Does Jesus know what Eternal Life is?

There’s this really great part in Luke where this guy comes up to Jesus and he’s like, “hey teacher, how do I get eternal life?” That’s a big question, eh? It’s a pretty popular one today and apparently it was pretty popular back then too because actually there are at least two people who asked Jesus that exact same question (Luke 10:25 & 18:18).

What I find truly amazing is that Jesus doesn’t give the same answer to both questions. I mean today we think we have everything nailed down and figured out if we can give someone 3 bullet-points or a little tract or 4 scriptures from Romans or whatever to explain how to get yourself to heaven. But Jesus, who may have understood God even more than ourselves, doesn’t give the same answer to both people.

The first person to ask finds himself at the front of the Good Samaritan story Jesus told. He asks his question and Jesus responds, as he so often does, with a question. Before I tell you his response though, think about how you would respond if I asked you that question. Would you tell me about Jesus’ life and death, and atonement and sacrifice? Would you talk about faith and belief perhaps with a context of repentance and baptism?

Jesus’ response is, “What is written in the Law?”

The law? Can you imagine what would happen if this were the response your minister gave to that question? He’d be looking for a new job before the words left his mouth! Then, Jesus goes on to say that the man should love God and love other people.

Is it just me or does this answer leave you a little unsatisfied – like a Thanksgiving fruitcake from your aunt Maybel? It’s almost like Jesus doesn’t even know what eternal life is! I mean doesn’t he know that you can’t get to heaven by just loving God and people? I mean that’s a part of it sure, but you can’t leave out the really important stuff – faith, belief, repentance, baptism, atonement, sacrifice, blood, etc.

Right?

The other person who asks is the ever popular “Rich Young Ruler,” who is fortunate enough to have a section in the Bible named after him. Jesus’ first response is a total ignoring of the guys question. He responds by asking the rich kid why he called Jesus good. I don’t know. Maybe he was stalling until he could come up with something.

Well, apparently it worked because then Jesus starts listing off some commandments. Wait! Commandments!? Jesus, listen, this is like first day at preacher school stuff! We aren’t saved by obeying the commandments. Everyone knows that. I mean seriously. We were totally with you. It seemed like you had things all together and then you go and get this whole ‘how to get saved’ thing all bassackwards. We really expected more out of you.

It’s almost like Jesus doesn’t even know what eternal life is.

Right?

Well, what if he doesn’t? I mean what if Jesus didn’t realize that eternal life is code for getting to heaven? In fact, in John 17:3 he says, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Well, that screws things up a bit doesn’t it? Eternal life, to Jesus, meant knowing God and himself? So is that why he gave the answers he did?

There are a number of places where Jesus talks about “eternal life.” I’ll let you take a look at some of the other ones on your own. I’m confident it will blow your mind if you let it fester in there for a bit.

For Jesus, eternal life wasn’t something we had to wait for. It begins now, today, whenever. What if this were what we joined in on? What if this was what we invited people to be a part of?