There are many occasions in the New Testament story of Jesus in which he just says the most offensive things. most of these things have to do with the heart of the gospel message, what I like to call the worst marketing slogan even: "Take up your cross and follow me," Today's passage from Mark's Gospel is, in my opinion, one of the saddest stories in Jesus' interactions with the people he is trying to give his gospel message.

There is a wealthy man who really wants to be a follower of Jesus. he runs up to him one day and falls to his knees, begging Jesus to tell him what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. "Follow the commandments," Jesus tells him, and the young man is sure relieved to hear that. "I've been doing that my whole life long!" he tells Jesus. But then Jesus adds a little caveat: "Go, sell everything you have and give the proceeds to the poor." The blood must have drained from the man's face when he heard that because the text tells us he is a very wealthy man. Give everything up? Can't I just ease my way in, a little at a time? You mean I have to be all the way in?

There Jesus goes again, shooting himself in the foot. I bet the young man would be a great addition to Jesus' group of followers, but then Jesus has to start up with that terrible marketing again: Take up your cross, sell what you have, give up your life. These are just not the most compelling messages, and they certainly will not grow your fan base.