Luke 18, Jesus has a several famous encounters in this and chapter 19. But I started at what we call the “Rich Young Ruler”.

This story is in the midst of the ministry years. After this, he heals a blind man, then he enters Jericho and meets that diminutive man named Zacchaeus.

Before this, Jesus tells a parable showing that if we persist in prayer, we can know that God grants justice. Then in v9 he told a parable to some who “trusted in themselves” and took pride in their own goodness while looking down on others who didn’t live up to their self-created standards.

Then Jesus encouraged children coming to him. “Let the little children come to me because the kingdom belongs to such as these.” He takes it a step further to say that whoever does not receive the kingdom like a little child will never enter it.

In the midst of that, a young man and a ruler, asked, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Now, if he was a “ruler”, then he wasn’t too “young”, as that’s a relative term. He wasn’t aged, but was old enough for authority, and asks, what must I do?. That of course is the wrong question.

How do little children come?

• With Excitement
• With Expectation
• With Faith
• With Openness
• With Humility

Jesus said, if you want a “to do list” – you have the law. “I have kept all these from my youth”. We all have a list of what we’ve done or tried to do… and yet, we ALL come up short of the glory of God.

Then v22 When he (Jesus) heard this, he told him, ‘you still lack one thing’ (leipo = fall short) sell all you have… then come follow me.

It is not what we DO, but who we follow and how.

If you read on, the disciples say, this is hard so the disciples wonder, then who can be saved?

• Jesuus answers, what is impossible with man is possible for God.

Yes, it is hard to follow Jesus, particularly when we have “wealth”, whether that is money, property, possessions, competence, or confidence – those things make it hard to follow Christ. I’ve often said it’s easier for the “down-and-out” to come than the “up-and-out”. They often have the hardest time coming to the Lord.

Jesus flips those two words. The root word for ability is dynamai (looks like dynamite) and means to be able. The word then “possible” comes from that root and is dynatos – possible/powerful. Yet if you add “a” to the front, adynatos = impossible. God DOES flip the script from impossible to possible.

• This one thing you lack… you are holding on to your own competency…
• Sell it all – Lay It Down… and
• Come Follow Me

That man went away sad… why? Because he wasn’t willing to comes as a child.

Children, generally, don’t have wealth, don’t have influence, but they come with excitement, expectation, faith, and humility, desiring to be touched by God.

Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed you.” You can almost see him making a “check mark” in the sky.

Yes, Luke 5:11 they pulled up their boats on short, left everything, and followed him.

But when we “Leave Everything…” – LEAVE IT. Let it go. Stop Keeping score. Don’t expect reimbursement. As long as I keep score, I haven’t “LEFT” it. Jesus said to the man, “sell it all”… then “give away the profit”.

Interestingly, in John 21, after the resurrection, Peter and the disciples still had access to their boats and went back to fishing – but if you read it, Jesus came them a fresh call and commission – Then they TRULY Left Everything and gave the fullness of their lives to him, to the point of death.

Jesus tells them to rest assured that no one who has left everything – people, possessions, purposes, priorities, posture, anything – will be repaid much more now and in eternity.

Then he tells them WHERE following him will lead. It will result in the fulfillment of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, and so much more, as he will be… handed over… mocked… insulted… spit on… flogged… killed… but will rise on the third day…

v34 they understood non of these things… they did not grasp what was said…

I think sometimes, we don’t understand, so we do not go.

“I don’t understand this, Lord.”

I can hear Jesus saying, “What DID you understand?”

“Well Lord, you said, ‘follow me’.

“So then, DO THAT, and leave the rest up to me.”

Here I come Lord… excited, expectant, humble, faith filled, following…

Touch me Lord.