17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Message: The Goodness of God
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus has been teaching us many lessons. The lessons have not simply been me-focused, but also focused on others. And he is speaking in ways that are contrary to the culture - being dependent on Him and being sensitive to people and understanding to the lesser ones. Here he remarks that to enter the kingdom of God we must be like a child - innocent, dependent, in need of someone greater than us.
This can be a puzzling passage, at first glance. It is the story of the rich young ruler. This man comes to Jesus and asks probably the most profound question anyone can ask of Jesus in all the world -
Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus' first response to this question is not what one would immediately suspect though. Jesus hones in on the phrase Good Teacher and replies to the man - Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
This is a passage that I think can be picked a part by many skeptics as to why Jesus seemingly refutes the man's claim that Jesus is good. But, as is the custom in reading the Bible I think I need to look at the language that is using and make sure that the words and usage of words in those times is the same today. Definitions come about not by a dictionary, but by the common meaning of words in society at the time. This phrase "Good teacher" is an interesting one.
"Good Teacher" was a name that rabbis in those times refuted when someone would call them a good teacher. The thought was that goodness was only associated with God and so calling a man good was sort of blasphemous. Jesus concurs this idea in his response by saying "No one is good except God alone."
The discourse that Jesus will have with this man is a little different. The man will make assertions and Jesus will continually question those assertions. His response in a moment will be that he has kept all of the commandments and Jesus will show him how this isn't true.
The thought here is that this man wasn't running to Jesus with the view that he was God, but rather that he was simply a rabbi. Jesus' response therefore is similar to a response given by a rabbi, explaining that only God is good. Jesus' doesn't say "I am not God" or that by calling me good I am not good, but rather he is asking the man to defend his words to Jesus. Why is that you call me good? Do you understand who you are calling good or do you think I am simply a rabbi?
Therefore, the rich young ruler is someone that is approaching Jesus but does not really know yet who Jesus is. He does not have faith in him. He does not understand his Godhead. He knows he is someone, but what he has heard so far is probably all word of mouth. And the point of this passage is simple: only God is good. Jesus was acknowledging and agreeing with the words that had been spoken and defended by rabbi's throughout the ages: only God is good.
Summary - As Jesus is setting out on a journey, a man runs up to him and begins to question him on how he can inherit eternal life. He doesn't know. He offers the question, but he also doesn't even know who he is asking for he calls Jesus a good Teacher and Jesus wonders if he knows he is talking to when only God is good. Does this man realize he is talking to God and not a mere rabbi?
Promise: As we hear others who are not believers refer to Jesus as a good teacher, let us encourage them to consider why they see him as good-because He is actually God himself.
Prayer: Lord, I want to help others understand who You are, who You truly are. There are many I come in contact with each day. I want them all to see You as You really are, but in doing this walls need to be torn down and misconceptions often times need to be assaulted. Help me with this. You are God and I want people to see you as that.
No comments:
Post a Comment