An Interpretation of Luke 18:18-23  The Rich Young Man

x

A rich man asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus said, “You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.”  The rich man replied that he had kept the laws.  

x

Jesus replied, telling him that he lacked one thing, urging the rich man to “sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor … and come follow me.”

x

The rich man had hoped that obeying the laws might be sufficient, and he became sad because he was very rich.   “Come follow me.”  Where would Jesus take me, wondered the rich man?  

x

“Follow you where, Lord?  For I do not know where you go, with whom you travel, where you live, where you stay.”  And Jesus replied, “look around you, friend.  What and whom do you see?”

x

The rich man slowly turned round and round, and he saw many broken and crucified bodies.

x

And he turned around again, and Jesus was gone.  He asked those standing near him, where is Jesus?  And they responded, “He is Risen, Glory to God.”

x

And the rich man wondered aloud if, and how, he, and the broken and crucified ones, might share in that resurrection?

x

And he asked the people again “where is Jesus?”  This time the broken and crucified bodies began to chant in quiet voices “look around you, friend.  What and whom do you see?”