Encounter: People Jesus Met, Then and Now預覽

The Rich Young Ruler's Encounter

The rich young ruler leaves his encounter with Jesus feeling sad.

Jesus affirms the importance of following the law but then challenges him to sell everything he owns and give it to the poor. The young man was not expecting such a costly demand. He had no trouble following the rules, but he was unwilling to let go of his wealth.

Jesus’ request is extreme, but it illustrates what following Him truly costs. Life in the Kingdom of God is not an add-on—it requires complete allegiance and a willingness to surrender privilege, power, position, and, in this case, wealth.

Jesus tests the young man’s faithfulness and uncovers a painful truth: he wants to follow Jesus, but only if it doesn’t cost him anything.

Theologian, Michael Bird puts it this way:

“I think for Jesus, He would say, having wealth, riches and possessions, it's a little bit like carrying a little bag of smallpox with you, because unless you handle that very, very carefully, it can lead to some really big things diseasing your body or your mind and your soul. So all riches should come with a warning label: Handle with care.”

Not everyone in the Gospels is called to give away everything, but everyone is challenged by this perspective. To follow Jesus, one must be willing to let go.

There are many things an encounter with Jesus might call us to surrender. For Courtney Moses-Delks, it was a lifelong dream.

A talented and passionate basketball player, Courtney had won awards and titles and was on the brink of being drafted into a professional team in the United States. But when she missed out, she had to face a difficult question: Was she willing to give up this dream to follow where God was leading?

Courtney’s life is being used by God in a remarkable way as she works to restore the mind, body and spirit of her friend Carinne.

Sometimes, an encounter with Jesus will confront the things we hold most dear. Sometimes, we will be asked, challenged, or even forced to give up something we treasure. For Courtney, it was basketball; for Carinne, it was her independence; and for the Rich Young Ruler, it was his wealth.

The rich young ruler couldn’t accept the cost and walked away sad.

Not everyone will say yes to the call of Jesus. But He is clear—if we truly want to follow Him and experience life to the full in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must be willing to lay down our rival gods.

Application

Pete Greig in the series says this “the old saying is true. Anything I can’t give away, I don’t own. It owns me”. What in your life is true of this statement? What might Jesus be challenging you to let go of?