Good morning,
Thanks be to Jesus our Lord for this new day. It will be like a spring-like day, sunny and brilliant. I plan to be doing some bird watching --- The spring birds are returning, including the robins.
We will be gathering for our mid-week service this evening at 6 PM with a very special meal, prepared with much love. We will be studying from John 4 and 5. Our choir will meet to practice at 7:30 PM.
Jesus loved meeting people. One of the fascinating features of the Gospels is that we are able to listen into the interviews that Jesus had with a variety of people. He was always ready to listen to their problems, and to answer their questions as he walked the highways of Palestine. In Mark 10, we read about a Rich Young Ruler coming to Jesus. A young, rich professional person, he was keen. It is written, “he came running” and, even more impressive, he was apparently humble in that he threw himself “kneeling” before Jesus. Jesus welcomed him, but not more warmly than he received anyone else, because all humanity is regarded on equal terms. Whether we are rich or poor, sophisticated in the eyes of the world or members of the rank and file, young or old, we are all part of the same category of persons – all in need of a Savior.
We know little about the man except for three things. He was rich. He was young. He had some official position in the community. However, it’s more than likely that, as he thoughtfully reviewed his life, he had come to the conclusion that he had a problem. Although he enjoyed being rich, being young, and being a influential, he realized that one day, sooner or later, it would all have to end. Jesus dealt with this, gently but firmly. He looked at this young man and loved him. We might think that Jesus had a strange way of showing His love. There were no words of congratulations for the way the young man had lived so far, but an uncompromising demand for a complete revolution in his life. Jesus knew what He was doing. He answered the inquiry on his own terms. He told the young man to keep the Commandments. The young man was taken by surprise but quickly tried to regain the initiative by asking what kind of commandments Jesus meant. Jesus listed five of the Ten Commandments. These Commandments dealt, not with our duty to God, but with our duty to those around us. They are the Commandments that govern our personal relationships and our attitude to our fellow humanity.
We know little about the man except for three things. He was rich. He was young. He had some official position in the community. However, it’s more than likely that, as he thoughtfully reviewed his life, he had come to the conclusion that he had a problem. Although he enjoyed being rich, being young, and being a influential, he realized that one day, sooner or later, it would all have to end. Jesus dealt with this, gently but firmly. He looked at this young man and loved him. We might think that Jesus had a strange way of showing His love. There were no words of congratulations for the way the young man had lived so far, but an uncompromising demand for a complete revolution in his life. Jesus knew what He was doing. He answered the inquiry on his own terms. He told the young man to keep the Commandments. The young man was taken by surprise but quickly tried to regain the initiative by asking what kind of commandments Jesus meant. Jesus listed five of the Ten Commandments. These Commandments dealt, not with our duty to God, but with our duty to those around us. They are the Commandments that govern our personal relationships and our attitude to our fellow humanity.
Jesus loved this young man. There was something attractive about his earnestness in keeping the law as he saw it. Jesus admired his humble determination to find a conclusion to his search. The gospel writer tells us, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” The young enquirer after the Kingdom really had no idea of his spiritual deficiency before God. In all likelihood he thought he was much better than most of his contemporaries. He believed he had kept the Law of Moses. In a narrow legal sense that might be true, but in a spiritual sense it wasn’t true, because his attitude to his fellow men was wrong. That is why Jesus confronted him with the challenge to sell all and give to the poor. This man was so shackled to his possessions that nothing less than radical surgery was required. His achievements were a chain, which bound him.
We, too, have to face up to spiritual realities, and ask ourselves, “What are the chains that bind us, preventing a living relationship with God, and entry into and progress in his Kingdom?” Jesus didn’t pause to correct him but, as it were, went straight to the heart of the matter. There was something missing in his life, some priority that was in the wrong order preventing him from entering the kingdom.
He had asked the question and he got the answer! “If you wish to be complete, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me!” The rich young ruler was expecting to be told, “Yes, you’ve done well so far, and all you need is to carry on as you’re doing to the end of your life. Then you’ll receive eternal life as your reward.” No, nothing like that! Jesus invited him to do something contrary to the previous direction of his whole life. “Go, sell everything you have.” Jesus had put his finger on what he prized most, his wealth, no doubt gathered by his own hard work and effort.
The candidate for the Kingdom was being asked to loosen the grip of that which he trusted – his wealth. Without that step he wasn’t keeping two other Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before me” and “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything…” (Ex 20:3,4). His wealth was his goal; he had made money an idol. He, like everyone else, was a sinner. The disciples were perplexed at the hard line they thought Jesus was taking in telling this sincere, rich, young man to sell everything and give to the poor. Jesus wasn’t denouncing wealth as such, but rather wealth in the form of money, status, achievements or race when it acts as a form of self-righteousness and becomes an obstacle to entrance into his Kingdom.
