To Enter God's Kingdom

Mark 10:17-22, From The Massage—Because it’s All About Me
(A Paraphrase of the Bible by Mike Todd)

As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?"

Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, honor your father and mother."

He said, "Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!"

Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, "There's one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me."

The man's face clouded over, as this was the last thing he expected to hear. Suddenly, he had an idea.

“But Teacher, what if we try this: I’ll stay here with the way things are, I’ll keep all my stuff, and I’ll tell people it’s a blessing from you! It’s a win-win for both of us—I get to maintain my lifestyle, and you end up looking good! What do you think?”

Jesus pondered this and said, “Well, I hadn’t thought of that. Give me a second.” After a few moment’s reflection he turned to the man and smiled.

“Deal!” Jesus exclaimed.

And the man went away rejoicing and praising God, as he was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

With apologies to Eugene Peterson and thanks to Derek Webb.

Comments

[Nathan Colquhoun]

Something must really be in the water, the post I made on this passage, I started writing out my own paraphrase first and did the whole passage like you did, but then I decided to just comment on the passage instead. So I'm glad you did it. Interesting ending too...

Nathan.

[Caroline]

hmm, so uncomfortable

and so compelling

yet, I have an old friend who's marriage is coming to a painful end as her husband pursues the implications of this without a sensitivity for the costs and damage to others (his family)

So, I'm uncomfortable .. how do I follow Jesus, giving my all to him, and yet live and witness in a 'northern' world?

there are lessons to learn as well as commands to obey...

[Trisha]

I love that this makes us feel uncomfortable (even if "we" is just Caroline and I). I think now, as the word of 2008 calls out to us, we need action. Not only why are we uncomfortable?, but what is Jesus telling us we should actively do in reaction to this uncomfortableness? (is that a word?)

[lorna (see-through faith)]

uncomfortable and sadly so true :( where do we go from here?