We are starting a new series on the Life and Teachings of Jesus on Sunday, December 3. As we’ll see, Jesus always challenges our preconceptions.
Take, for example, the story of a rich young man who approaches Jesus and asks, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23). Now, if someone were to ask most of us that question, we’d be elated.
Here’s someone primed to hear the gospel! The hook is set … we just need to reel him in: tell him that he needs to trust in Jesus, repent of his sins, and get baptized. Get this guy in church, put him in a Sunday school class, assign him an offering number, and have him over for dinner – we got ourselves a winner!
But this isn’t what Jesus does. Instead of sealing the deal, He pushes back: “Why do you call me good?” Perhaps we read this and think, “Cut him some slack Jesus! Can’t you tell he wants to get saved? He’ll learn in time.” Then, before the young man can answer, Jesus digs even further: “Are you keeping the 10 Commandments?”
Shockingly, the young man claims that he has – and Jesus doesn’t doubt it! Gosh. Now we’re talking about a young, rich, powerful, and good guy! “Reel him in now, Jesus!” But He doesn’t. He keeps asking for more:
“You need to do one more thing. Sell everything you own and give it away.” That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? “Jesus, you mean to tell us that you made this guy sell everything before joining us?! What were you thinking?! Since when do we have to sell everything? He could have given his money to the church instead!”
The Gospels tell us that the young man, who at first seemed so eager to follow Jesus, went away sad.
For someone who called “fishers of people,” sent 70 people out on mission, and charged His followers to spread the gospel throughout the world, Jesus seems to drop the ball here. How could Jesus miss such an easy opportunity with this rich young man? Maybe Jesus just isn’t missionary material.
But, then again, maybe I’m the one to blame. Maybe my standard of what a good evangelist looks like is the problem. Maybe Jesus wasn’t such a terrible evangelist after all. Maybe I’m just too happy with mediocre disciples.
With the fullness of the Gospels in front of us, we see precisely what Jesus was doing with this rich young man. Jesus teaches that being His true follower means abandoning everything for His sake. He wants us to take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him. This is the necessary step in evangelism as far as Jesus is concerned.
Jesus won’t be our savior if He is not our lord. This is what He was showing the young man: “are you ready to make me boss?” Maybe we need the perfect evangelist Jesus to evangelize us again.
Blessings,
Pastor Matt