In the minds of most people, especially young people, the words ''obey" and "obedience" create a negative impression. No-one is eager to blindly obey a command issued by an unknown person. Our default mindset is to be suspicious and even distrustful of the unknown.
When we are distrustful of a trustworthy person, however, it hurts both the person and ourselves. Adam and Eve were seduced into breaking the single commandment their Creator had given them. This could only happen after distrust in the Almighty had been sown and taken root in their hearts. He had expressly warned Adam that death would be the immediate consequence of eating the forbidden fruit.
The human condition has not changed. Our natural tendency is to want life and what it has to offer independently from the one who created life. That is what Adam got after he had eaten the forbidden fruit. But the innocent relationship he had previously had with God died.
Thursday 30 January 2020
The cost of discipleship
It is a human tendency to "brand" people by something they have done or are known for. Bible headings often label people in a way the gospel writers never did. When Jesus told the parable of a Samaritan who had compassion on the victim of a robbery, he did not call the Samaritan "good".
In the same way neither did Matthew, Mark or Luke refer to a "rich young man". In Mark 10:17 the word used for him is simply "one". In Matthew 19:20 he is "a young man" and in Luke 18:18 he is called "a certain ruler".
Thousands, if not millions of people living today should similarly consider themselves rich, young and "ruling". The young man led a full and exemplary life in which he also seemed to be successful. But he was not sure about his eternal destiny. He desperately wanted to make sure he would be counted among the "righteous", those who would live forever.
Jesus loved him and wanted the very best for him, but his criteria for discipleship were much stricter than the man had anticipated. Jesus is not happy to be an "add on" to our lives. From the very first words he spoke to the end of the conversation his intention was to get this fact across.
Firstly, Jesus was not opposed to the ruler calling him "good", as long as he was willing to acknowledge that the attribute "good" belongs exclusively to God. Then, as a kind of teaser he referred the man to the upbringing he must have had in a Jewish household. He must have learnt "the law". When asked "which commandments" Jesus conspicuously omitted the "first table" commandments which relate to God. He only quoted the commandments which refer to our behavior towards other humans.
Finally the young man was ready to receive the clincher: "Give up your present life and follow me". If he could put two and two together he would notice that Jesus equated the first commandments with following him. In other words, Jesus was making a not too subtle claim of divinity.
The immediate benefit of following Jesus would be the promise of an eternal "treasure in heaven". The man went away sad but had much to meditate on: Did he really prefer an eternal treasure to earthly treasures?
In the same way neither did Matthew, Mark or Luke refer to a "rich young man". In Mark 10:17 the word used for him is simply "one". In Matthew 19:20 he is "a young man" and in Luke 18:18 he is called "a certain ruler".
Thousands, if not millions of people living today should similarly consider themselves rich, young and "ruling". The young man led a full and exemplary life in which he also seemed to be successful. But he was not sure about his eternal destiny. He desperately wanted to make sure he would be counted among the "righteous", those who would live forever.
Jesus loved him and wanted the very best for him, but his criteria for discipleship were much stricter than the man had anticipated. Jesus is not happy to be an "add on" to our lives. From the very first words he spoke to the end of the conversation his intention was to get this fact across.
Firstly, Jesus was not opposed to the ruler calling him "good", as long as he was willing to acknowledge that the attribute "good" belongs exclusively to God. Then, as a kind of teaser he referred the man to the upbringing he must have had in a Jewish household. He must have learnt "the law". When asked "which commandments" Jesus conspicuously omitted the "first table" commandments which relate to God. He only quoted the commandments which refer to our behavior towards other humans.
Finally the young man was ready to receive the clincher: "Give up your present life and follow me". If he could put two and two together he would notice that Jesus equated the first commandments with following him. In other words, Jesus was making a not too subtle claim of divinity.
The immediate benefit of following Jesus would be the promise of an eternal "treasure in heaven". The man went away sad but had much to meditate on: Did he really prefer an eternal treasure to earthly treasures?
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