Did Jesus Really say to Give Away EVERYTHING?

Did Jesus really say give all you have to the poor?

Yes, he did. Or, maybe.

In fact he said to sell up the lot and give away! Sounds impossible? But -  look very carefully!

Jesus, The Good (?) [?]

I think we all heard stories of brave heroines and heroes who had to undertake an enormous challenge, to achieve something big, or something impossible, to complete a great task, if they were to gain..... 

Peace, Love, Joy

Jesus, or at least his birth, is often celebrated in terms of peace, joy and love.

Manger and hitching post, Meggido; about 3,700 years or more old - an aretfact from those times

Dead

Jesus “Was crucified, dead, and buried..” - old words, long used. An even older statement is found in Paul’s writings:
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NRSV).

The purpose of Jesus' coming was indicated from the outset. (See, for example, posts "Saviour"; "Lamb of God"). Jesus himself made it very plain well beforehand that his death was no tragic defeat or failure of strategy:
The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will take it back again. No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father.”
The Jews who heard these words could not agree with one another. Many of them said, “He is controlled by a demon. He has gone crazy! Why should we listen to him?” (John 10: 17-20, NIRV) Too plain! What offended them so? Must have been that claim Jesus' made.