All worldviews & religions, save one, promote a buckling down of the self or will to rectify something that the individual has lost or to obtain an ideal state of being that they desire to have. Each worldview has a code of conduct, a path of justice or enlightenment or truth to achieve a desired outcome. Even though society is not unified in its vision of the perfect life, there is one thing that everyone has in common: whatever code of conduct or ethic they believe, they fail to measure up to it in totality, 100% if the time. "Be good" is commanded in every worldview, but without the full ability to do so. Both Buddhism and Hinduism believe that if you follow the right path, you will reach a state of innocence, bliss or freedom. Both Islam and Judaism teach that you can be righteous by way of your good deeds. Islam specifically likens salvation and blessing to a scale, in which your good deeds are "heavier" and weigh more than your bad deeds, so you hope. Humanistic worldviews believe salvation, though they will not use that word, lies in how much they have cared for others, relying simply on themselves. In each worldview we hear the same basic message: "be good," "follow the right path, and be well on your way to wholeness of life." But what have these creeds simply not learned about our own weak and inconsistent human nature?
There is one who did not tell people to look to their own efforts to be saved or to inherit God's Kingdom, but rather told us that if we depend on ourselves, we will fall short, in fact, in ourselves it will be impossible to achieve the highest standard.
Jesus addressed the outcome of human endeavors to reach perfection. He confronted people with the reality and truth of hopelessness through the law or conduct, over and over during his ministry. When a Jewish expert in the Law of Moses wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life, he questioned Jesus. Impressed by Jesus' teaching, this man asked Jesus what he needed to do to be saved, after all, he had been attempting to keep God's law to a very exemplary standard; it was the moral code given by God himself to the Jews on which Jesus Himself taught and kept. Jesus asked him to answer the question, for an expert in the Law of Moses should know what God required. The expert gave the satisfactory answer-to love God with all that we are, and our neighbor as ourself. By telling the expert that he answered correctly and adding, "if you do this, indeed, you will live," Jesus knew that the man would be troubled by this answer in his heart, for he would know how many times that he failed to do it perfectly. No matter how many good things this man did, there would always be one thing he still lacked, he wouldn't be able to go far enough. Just as in Luke 18, a rich ruler asked Jesus the same question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus tells him to follow God's commands but still one thing more if he really wanted to be perfect: "Sell everything you have give it to the poor and follow me." Jesus used the argument that the rich ruler made: "I have kept the Law" to reveal the true state of his heart: what do you love more than anything else-God or yourself (and your riches)? Even our good deeds are done in vain for our own glory rather than for the glory of God. What? That sounds condemning, but Jesus said it. Not only must one keep the law, but every action, thought, breath, word, inclination, would have to be perfectly tuned to the love and glory of God, the giver of life. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, he came to save it by fulfilling the law Himself, every thought, word, action perfectly tuned to the glory of His Father; step one in saving the world through Himself, for all living were already condemned even by their own thoughts-as Jesus taught: If you even say that your brother is a fool you are guilty of murder. Jesus taught that part of the intent of the law is to show us that even our hearts will not measure up-in His own words, "The spring is spoiled," the tombs that are rotten are only painted white with our attempts to look righteous.
Of course, the rich man's heart sank, as must ours when we read and understand the righteous requirements of the law of God!
Ironically, this is the good news that the Bible brings, that the Lord of Life taught-no one can go far enough! Why is this good news? Because it is true, and we needed to know. We can't make it on our own. Eternal life is not ours for the earning. Only Jesus could. That's why Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, he was in an indirect way calling this man to see himself as the wounded man on the road, the law is what wounded him and "beat him up," leaving him sorely bruised. The priest could not save him, the Levite could not bind up his wounds-they were types and shadows of the ultimate Priest and the holiest Levite, paving the way for the Savior. Instead, something very foreign to him, God himself, walking in the flesh of a man, would die in his place giving all that he was for him, thereby, binding up his wounds, paying for his "hospital stay"-giving exactly what was needed: The life of the God-man in exchange for this rich, self-righteous Jew. Jesus demonstrates that the epitome of self-righteousness is the belief that "I do not need a Savior," and so we remain on the road beaten and sore from our attempts to live enlightened or to do it right, until Christ comes to offer us His mercy, that in receiving, compels us to teach others of this immense mercy offered through Christ.
Jesus is the Good Samaritan. Why a Samaritan? Because the Jews hated Samaritans and the Jews hated Jesus, by and large, and today, we still want a "do it ourself" religion, just like the law expert and the rich man. Though many say that they love or admire Jesus, they do not know Him, and, by rejecting His words or by remaining ignorant of them, they hate him just as the Jews of His day. Jesus' love is both hidden and evident in this encounter, Jesus hides his meaning in a story, but for those who understand, their hearts can be made glad, for His words say to the rich man and to the man rich in vain good deeds, and to all who desire eternal life: Accept these words and live. Despair of your own efforts and self-made religions. Accept Jesus' life in exchange for yours and have life abundant, both now and forever. Instead of focusing on the law as self-preservation, go and have mercy on others, especially by teaching them of Christ's mercy and what it means for those who cannot help themselves with their "do it themselves religions and paths," just as God has shown you such unheard of mercy. The story of the Good Samaritan is unheard of, radical mercy, showing us again a standard that we cannot meet and showing us the lengths that Jesus would go to deliver us, who were left for dead from our efforts to live well, be perfect or pure, and have an abundant, fulfilling life.
How do we answer this teacher called Jesus? Will we like the rich man tell Jesus that we have kept His law or that we are a Good Person? Will we come to Him like the Pharisees that we mocked-with self-righteousness? Will we like the Law Expert have an excuse and say: "Well, I didn't know exactly, all the time who my neighbor was, or how to apply your Law perfectly in every situation! Surely I can't be held accountable for what I did not know! I'm only one person, how could I have helped everyone!?" Or, will we take the understanding that Jesus invites us to and respond, "Lord, I have broken every law even in my very thoughts and desires. I have loved myself far more than I have loved God or my neighbor. I come to you with nothing but empty hands, I acknowledge that you paid my hospital stay, the debt that I owe, out of your great riches. I taught others to turn to you and you alone for their righteousness and I will have not enough time in all eternity to thank you and praise you for this wondrous gift of Mercy."?
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