Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Gospel centred sermons, based on the lectionary often in advance.

Oct 19, 2018

Focus reading: Mark 10:17-31

There is a joke about a man who falls down a cliff. He finds himself dangling from a tree a few metres down. If he lets go he will certainly fall to his death. In desperation he cries out “Help me, is there anybody up there?” A calm but powerful voice respond “Yes I AM here”. “Who are you?” the man asks. “God,” the voice responds and goes on, “let go and trust me. I will save you.” There is a long pause and then the man cries out, “Is there anybody else up there?” 

The problem with the rich young ruler is not that he is rich, but that he can not let go of what he has and trust himself to God. It is God who saves and not money, or even obedience to the commandments. Abraham was called to give up his son. Job lost everything and was left with nothing but angry faith, even his health failed him and Christ chose to give up even his life. We are called to abandon those things we think might save us and receive our salvation from God. For us human beings salvation is impossible but “for God all things are possible.”


Questions for thought and discussion.

Are you prepared to let go of the branch? What things hold you back? What things help you let go?