What To Do About Who

A rich young man came to Jesus with a question. Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?

Right away we can relate to this fellow being, because he wants to get right in there and "do" something. He also calculates, if what he does is good enough, it ought to give him the desired results. I have this picture in my mind of Jesus standing there in a moment of awkward silence searching the face of this seeking heart. Jesus breaks the silence by coming right to the point. He addresses the essence of this young man's need.

"Why do you ask Me about what is good?" He replies. "there is only One who is good."

Do you see it? Do you get Jesus' point? If not, don't feel badly, the rich young ruler doesn't either.

Jesus takes him directly from "what" he  does to "who" he knows.

Jesus wants him to see that what he does has nothing to do with gaining eternal life.

Christ wants the heart; the doing is a result of devotion and not of effort. Now read it again: "Why do you ask Me about "what" is good? There is only One "who" is good."

Jesus then illustrates His point: "if you want to enter life, obey the commandments." Ok, now you're talking my language! Which ones" the man inquires. In reply Jesus quotes several of the ten commandments. Frustrated, the young ruler responds,

"all these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Aaaaah!
We have come to the moment of truth.

 This is the question Jesus wants to clarify. It seems obvious that this man is sincere in his desire to be righteous. He also realizes he is missing something; that is why he is working so hard to achieve the illusive assurance he can see others have, and Jesus desperately wants to give it to him. Once again Jesus comes to him in his own way of thinking. 

If you want to be "perfect," go, sell your possessions, then come, follow Me"

Me...not the what, but the Who. Not an effort; not a performance, but a person... the "who" is calling him. Angels standing by are rooting for him. "Come on, accept the invitation, join the army of believers. We are here to help you; we want to be there for you, just say yes."

What stopped him? Is it his money? Jesus says that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Money holds no evil properties, but the love of having money puts many in the position of feeling no need. It often gives the possessor the mistaken feeling of power and control.

 Giving all that control up would make him dependent on Jesus rather than himself.

 Isn't it strange and extremely sad that the very thing he thought was in his control would be his ultimate loss?

There is an ancient poetic proverb that reinforces this truth:

"There once was a lady from Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside
And the smile on the face of the tiger."


copyright 7/14/2014