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s Jesus started on his way, another man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “Surely you know that no one is good except God. Is that who you think I am?”
The man did not know what to say. Or, since he had nothing to say, I assumed he was nonplussed. I am not quite sure what the man expected from Jesus, but I am sure that the thought never occurred to him that Jesus was God. Yet the master himself had suggested it. What could he possibly mean by it? Could he have been underscoring his own reality? Was Jesus actually stating his own diety? To tell the clean truth, that is exactly what I think. I thought it then, I think it -- I believe it -- now. This "good" Person to whom this impetuous young fellow spoke, was in word and deed, the Creator of All.<>
Then Jesus continued, “If you know this, you also know the commandments:
‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. Whether he actually knew or was even remotely aware of the divinity of Jesus, he apparently did believe that he had kept the Law. I wondered how many in our Jewish faith were also so misguided.
“Oh?" said Jesus in mock surprise, "Perhaps there is one thing you lack.” The man looked puzzled. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor then come and follow me. In doing this you will accrue treasure in heaven.”
The man’s face fell. Enormously disappointed, he turned to leave. He went away sad, because he had a lot to give away – no doubt, more than he thought reasonable, but had he took the Lord at his invitation, he would have gained much more than he could have imagined. Jesus then spoke to us, “How hard it is for a rich person to experience the contentment of faith!” We were not quite certain of his meaning. Sensing this he said again, “My children, how hard it is for the wealthy to have faith! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to encounter faith in God – or anything larger than his riches.”
To my knowledge, this is the first time he has ever addressed to us as his 'children.' We were not children, we were grown men. Compared to him however, our minds, our hearts, our spirits may as well have been woefully underdeveloped. And given the claim he had just made, I felt a sensation of warmth and great love. Yet were we even more amazed, and began to mumble to each other, “For whom then, is faith intended?”
Jesus said simply, “What is impossible among men, is not impossible with God. All things are possible with God.” Jesus smiled. "Remember that," he said.
