Camels and Needle Eyes

 

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:23-27 ESV)

 

It’s good to be reminded that we can’t earn our way into heaven. Just prior to our reading today we see the story of an eager rich man who came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He wanted to do something! Jesus reminded him of God’s commandments, and the man figured he had that covered. “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. But then Jesus showed that keeping the law is impossible for us. This man, for example, had missed the heart of the law—that is, to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (cf. Mark 12:30-31). Though he may have focused on the do’s and don’ts of the law, the man had missed the heart of it—and had broken the whole thing.

 

The Scripture says he went away “sorrowful.” The idea there is that he lost all hope as he realized he couldn’t buy or inherit eternal life. Jesus could see what was lacking in the man’s life, so he prescribed the cure. The man’s problem was his attachment to wealth, and that was preventing him from living totally for God. As the man heard Jesus tell him to do what he just couldn’t do, his face paled and drained of life. What a picture of sadness. If he didn’t let go, his wealth would sink him. For this man, his riches were like a millstone tied around his neck as he was being thrown into the deepest part of the sea.

 

Being possessed by our possessions—no matter how much we have—makes us unable to accept God’s gracious love. Salvation is possible—but only with God. And we can’t earn it; it’s a gift of grace! This is the context of Jesus’ declaration that “all things are possible with God” (v. 27). That is the message we all need! That is the message of Lent!