Nov 1 2011
“What Else Must I Do?”
Jesus had just finished dealing with hard-hearted divorce issues brought up by cagey Pharisees trying to snag the Teacher and discredit His theology.
The second wave of the morning consisted of mothers bringing their children to be blessed–makes you wonder how many of those moms had been dumped and left to raise the kids alone while their men justified abandonment with easy
divorce writs notarized by temple sharks.
Clueless disciples jump right in shooing away what for them are pesky women and snot-nosed urchins until Jesus flashes His team a withering look and orders them to back off. The kids are more than welcome! In fact, they are the most welcome of everyone coming to see Him.
Standing a short ways off and watching the unfolding events is a young man who perhaps snickered at the put-down of the Pharisees, and the rebuking of the ill-tuned disciples.
This fellow likes what he sees; child-like himself, he is attracted to Jesus hoping for approval and blessings. He’s done all the religious requirements since he was a tyke but never felt secure in his personal salvation. He’s fed up with the Jewish clerics and all their sanctimonious put-on. Sprinting up and kneeling at Jesus’ feet he blurts out “Good Master, what do I have to do to be saved?”
Naturally, Jesus knows the mind-set and pattern of conditioning this eager young man has been subject to all his life, so He frames the expected reply in a context of law-abiding.
“If you want to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, don’t murder, don’t womanize, don’t rob, don’t lie, and don’t forget to honor your mother and father.” Jesus’ eyes were flashing a signal that He had more to say; the Spirit jabbed young Rich with the conviction that he needed to ask “What else?”
I suppose good Adventists would pipe up at this juncture reminding Rich about the other Commandments, especially the Fourth–keep the Sabbath. Why did the Master leave that all-important one out some sabbatarians might grouse? He could have nailed down SDA doctrine splendidy if only He hadn’t forgotten to include that point.
Instead, Jesus went with Practical Ministry. Needy mothers and children still surrounded Him as He spoke and here was this well-heeled tenderly moved individual wanting to know what else heaven expected from him. You really can’t blame Jesus for jumping at the chance–it was a perfect set-up for a humanitarian slam dunk. Besides, He knew this story was going to get into holy print for all time!
Missionary Partners, those mothers and children wanted blessings–not just warm fuzzies but real and tangible God-goods with which to face the hard things of life. The proud religious leaders, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to snare Jesus in their devilish traps.
Irresponsible males with hard-hearted divorce permits wanted to shirk family obligations free of guilt. And, as it turned out, sadly, this guy Rich wanted to eat his cake and have it too.
“Jesus told him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard this, he went away sadly, for he was very rich” Matthew 19:21, 22.
Think about what Jesus wanted to teach from this story. Keeping the Law is good and in a sense it might even play a part in our making it to heaven. But what is that Christ-likeness which really underlies the Law? Going to heaven, or as Jesus put it, “being perfect” has much to do with the “what else”
On another occasion Jesus told the crowd that they could send their money on ahead of them to heaven (Luke 12:32-34; Luke 12:21; Luke 14:12-14). That’s what He wanted Rich to do. And then, follow Him.
Missionary Partners, thank you very sincerely for coming to the aid of the mothers and children presented in the October letter.
Within a week of sending out that letter Guiselle and her daugher Maria Vindas were fully provided for.
Odalia Venegas and her two boys also received a generous donation.
Thanksgiving blessings to you,
Mike Lynch
What-else-ing still in missionland
“Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household, to feed my children day by day? Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own!”
Matthew 24:45-47.
“Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me…. ‘When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me’.”“ Matthew 25:34-40.