Mark 10:17-31
Sometimes
questions aren’t as easy to answer as you might expect. Take the question of a
three year old about why the sky is blue. We could go into the effect of
wavelength and air molecules, but I don’t think most three year olds would get
it. Most adults don’t either, by the way. These three year olds just want a
simple answer, maybe something like this. God made it that way. The light from
the sunlight bumps into the air and turns it blue. They don’t need much more.
But
not all questions are so easy to answer. Some questions come with a back story.
Many of the questions that get fired at us as Jesus-followers have a back
story. Often they aren’t really worried about the poor and the rich, after all
many of them are just as rich as any of us. But it can be very hard to hear the
back story when you feel under attack.
Often
when I am asked a difficult question, one that requires a truthful and
difficult answer, I will ask some questions about the question and the
questioner. I want to know why this question is important to them. What is the
dilemma that drove them to bring that question up now? I want to know the
context of the question. Do they really want an answer, or are they looking for
a fight?
Jesus
is confronted one day by a man with a seemingly honest question. He wants to
know how to get eternal life. He wants to know if all the things he is doing
are enough to earn him passage to heaven. He doesn’t want to be caught short on
judgment day. These seem like good questions, don’t they? We want to know that
answer as well.
But
Jesus senses something is amiss with this man. He hears something that indicates
his heart is not quite right. Maybe it is the tone of his voice, or the way he
presents his question that tips Jesus off, but Jesus knows something isn’t
right.
This
man thinks he can earn heaven by what he does or doesn’t do. He thinks his
efforts are enough. Jesus takes away that possibility by asking this man to do
what He knows he isn’t willing to do. Wealth can get a grip on people. It can
become the all-consuming passion of a person’s life. People will say and do
almost anything to gain and keep wealth. And they will hold onto wealth even if
asked to give it up in exchange for heaven.
Jesus
says that God is the only One that can give us entry to heaven. Nothing we do
is enough. We will always come up short. This is universal; it applies to
everyone regardless of background, creed, religion, gender, national origin, or
any other discriminating criterion. We all only have a chance because of Jesus’
work on our behalf. And He accomplished that work on behalf of all of us. He
paid the ticket for all to come. What wonderful news! The price has been paid!
So
next time someone comes with a question, maybe it is a good idea to ask a
couple questions to your questioner before you dive into an answer. You need to
be sure you understand their question if you are to answer it accurately.