Matthew 19:16-26

It was summer and the sun beat down on us as we walked with Him towards Judea. We did a lot of walking back then.
We were all in complete silence for a very long time, but this silence was broken by a nasally voice in the distance.
"Jesus! Hai!!! Jesus!!! Wait up!!!"
A tall, brown haired, prince-like boy was running our way in a pompous manner. He was dressed like nobody's business-- purple robes, leathery sandals, a golden crown thingy, pretty much everything a guy in Judea could ever want to wear.
"Teacher! Jesus! Hey there!"
He finally caught up, and was drastically out of breath. He seemed to be like one of those boys who spent very little time in his life running, and more time sitting and playing games or counting money.
"Teacher! (Pant, pant...) I have an important question," he said, straightening himself to his tallest degree, and then continuing. "What good things must I do to get eternal life?"

That question.
This was The Question. Ever since Jesus had asked me that one day to get out of my boat and follow him, This Question had constantly been in my mind. I had never asked it. I never thought it fitting.

"Well?" the prince-like boy persisted.
Jesus was smiling. He did a lot of that.
He finally answered with a question. "Why do you ask me about what is good?"
This was rather typical of Jesus. He would always ask a question like this, but his voice was never really in the question form. He always knew the answer to His questions. You could see it in his eyes. Completely understanding. Completely knowledgeable. Completely in control.
"Why are you asking me about how to be good and perfect? Only God can be good and perfect, didn't you know that? If you want to enter Life, then obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the boy inquired with a low, commanding voice. The kind of voice you would expect from Gob in Arrested Development.

Jesus' smile grew. "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and uhh let's see... love your neighbor as yourself."

"All these I have kept, teacher! Seriously. I've never lied or stolen or murdered anybody before! I'm awesome. I'm amazing. Incredible... Is there anything else I must do?"

There was a pause. Jesus spoke.
"If you really want to be perfect, there is one more thing you must do. Go, sell your possessions (including that nice macbook pro, Taylor guitar, and your Canon Xsi) and give the money you make to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come and follow me."

The boy was shocked. He said nothing, staring sadly into Jesus' knowing face. He turned silently back in the direction of where he had come and walked slowly, sadly, forlornly away into the distance.

"Honestly, it's easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for a man like that to enter the kingdom of God."

"But then who can be saved?"
It was me who asked the question. I couldn't help myself. I know it's a selfish question, and it isn't even a very good question. But I had to ask it. Jesus' understood. He turned and smiled at me.

"Well, nobody, really." He said.
"At least with man, this is totally and completely impossible."
He touched my shoulder and I felt his warmth flourish through my arm into my very soul. "But with God," He said, smiling into my eyes, "All things are possible."