10. 17-31
What would you do, if Jesus said, “Follow me?”
I suspect…that as Jesus’ honor and fame spread and grew, more and more people approached him seeking to follow him.
THEY ASKED Jesus. THEY approached him. THEY wanted to join his “apostolic band.” Or THEY approached “one of the twelve.” It may have even been continuous.
This would not have been “an isolated situation”…a one-time-event or occurrence…People always want to jump on a WINNER’S bandwagon.
They LIKE a good thing. They liked all those good vibrations…
HE was the guy to be SEEN with, HE was the guy to RUB ELBOWS with…
What we have before us is DIFFERENT.
While the man does approach Jesus, Jesus actually CALLS THE MAN, just as he called Peter and Andrew, James, and John.
The sad thing is the man DECLINES.
You can sense the “oriental exaggeration” in the story itself.
The man “grovels,” he “falls” at Jesus’ feet, he makes “a public spectacle” of himself. He calls Jesus, “good.” He “flatters him.” He pulls out all the stops.
He is rich. Very Rich. Loaded. Lots of stuff. Perhaps, too much stuff!
It was “not uncommon” for people to APPROACH rabbis and to attempt to get their “TAKE” on certain matters of the LAW or their INTERPRETATION of the SCRIPTURES.
The rich young man DOES THIS.
He wants to know HOW he can INHERIT eternal life or the Kingdom of God.
Again, more EXAGGERATION is about to follow.
When it comes to the LAWS of God, he has kept them ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, and from his youth ON.
Jewish tradition or belief said, ONLY MOSES kept the laws of God PERFECTLY. ONLY MOSES. Everyone else, including ALL THE PROPHETS, fell short…and FAILED.
But this man, is RIGHTEOUS. He has kept them ALL…PERFECTLY. He is BEYOND righteous.
Because of this, he thinks he’s in, he will inherit eternal life. Why shouldn’t he? He’s right up there in the annals of Jewish History with Moses…the Law GIVER and the GREATEST Prophet of all time.
Jesus’ TONE and RESPONSE is clearly indicated by Mark. Jesus loved him. Jesus appreciated him. He was a Jew’s Jew. Jesus CARED FOR HIM. Young, smart, intelligent, wealthy, a God-fearer, and a keeper of the law. What’s NOT TO LIKE?
So, Jesus’ words to him are spoken-out of love…go sell, give to the poor and come back QUICKLY, and FOLLOW ME. I want you WITH me.
The man SADLY leaves. He likes his wealth too much. So, the words that followed from Jesus were probably SAD as well.
Unfortunately, his words are often heard as being a pronouncement about the difficulties of THE RICH getting into the kingdom of Heaven.
NOTHING could be further from the truth. He was SADDENED. He was HURT, that this good man, this righteous man, WALKED AWAY.
The guy had POTENTIAL. He was full of POSSIBILITY. He chose to LEAVE instead. He chose NOT to follow.
Of course, the disciples were CONFUSED and CONFLICTED. EVERYONE KNEW the uber rich WERE RICH by the grace of God. God MADE THEM rich. He bestowed HIS BLESSING upon them. He GAVE THEM all that they received. God SMILED DOWN on them. The rich WERE IN HEAVEN, IF anyone was in Heaven. The Kingdom was THEIRS.
But Jesus suggested that it would be DIFFICULT for them. It would be HARD. Because they cared NOT for the poor and ALL THOSE IN NEED. They cared for THEMSELVES and THEIR riches, and NOT for others.
That is when Jesus MAKES HIS POINT.
He NEVER SAID it was IMPOSSIBLE for the rich to enter the KINGDOM of Heaven.
It is God’s Kingdom. He says, “yay or nay.” He is THE BOSS. He Graciously opens the door to those whom HE CHOOSES.
Many will be saved. MANY. A GREAT MANY. But it will be GOD’S DOING, not ours.
Those who THINK they are first, may be in for a surprise…and likewise, those who think they are LAST, (and left out) may also be in for a surprise.
Our God is the God of GREAT REVERSALS. Our God is the God of SURPRISES. With God, ALL THINGS are possible…for the poor, for the rich, and EVERYONE in between.
The Good news is that it is all in God’s hands, and he is OUR loving, caring, father. So, when Jesus calls you, HOW will YOU RESPOND?
Amen.