Part 3:
That night the rich young ruler lay in his bed unable to sleep. His mind raced uncontrollably as he recounted the events of the day – and his life. He looked around the massive bed chamber, only dimly illuminated with a few candles. The young man hated the dark; more accurately he desperately feared the dark. He surveyed the ornate gold - hand tooled and pressed on the walls, doors, and ceiling by the most skilled craftsmen in the world. He glanced at the ivory handles on the furniture and the exotic woods that had been hand carved in the Far East; places he had only heard stories about and seen in his imagination. The young man lay in his plush bed and surveyed it all – first with his eyes and then with his mind: the room, his house, servants, land, livestock, buildings, businesses - all his wealth and treasures - and when his survey of his vast empire was complete, he lay there irrefutably and absolutely hollow inside.
That night the rich young ruler lay in his bed unable to sleep. His mind raced uncontrollably as he recounted the events of the day – and his life. He looked around the massive bed chamber, only dimly illuminated with a few candles. The young man hated the dark; more accurately he desperately feared the dark. He surveyed the ornate gold - hand tooled and pressed on the walls, doors, and ceiling by the most skilled craftsmen in the world. He glanced at the ivory handles on the furniture and the exotic woods that had been hand carved in the Far East; places he had only heard stories about and seen in his imagination. The young man lay in his plush bed and surveyed it all – first with his eyes and then with his mind: the room, his house, servants, land, livestock, buildings, businesses - all his wealth and treasures - and when his survey of his vast empire was complete, he lay there irrefutably and absolutely hollow inside.
His
life was filled with more things and stuff than anyone could count. Throughout
his entire life he had encountered wild success at every turn. He charmed and manipulated
others so effortlessly that eventually he convinced himself of being genuine and
sincere. It began innocent enough; feign humility here, pretend to be
respectful there, fake interest, and bluff concern. Throughout his entire life people
not only ate it up - they ate it up in bulk. If he was selling – they were
buying; that was until today, until he met the man named Jesus.
(Flashback
to earlier that day):
Jesus
was down on his knees hugging some children, swimming in an ocean of giggles
and smiles. The young ruler watched as one little boy told Jesus about his adventures
of bravery. The little boy puffed up his chest and struggled to talk a deep
voice (something that always accompanies courage and bravery), when mid-sentence
his voice changed to a squeal as he began to talk about his pet frog. Jesus smiled a
huge smile and chuckled as he leaned in, listening attentively - nodding his
head to convey sincere affinity and understanding. Jesus sensed the little
hearts around him that were simultaneously overflowing with joy and brokenness.
The children crowded around him and tugged at his garment – jumping and jockeying
for his attention. Some were hugging his legs while others were jumping on His
back; all of them doing anything they could think of to get their little arms
around him and grab His attention. In the midst of the moment Jesus was
overcome; He closed His eyes and tilted His head back as He found himself fighting
back the tears, which began to blur his vision. Jesus knew they too would need
him – even these joy-oozing little ones.
Jesus sensed the moment evaporating. He treasured up the last few
moments of laughter as he patted their heads, poked their little bellies –
discretely wiping away the tears from His eyes as He waved goodbye. Jesus had
somewhere to go – Jerusalem, and the Cross.
Jesus knew with grave certainty there would be no children laughing where
he was going. There would be no hugs, no stories about frogs. He treasured it all up - the laughter, the
giggles and screeches – all of it because soon, in Jerusalem, it would all be
replaced with jeers, spit, insults, and unbearable pain.
As Jesus rose to his feet just then a young man dressed in splendid robes approached him and fell to his knees. “Good teacher,” the man inquired, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good - except God alone. You 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. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (See Mark 10:17-27).
Tune in tomorrow for Part 4!
Blessings,
-Kevin
As Jesus rose to his feet just then a young man dressed in splendid robes approached him and fell to his knees. “Good teacher,” the man inquired, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good - except God alone. You 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. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (See Mark 10:17-27).
Tune in tomorrow for Part 4!
Blessings,
-Kevin
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