Mark 10:17-27, John 6:22-70
There’s an interesting – and somewhat under-discussed –consideration that comes along when deciding whether or not to follow Jesus. Here it is. This is pretty deep theology, so buckle up. If you choose not to develop that relationship…it won’t develop!
Many people have this idea that they can spend their lives luxuriating in whatever sinful behavior makes them feel good and that at some point, just in a nick of time, Jesus will swoop in and save the day and fly you off to Heaven because He is after all a really great guy and, all things considered, so are you. That makes for a great delusion, but biblically speaking it’s a little less than accurate.
In Mark’s Gospel starting in verse 17 of chapter 10 we see Jesus take part in an interesting interaction. After teaching, a wealthy young man runs up to Jesus and asks Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. The fact that this young man’s taking the time to approach Jesus and ask this question tells us that He’s at least minimally interested in what Jesus has. That’s kind of compelling because by and large the wealthy and powerful in Jesus’ day weren’t paying a lot of attention to Jesus.
Jesus tells the young man, “You know the commandments: You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. You must honor your father and mother.” Jesus gives him the basics as to how we’re to treat one another. Well, the young guy hears this, and he’s elated! He tells Jesus that he has obeyed these commands all his life. But before he can check “Get into Heaven’ off his “Things to Do list”, Jesus, feeling genuine love for this clearly naïve brother hits him with this. “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, and follow Me.”
And with that we’re told that, “The man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
And as he walks away, make note of what doesn’t happen. Jesus doesn’t lace up His Nikes and run after him apologizing for making eternal life seemingly impossible to attain. He doesn’t negotiate a way for the young man to continue living his life focused on material gain, thinking that was going to somehow pave a road to Heaven for Him. Nope. Jesus has answered the man’s initial question. How do I inherit eternal life? And the answer is simple. Let go of all the things of the world that could possibly inhibit you’re getting to know Me and get to know Me!
Now for this young man, the thing that meant more to him than Jesus – and eternal life – was money. Stuff. For you it maybe something else. Drugs. Booze. Sex. The next rung on the corporate ladder.
And Jesus understands that and as a result of that understanding, He gives us what we need to draw nearer to Him. It all boils down to a willingness to pursue a life where He is our top priority. And in those moments that we allow that priority to slip, we confess, we repent, and we go back to the pursuit of knowing Jesus better.
The young man walks away sad, but not uninformed. And that’s why Jesus doesn’t chase him in order to enter into some kind of spiritual negotiation. Jesus isn’t about making it easier to feed fleshy desires so that we can maybe find His Gospel more appealing. Jesus wants us to be set free from the bondage of our flesh so that we come to see that there is nothing more appealing in life than walking with Him. So, the important unknown that scripture doesn’t give us as it relates to this rich young man is this. He’s had this encounter with the Lord. Jesus lights the path to salvation for him. He walks away, because in that moment, it’s more than he can wrap his head around but…
Who knows what happens a day later…a week…a year…ten years? Jesus has cast seeds and now it’s up to the young man to determine what kind of soil those seeds fall on. This why Jesus can walk away from this brother. He has done for Him what He’s done for all of us. He’s told Him how you get to Heaven. “Forsake the things of the world and just follow Me.”
Now, some of you hear this and think wait a second! What about Jesus’ willingness to leave the ninety-nine to save the one? Well, keep in mind that we’re dealing with a sheep analogy. And what does a sheep do when it gets lost? At some point it starts to cry out for rescue. It bleats loudly in the hopes that will make a way for him to be reunited with the flock. Scripture tells us Heaven rejoices in that moment why…because there is no greater joy than when someone who is lost cries out to the One who saves the lost.
But if that same sheep wanders off and remains silent, it’s pretty tough to perform a rescue.
Understand that Jesus never turns a cold shoulder to anyone for any reason, but He also doesn’t impose His grace and mercy on us. In the moment we want it, He provides it all in abundance. The light of His righteousness and the gift of His all-encompassing forgiveness is always there for the taking so long as we draw breath in this life. But remember that Jesus knocks on the door of your heart. He doesn’t kick it in. And the reason why He knocks is simple. He wants you to open the door and let Him in.