WHOSOEVER

Written By

Christopher Mentzer

This word ‘Whosoever’ is interesting in that it can refer to many people in a general sense and can also identify someone on a close personal basis. This is what Jesus had in mind in John 3: 16. But supposing it wasn’t anyone but one particular type of person or group of people.

Jesus was born of a poor carpenter, what if Jesus had sympathy for the rich and salvation was for them instead?

In Mark 10: 17-23, we read of a rich young man who runs to Jesus to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answers and the young man was determined wanting to know what more he could do… “And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 22. But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions. 23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (vs. 21-23).

Now suppose Jesus simply asked him how much wealth he had and from his answer he would be allowed to enter heaven.

Of course the disciples of Jesus would be completely different. No poor fishermen would be admitted. Matthew, a former tax collector, would definitely still be added and probably Zacchaeus too. Even those of the Pharisees would be a part of his group. And since salvation is based on riches, you know Jesus would charge money for healings. What about Lazarus? When Jesus brought him back to life, imagine the bill for that? Not only would it be expensive to raise him from the dead but also Jesus could tack additional expenses for every day he’d been dead. You’d say, "Well I know Jesus wouldn’t do that." But he would in this example. Remember when he came to John the Baptist to be baptized? He didn’t need to be baptized because he was completely free from sin. He did it to set an example for all those who followed him. So Jesus, charging money for healing and other miracles, would be setting an example in this scenario.

What if salvation were for the healthy? Lepers, blind, lame, possessed people would immediately be out of the running. Naturally Jesus could heal them but the fact they were in the condition since birth (most of them anyway) would disqualify them.

Or what if the educated were the only ones allowed? Imagine scribes and Pharisees as the twelve chosen, even Judas Iscariot, a scholar would be Jesus’ right-hand man. They’d keep Peter to betray him because “only some dumb fisherman would betray him.”

But the truth of it is, all individuals were called to be saved regardless of race, education, health or social standing. Jesus stated in Matthew 11: 28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The choice is entirely up to you. In Acts 2: 40; Peter exhorted the masses further by saying, “…Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” Salvation starts with you. No one makes you choose your own path or make the decisions for you. Paul also states in Phil. 2:12, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The decision you make should be one of humility and not pride. You become saved because that’s what needs to be done not because it will impress others. Finally Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 7: 10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, `a repentance' which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Like in Phil. 2: 12, you must humble yourself before God and admit that you are a sinner rather than obtain the respect of you friends because you are willing to show you aren’t perfect.

Whosoever is one powerful word and all should be thankful to God for this opportunity to become saved!