“Whatever it takes” (2)

This wealthy young man (above in bold) wanted above all else to possess – to own for himself - unending life. He came to Jesus intending to do “whatever it takes” so that he would achieve it – gain eternal life.  He was confident that he could – but he was wrong. .

Inside this man, unseen, there was an over-arching, all-powerful, unbreakable self-interest. The self-interest which led him to seek unending life was the very same self-interest which stopped him doing “whatever it takes”. He couldn’t do it – and he couldn’t, therefore, live his future life following Jesus and in fellowship and friendship with the Son of God.  He had many possessions.

 

If you are concerned as you read this - concerned about your ability to achieve unending life – you are continuing a long tradition of people who are deeply concerned about this. No sooner had this rich young man gone away from Jesus but Jesus’ own disciples became concerned about it themselves.

Their concern arose because Jesus said to them, “Only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven……” They were exceedingly surprised, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

That’s not good news for Jersey folk, is it? Given our relative wealth, are we prepared for this great difficulty to enter God’s kingdom? The disciples clearly thought that the wealthy were well able to achieve their entry into God’s kingdom. If the rich can’t, who can? If Jersey folk can’t, who can?

Jesus then apparently looked directly at them and said, “With man this thing is unachievable, but with God all things are achievable.” A rich man can’t but God can. A poor man can’t but God can. 

An AD 30 ex-fisherman named Peter didn’t want to leave it there. He had an overarching concern. He expressed it to Jesus like this, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”  

This is a worrying question. In the light of Jesus’ statement, surely it must have been impossible for Peter to have given away everything he had to the poor – surely he hadn’t done that before following Jesus? Absolutely right – because he’s still self-centeredly asking, “What’s going to be in it for me?” 

Can Peter achieve the impossible? Can he do “whatever it takes” to get unending life? Can he do what Jesus has said that only God can do? A few months later – when Jesus was arrested and faced crucifixion this same Peter denied all knowledge of Jesus.

Amazingly, Jesus’ response to Peter’s self-concern was extremely positive and generous. Peter was a person for whom God would do the impossible. 

 

Jesus told Peter about the outcome of what he would do for those who truly followed him. He spoke about a brand-new beginning, about all sacrifices for his name’s sake being recompensed a hundred fold, about inheriting everlasting life…. “With God all things are achievable…”

Jesus said, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Who will really be last? Is it the rich? Is it Jersey folk? Is it those who can do “whatever it takes”? And who will really be first? Is it those for whom God does the impossible – through Jesus?