Reflections by Joseph Ostrander
Sunday, November 01, 2015
Wow. What an incredible message that has more substance and heft than one can digest in a single sitting…
The Parable of Good Samaritan is very perplexing, or what I categorize as Jesus’ nth degree of exemplary behavior expectations, that along with Chris, causes one to wonder why Jesus fashions such grandiose actions into common parables for us to ponder 2000 years later…
{sigh}
There were a few obvious take-aways for me from Sunday’s message; 1) DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TEST JESUS. That was the lawyer's first mistake; and 2) DO NOT TRY TO JUSTIFY YOURSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. Wow. Two major strikeouts before there was time to actually consider the context of what inheriting eternal life consists of…
However, it’s time to unpack some of my ruminations about Sunday’s message…
First, it is obvious Jesus’ rejoinder was aimed solely at the lawyer—that supposed ‘expert’ of the Law. Ouch. I may not be in the majority with my opinion/outlook here, but there are examples of what are known as the ‘red letters’ in my bible (like this one) that were not intended to be universally applied, nor even theologically fixed (as a divine precedent, if you will)…
Let’s get down to some serious theological ruminations okay???
For that unnamed lawyer, as well as the Rich Young Ruler, Jesus was being very individualistic in His responses to their inquiries, regardless of their motivations. As a general rule, I do believe Jesus errs on the side of mercy and compassion. But when one tries to justify themself before Jesus, and especially in a public forum, it’s inevitable that the nth degree of Kingdom decorum will be given as the Golden Standard of expected behavior…
Second ouch…
The lawyer should have quit while he was commended for his initial answer citing the 2 greatest commandments that Jesus Himself had quoted on another occasion when questioned what the most important commandments were.
Without any nitty-gritty details, Jesus simply said, “You have answered correctly, do this and you will live.”
But no, the lawyer wanted to wiggle out of those 2 extreme requirements. He just had to try and find a divine loophole out of the simple, yet profound, requirements of those 2 Greatest Commandments…
Well, not one to pass up an opportunity to paint a parable picture of nth degree behavior, Jesus graciously provides the lawyer with a storyline that exemplifies the neighbor category the lawyer wanted to be exempt from. And I’m convinced it was aimed right at the very prejudice the lawyer secretly harbored…
Third ouch…
For that unfortunate lawyer, the Golden Standard of Exemplary Behavior was established by the only perfect human being to have ever lived. Jesus simply gave the lawyer this extreme requirement: now you go and do likewise…
Many individuals throughout history have attempted to gain (or inherit) eternal life apart from The Bread of Life: Jesus. And there will be only 2 choices Jesus will accept as appropriate for the question, “What must I do to gain/inherit/earn eternal life?”
One either accepts Jesus’ invitation to invest in a personal relationship with Himself, or else try and live up to the nth degree of behavior that Jesus will individually set up for those that wish to justify themselves as the impossible alternative…
Think about it…
Amen.