Jesus, the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts to Give Every One According to His Ways- Part 1073

"Ah Lord God! Behold Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, there is nothing too hard for Thee." (Jeremiah 32:17)

Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto Me." (John 12:32)

Jesus said, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [He] and [that] I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things, and He that sent Me is with Me, the Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things that please Him." (John 8:28-29)

Jesus was speaking to a certain ruler. This ruler was asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said unto him, "Why callest thou Me good? None [is] good, save one, [that is] God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honour thy father and mother." And the ruler said, "All these things have I kept from my youth up." (Luke 18:18-20)

Now when Jesus heard these things, He said unto him, "Yet lackest thou one thing; sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me." (Luke 18:22)

And when the ruler heard this, he was very sorrowful for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter life into the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:25)

And when they heard it -- they being "certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others" -- then asked Jesus, "Who then can be saved?" And Jesus said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

Peter's response which follows contrasts the ruler's reaction. Herein, Peter says, "Lo, we have left all and followed Thee." (Luke 18:28) And Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you -- there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." (Luke 18:29-30)

Luke records a similar situation about a certain lawyer who stood up, and tempted Jesus, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life." Jesus responded therein saying, "What is written in the law? How readest thou?" And when the lawyer answered saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus said, "Thous hast answered right, this do, and thou shalt live." (Luke 10:25-28)

But the lawyer still willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?"

And Jesus answered by teaching a parable about the good Samaritan, who as he journeyed came to where a man had fallen among thieves. Upon seeing the wounded man, the Samaritan bound his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:30-35)

Jesus then asked the lawyer "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?" And the lawyer said, "he that showed mercy on him." Then said Jesus unto him, "Go and do thou likewise." (Luke 10:36-37)

Very different responses to the exact same question. What must one do to inherit eternal life?  Note that the scriptures show that when the initial question was asked of Jesus, both men had the same motives. The same starting point. In responding, however, it became obvious that the first clearly didn't want to part with his worldly wealth. He wasn't willing to give up everything -- like the apostles did when they "left all" to follow Jesus.

But the second man -- a lawyer by profession -- understood Jesus' parable -- not with his mind but with his heart. His understanding wasn't intellectual or scholarly, or revealed as a consequence of one's learning from worldly constructs. Rather, his understanding of Jesus was revealed in his heart. He may even have understood from the law that the times were changing and that this Jesus who stood before him was authoring in a new dispensation.

"The law and the prophets until John -- since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it." (Luke 15:15-16)

Nevertheless, the second man realized that his salvation was nigh. He had met his Maker, the Author and Finisher of faith. Indeed, the promised Messiah. The Christ who would redeem him (and us) from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13) And it was soon evident that he was receiving Jesus -- the Word that was with God and was Almighty God in the flesh -- with joy. (John 1:1-18)

Like the apostles, he understood even before Jesus died on the cross-- "The Word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:8-10)

While both men appeared fully aware of what the law commanded, sadly, the first man only as a rule book. To the second, the scripture hath concluded all under sin so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe ... "and [that] if ye Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:23-29)

Yield your heart to the King of kings and Lord of lords. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we too might be justified by faith. But after that faith in Jesus is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster -- for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:24-26)

Remember too, that "the grass withereth, the flower fadeth but the Word of our God shall stand forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

Stand in the offering plate.