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SERMONS AT ST JOHN’S CHURCH, TRENTHAM
Rev David Major – preacher
Sermon: CLEVER SAYINGS OF JESUS
Sunday 11 October 2015
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:17-31
I would like to turn your attention to our marvellous New Testament reading about the
Rich Young Ruler.
I want to talk to you about clever and witty sayings – especially some of the witty sayings of
Jesus.
If you want to spoil a good joke or witty saying, just get someone to explain it to you!
Jokes tend to go especially flat if they are in another language and have to be translated.
Jesus spoke in Aramaic; and for two thousand years serious theologians and earnest
preachers have been picking the witty sayings of Jesus to pieces –
to the extent that we sometimes miss the point.
One of the very witty sayings of Jesus that I want to focus on is in verse 25 of our Gospel
reading:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.”
But first, let’s think about some really witty quotes:
I love some of the quotes of Mark Twain.
In his famous book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn he describes the part-time
village preacher by saying:
“He charged nothing for his preaching and it was worth it.”
And how about former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon, pointing to one of his opponents in
Parliament and shouting:
“Mr Speaker – that member is irrelevant, and an irrelevant never forgets.”
Or what about Sir Winston Churchill who was being verbally attacked by Lady Nancy Astor?
She said in an angry voice:
“Winston, if you were my husband I would put poison in your tea.”
To which Sir Winston replied:
“Nancy – if you were my wife I’d drink it!”
So, how about the witty sayings of Jesus.
In Matthew 7 - as part of the Sermon on the Mount - Jesus talked about people who were
always picking fault in other people.
Listen to this witty saying of Jesus:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust n your brother’s eye and pay no attention
to the plank of wood in your own eye?
You hypocrite.
First take the plank of wood out of your own eye and then you will see clearly
to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
And what about Matthew 15:14 where Jesus speaks about the Pharisees:
“They are blind guides,” he said.
“And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
So let’s go back to our reading and the encounter of Jesus with the man we have often heard
described as the rich young ruler.
On the surface, here was a man who had everything going for him.
He was young and he was rich.
But he had an aching heart. Whatever he had, it wasn’t enough.
Mark tells us:
He came running to Jesus, he knelt down and asked:
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus had never met this man before, so he checked him out according to the orthodox
Jewish religious credential, and he recited from the 10 Commandments
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not testify falsely
Do not cheat
Honour your father and mother...
to which the young man ticked the boxes.
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
Then Mark adds an interesting note:
“Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.”
Do you remember the Sunday School song? “Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.”
When you pray...
when you worship...
when you eat the wafer and drink the wine of Communion...
do you recognise that
Jesus loves me?
Jesus love you, personally?
And then Jesus challenged this rich young man. The challenge comes in two parts.
Firstly:
Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor.
Secondly: Then come, follow me.
Here’s the outcome in verse 22:
“At this the man’s face fell and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
The problem for this young man was that his possessions possessed him rather than him
possessing his possessions.
That has always been a problem with possessions.
The Bible reminds us in I Timothy 6:7 –
“For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.”
Did you note in our Bible reading the discussion of Jesus with his disciples after the rich
young man went away sad?
Here is what Jesus said:
“How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
This amazed the disciples.
Surely, they thought, his wealth must count for something?
It surely should give him a head start?
“No,” said Jesus. “In fact, his wealth is a handicap.”
→ You’ve just seen an example of that.
A rich young man who Jesus called to “follow me” –
but he went away sad, because he had many possessions.
His possessions possessed him.
Jesus tipped the standards of the world upside down with his clever and funny statement:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a
rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.”
The disciples were astounded, Mark tells us.
“But,” said Jesus:
“Humanly speaking, that is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
It’s a great lesson.
It helps us get our priorities in order.
Our worth as a person does not depend on how much money we accumulate.
In God’s calculation:
Many of those who seem to be first will in fact come in last.
And those who seem least important now will be greatest in the Kingdom of God.
In 1994 Carol and I lived and worked in the former Soviet Republic of Belarus.
After the break-up of the Soviet Union the economy of Belarus was chaotic with inflation
running at 47% per month.
It was for us a wake-up call about the value of money.
Here is a pile of 5 Ruble notes tied up with string which I received straight from the bank.
There are 1000 notes – so that is 5000 Rubles.
Even today they are only worth 44 NZ cents.
Here are notes for 1000...5000...and 100,000 Rubles... and even a note for 1 million Rubles.
Remember the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 6
– this is another of Jesus’ clever sayings that still pack a punch –
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth
where moth and vermin destroy
and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven
where moth and vermin do not destroy
and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is
there your heart will be also. ”
Let us pray.