Tuesday 22 November 2011

Background

Striving for perfection is perhaps a Christ-affirmed endeavourthat has somewhat shifted from our focus. Of course, John Wesleywas firmly of the belief that this was a necessary and worthwhilepursuit, and Jesus commends this approach to the rich young ruler.If we're honest, if that particular rich young ruler, or his moremodern counterpart, came and joined one of our congregations, we'dbe giving him plaudits: "Oh, you're rich? And you still obey allthe commandments? Great job!" The young man has got a bit of a rawdeal here, because normally, he'd be 'getting away' with hisapproach to life. But of course, you shouldn't ask Jesus to affirmyou, if you don't want to be scrutinised.

In the famous 19th century portrayal of this scene bythe German painter Heinrich Hofmann, the rich young ruler looksheartbroken by Jesus' verdict on what he should do next, presumablybelieving that he wasn't the awful man that this judgementsuggested.

Here lies one of the greatest struggles in the Christian faith; weare called to Christlike perfection, and to never waver from thistask, yet fully knowing that we will waver and we will struggle tobe like Jesus. If wealth is not our problem, it may well be pride,or jealousy or a thousand other human issues. We know this to beour nature - to regret our current state, to repent and then tofail again. Jesus knew that this was a problem for all of us, sowhy was he so hard on the rich young ruler?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes that "he [Jesus]alone understands the true nature of the law as God's law: the lawis not itself God, nor is God the law. It was the error of Israelto put the law in God's place, to make the law their God and theirGod a law". Bonhoeffer not only explains that Jesus insists in theGospels that the law is not dead and is not to be forgotten about,but also that Christ is the one whom the disciples must follow, andbreaking from the law would mean breaking from Christ, becauseChrist is the fulfilment of the law. Therefore, the rich youngruler will have to learn (although we never find out if he doesthis or not) that following the law is not enough, for that law hasnow been fulfilled in Jesus; he must sign up to everything thatfollowing Jesus entails, which is this case means renouncing hispossessions.

To Ponder

Why might we struggle with notions of the law? Inwhat ways can we reconcile ourselves with the law?

Like the rich young ruler, we all have thingsthat should be questioned. What would Jesus challenge youabout?