David Bahn – Reflections

Perfect?!? How about “good enough?” Why not “pretty good?” Why does Jesus speak here about being perfect? Perhaps it has to do with the nature of God. Maybe it has to do with the nature of life itself – a gift of God.

Some people, facing grave health challenges, may be only half alive. But it’s no way to live – especially if you are going to live forever. As a friend of mine used to say, “Forever is a long time.” And while we may eke out an existence for a period of time, barely getting by, it’s not the way anyone should want to spend eternity. Jesus’ gift is abundant eternal life, not just a plodding-along, punch-your-ticket eternal grind.

So when the young man asks Jesus about eternal life, Jesus knows that the man has much to learn. Jesus sees through the charm and flattery of his greeting and question. He sees through the simplistic question to a short-sighted misunderstanding. He begins his quest for the heart of the man and seeks to uncover for him the deeper truths about goodness, God and life itself.

Only God is good. Only perfection avails before him. Only perfect faith in God will save. So Jesus wipes away the pretense of this man’s spiritual qualifications and reveals his hopeless situation: he doesn’t have what it takes to have eternal life. Nor do you. Nor do I.

There is only One who has gone to the extreme necessary to have eternal life. And he will go through the cross, death, and a grave to have it. He gives that gift of eternal life to all who believe in him. And even though we’ll never do it perfectly; even though we’ll fall short of God’s glory; he doesn’t. He is perfect. And as such he’s our Savior, teacher, and Lord. He is life itself. His righteousness is perfect and complete. Through faith in him we will not just get by; that’s not eternal life. Through him and his perfect righteousness we will live forever.

Perfect! My Savior is perfect. Thanks be to God!

Matthew 19:13-30

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, ¹⁴but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them and went away.

¹⁶ And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ²¹Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ²⁷Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” ²⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and the last first.