A rich young man came to Jesus and asked what he had to do to become a disciple of Jesus. The young man had followed all the commandments since his youth. He had kept the law and had become very rich and successful in worldly things.
Hans Christian Anderson told a story most of us has heard as a child and the story reminds me of this young man. It is the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.
The Emperor was very vain. He loved himself and loved his possessions especially his clothes. One day a thief came and told the Emperor that he could weave the finest and most elegant cloth in the world. Only the finest people with the most refined taste could appreciate the fabric. The clothes made from this cloth was the most beautiful in the world. The most sophisticated and elegant of people were the only ones who could really appreciate the clothes he made.
The thief came and on the royal looms wove the cloth and made the clothes. Then he fitted the Emperor; but, the Emperor did not see any clothes. If you know the story, you know the Emperor did not want to be thought foolish or unsophisticated or unrefined and said the clothes were beautiful. His court not wanting the be thought that they were not elegant, sophisticated or wise said the same, except the Emperor was still naked.The Emperor held a parade to show off his new clothes. Everyone saw him naked but did not want to be thought lacking elegance, sophistication, or wisdom praised the beautiful clothes. One small child saw the Emperor was naked and said "He is wearing nothing." It opened everyone to the truth that the Emperor was naked.
Looking at the story of the young man, the same things can be seen. At a young age this man is a leader in the community. He has wealth, he has influence, and he has wisdom. The young man follows the law to the letter. The young man may also be a little vain.Jesus comes to the community. A rabbi that is teaching something new. Jesus is performing miracles and people are saying that he is the messiah. This is a great opportunity for the young man. The story does not say that he comes boasting of wealth or power or influence or wisdom. It says that he has kept the law.
The young man approaches Jesus. He is wearing his best piousness. I am a follower of the law. I have kept them all. I would like to know your teachings and add them to my collection.
"Jesus loved him." Jesus told him to give all his possession to the poor.
His face fell and he went away sad. To the young man, all he had done in his life by following the law was like he was wearing nothing at all. All his wisdom, influence, and wealth meant nothing and had not value. All the fine robes he had made for himself by following the law were like he was wearing nothing at all.
To follow Jesus the young man would have to dress himself like Jesus. It would have to take off the fine robes he had made for himself. He would have to make himself naked to what he knew and come to Jesus.
The young man was like the Emperor in the story. He wanted the finest, he wanted to be known as the most elegant and wise. The young man saw in Jesus the finest of clothes. But, in truth he wanted to put on a fine robe so all could see how great he was, but, Jesus told him to give that all away. The rich young man was like the Emperor too vain to see that in truth to what was really important he was actually naked.
So many people today want to believe in things that are not there. The robes that they have made are far finer than the robes that Jesus asks us to wear. People deny the robes of religion because they drape themselves in the spiritual. It is the modern attitude of an emperor. It is the attitude of the young man who would not give up himself to know the truth. Yes, you can be spiritual without a religious faith, but for many in this spiritual robe they are just naked, too vain to see the truth.
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