If the young man had repented and followed Jesus he would have found the redemption purchased by the Lord Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. In the words written to the Corinthians, "God was reconciling the world unto himself in Christ ... God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:19,21). That is the message of salvation. Jesus was already putting into practice what he asked the young ruler to do - "Sell all and give to the poor." He had left heaven and was on the way to the Cross for the young man - for me, for you.
The Christian is one who centres his every hope on the Lord Jesus. Whatever has happened in the past, he now has peace because he knows that his sins were laid upon Jesus when he died on the Cross. He knows that Christ has borne them and carried them away. John Bunyan pictured this so well in his "Pilgrim’s Progress". Pilgrim is shown carrying a heavy burden of his sins, but when he came to the Cross and believed in Jesus, he was miraculously freed of the burden. In the words of a hymn, "My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose went forth and followed thee." The rich, young ruler had a lot going for him, but he knew he lacked something. When Jesus confronted him with the reality of his position he had to make a choice between the riches of this world and entrance into God’s Kingdom. Jesus wasn’t saying that riches are wrong because sometimes he entrusts people with money so that it can be used in his service. But for the young man kneeling before Jesus it was a straight choice – riches or the Kingdom. “Go, sell everything … give to the poor. Then come, follow me.” There follows some tragic words, “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad.” His desire for eternal life was outweighed by his desire to keep his economic position in this life. To his eternal shame it was riches that won! His treasure remained firmly on earth. The young man’s sincerity was blown open. What Jesus asked for was more than he was prepared to give. He preferred public approval and social standing to eternal life. He and Jesus would have to part company.
We have in the story of the Rich Young Ruler a Candidate Presented for the Kingdom; we see the Conditions Required and how that Compromise is Rejected, and most important of all, that Conversion is Required. We may not be called upon to give up our possessions, but we are called to surrender any obstacle that would prevent us entering the Kingdom. Hear the words of Jesus, “Come, follow me!”
The candidate for the Kingdom was being asked to loosen the grip of that which he trusted – his wealth. Without that step he wasn’t keeping two other Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before me” and “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything…” (Ex 20:3,4). His wealth was his goal; he had made money an idol. He, like everyone else, was a sinner. The disciples were perplexed at the hard line they thought Jesus was taking in telling this sincere, rich, young man to sell everything and give to the poor. Jesus wasn’t denouncing wealth as such, but rather wealth in the form of money, status, achievements or race when it acts as a form of self-righteousness and becomes an obstacle to entrance into his Kingdom.
If the young man had repented and followed Jesus he would have found the redemption purchased by the Lord Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. In the words written to the Corinthians, "God was reconciling the world unto himself in Christ ... God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:19,21). That is the message of salvation. Jesus was already putting into practice what he asked the young ruler to do - "Sell all and give to the poor." He had left heaven and was on the way to the Cross for the young man - for me, for you.
The Christian is one who centres his every hope on the Lord Jesus. Whatever has happened in the past, he now has peace because he knows that his sins were laid upon Jesus when he died on the Cross. He knows that Christ has borne them and carried them away. John Bunyan pictured this so well in his "Pilgrim’s Progress". Pilgrim is shown carrying a heavy burden of his sins, but when he came to the Cross and believed in Jesus, he was miraculously freed of the burden. In the words of a hymn, "My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose went forth and followed thee." The rich, young ruler had a lot going for him, but he knew he lacked something. When Jesus confronted him with the reality of his position he had to make a choice between the riches of this world and entrance into God’s Kingdom. Jesus wasn’t saying that riches are wrong because sometimes he entrusts people with money so that it can be used in his service. But for the young man kneeling before Jesus it was a straight choice – riches or the Kingdom. “Go, sell everything … give to the poor. Then come, follow me.” There follows some tragic words, “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad.” His desire for eternal life was outweighed by his desire to keep his economic position in this life. To his eternal shame it was riches that won! His treasure remained firmly on earth. The young man’s sincerity was blown open. What Jesus asked for was more than he was prepared to give. He preferred public approval and social standing to eternal life. He and Jesus would have to part company.
We have in the story of the Rich Young Ruler a Candidate Presented for the Kingdom; we see the Conditions Required and how that Compromise is Rejected, and most important of all, that Conversion is Required. We may not be called upon to give up our possessions, but we are called to surrender any obstacle that would prevent us entering the Kingdom. Hear the words of Jesus, “Come, follow me!”
In Christ,
Brown
Friday March 9, 2012
Television Outreach
Time Warner Cable Channel 4
Time 7:00 PM
Saturday Evening Worship Service:
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott, NY
Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church
Time: 6:00 PM gathering for Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Special Music by Jane Hettinger. For information, call 607-748-6329
