Mark 10:17 -31
[Matthew 19:16 -30; Luke 10:25 -37, 18:18 -30]
The rich young man sought out the
rabbi who performed wondrous healings and confounded the best teachers. Excitement filled his racing heart, so he ran
and fell to his knees. Of all the
rabbis, this one probably knew the great secrets. With the greatest respect, he called the
rabbi “good.” Only then did he ask his
succinct and well-rehearsed question in anticipation of a profound answer.
“What good thing must I do to
inherit eternal life?”
This question seems legitimate,
thoughtful, and desirous of pleasing God.
What special act overcomes daily sins and prompts God to write a name
into the scroll of life?
Yet, to such a straightforward
question, Jesus provided an unusual answer.
Instead of simply answering, or even discussing the theologies
associated with the afterlife, Jesus challenged the man’s use of the word
“good.” He actually sounded angry,
possibly offended. Then, just as
abruptly, Jesus told this highly religious man to obey God’s commandments.
The man was stunned. The Torah of Moses held several versions of
the commandments (Exodus 20; Exodus 34; Leviticus 19; Deuteronomy 5). This concerned the intellectual elite. Pleasing God required a hierarchy of duties,
followed precisely in order of importance.
The prophet must know which God preferred the most.
Jesus quoted a few commandments from
the middle of Exodus 20.
Confused, the man replied that he
mastered these commands in his childhood. They presented too easy a goal; anyone could
follow such rules. He wanted a duty to
elevate his status, a task worthy of paradise, something God could not ignore. The man believed he was ready for the next
step.
He desired a “holy grail” quest, so
Jesus gave him one. Sell
everything. Give the money to the
poor. Follow Jesus.
This task was simple, but it was
impossible for that particular man. The
mission mandated complete commitment. It
rejected the honor and status attributed by wealth. He would no longer mingle with people he
considered admirable, people who debated the authenticity of Jesus.
Lack of comfort, lack of servants,
and lack of baths were normal. Unclean
people surrounded and touched the prophet/rabbi. The prophet/rabbi touched them back. From the man’s youth, he had dedicated
himself to remaining religiously clean, spotless, and pure. Jesus’ followers were not. The man judged such humiliation unacceptable,
repulsively impossible for someone of his station.
Bewildered sadness fell upon the man
as he walked away.
To be continued…
[Lessons from Holiness Parables, by Jo Helen Cox, a work in progress.]
The Rich Man’s Question – Part 2 of 7 – Good Teacher
The Rich Man’s Question – Part 3 of 7 – Son of Man’s
Response
The Rich Man’s Question – Part 4 of 7 – Broken
Commandments
The Rich Man’s Question – Part 5 of 7 – A Task of
Poverty?
The Rich Man’s Question – Part 6 of 7 – The Task to
Follow
The Rich Man’s Question – Part 7 of 7 – Eternal Life
Also in this series: