He Just Walked Away
Jesus said it would happen. He said that there would be those who call themselves “Christians” but would simply walk away from Him. They would call Jesus “Lord, Lord” but wouldn’t do what He had said. Maybe they thought the things that Jesus said were optional instead of mandatory. Maybe they found the things that Jesus said to be personally distasteful. In any case Jesus called those kind of followers fakers.
Many know the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus to get eternal life. After some discussion it all came to a head. We are told in Mark 10:21 that Jesus was “looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” It’s amazing that Jesus didn’t suddenly change his tune and his demands and run after him when he realized that this cash cow, this man of great potential was actually going to walk away. Jesus was losing a prospect, and a rich one at that! He could do so much for the cause! Yet Jesus simply let him walk away.
He let him walk away because the demands of becoming a Jesus follower are not subject to our whims. We don’t get to pick and choose the parts that we will follow like we pick and choose the food at the buffet. Jesus possesses absolute authority in the world and warrants absolute allegiance from the world. There is no other options available to follow Jesus except surrender.
I have watched with amazement this very story play out hundreds of times in people’s lives like the gung ho church leader I knew who dropped out of church a few years later because of sports, disappointment, not getting his way, or he just got out of the habit or a thousand other excuses. He just walked away. He walked away and Jesus didn’t run after him to make it all better. He walked away and mean ol’ Jesus just let him go.
It is highly disturbing to see the delusion that many people are under. What if the rich young ruler had simply declared, “I’m going to follow you anyway, I am going to call myself your follower even though I don’t do what you have asked.” We would tell that man that he doesn’t get to make the rules, he doesn’t get to change the calling of Jesus but I live in a day where people do this all the time. People announce to me, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” Really? Where did you come up with that? Is that what Jesus told you or did you just make that up? I see people who make idols of sport and money and careers and practice greed and refuse to forgive others and yet call themselves Christians. Really? Jesus is okay with all of this?
At least the rich young knew what he walked away from and grieved over it. I worry that we have many today who still think they are following Jesus when, in fact, they have walked away.
