You can’t do it (and neither can I)… but maybe that’s the point.
In Mark 10, we find a young man that had amassed enough of a fortune to qualify as rich. He had what most people pine for, yet somehow still managed to flunk out of Salvation 101 as taught by Jesus. Why? Because he couldn’t give up his wealth?! Nope. Because he chose to walk away with his wealth rather than throw his “I can’t” upon the mercy of Jesus.
Let’s take a moment and go back to his original question for content: “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” From the get-go, this young man was trying to earn salvation on his own merit; his own good works.
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, sell what you possess.” Since no other human is (or ever will be perfect), it was almost as if Jesus was mocking his imperfections. Shaming him with the fact that he would never measure up. Is that what;’s happening? Not at all!
In his mercy and compassion, Jesus sets the bar so high that his response served as an invitation for the young man to see his own imperfection (can’t) as less of a liability and more of an opportunity. Jesus was inviting him, in all his imperfections, to see what was right in front of him and fall upon His mercy and love. Instead of walking away, he could have traded his identity enslaved by wealth for an identity freed by love.
Imagine if the rich young ruler had simply fallen to his knees before Jesus and said, “I can’t.” Jesus very well in that moment could have reached down, lifted him up by the hand, looked lovingly into his eyes and whispered, “I know you can’t… but I can.”
Maybe you’ve been struggling with all your “I can’ts“ and “I shoulds” because you think you are defined by what you do or your self-worth has been predicated on your performance, popularity, or platform. Maybe you’ve been able to keep it going until now, but deep down you know that it just isn’t working.
Let it go.
Look to God.
Admit you can’t.
Don’t worry.
It will be okay.
Jesus doesn’t want you to be perfect.
He wants you to be free.
Unfortunately, the rich young ruler walked away with his head down in shame. That is what happens when we hold onto our “I can’ts.” But when we lay them at the feet of Jesus, we find mercy and grace to be all that he has called us to be.
In Him, we can.
Don’t let who you aren’t keep you from who you are in Christ Jesus.
“The disciples were astounded. ‘Then who in the world can be saved.’ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.’”
Matthew 10:26-27