God’s Son, Jesus Christ, once had a man inquire of him: “Lord, are those who are being saved few?” Jesus’ answer embraced not only the questioner but also all others interested in salvation, including us. He replied: “Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able.”​—Luke 13:23, 24.

 3. (a) Why was the man’s question unusual? (b) How does Jesus involve us in his answer?

³ The unnamed man’s question was unusual. He asked: “Are those who are being saved few?” not, “Will I be among the few saved?” or, “How can I be saved?” Perhaps the Jewish philosophy that only a limited number of people would merit salvation prompted his speculative query.a Whatever the source of his curiosity, Jesus quickly took the question from the arena of abstract theory to that of practical application​—personal application. He forced the inquirer to think of what he needed to do for salvation.