Bible Passage: Mark 10:17-27
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: October 13, 2024

Bulletin October 13, 2024

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

On of the techniques used by Jewish rabbis when teaching was the use of hyperbole, or exaggeration.  We often do the same.  It is not uncommon for us to engage in hyperbole in our own conversations.  When we say someone has “tons” of money, we do not literally mean if we weighed all their money it would weigh thousands of pounds.  But we would all understand the point being made:  that person has a lot of money.

Jesus sometimes used hyperbole, or exaggeration, to make a point.  For example, he once said that if your eye or hand causes you to sin, you should gouge that eye out or chop off that hand.  Did he really mean that?  Self-mutilation as the cure for sin?  No.  Gouging eyes and severing hands doesn’t really solve the sin problem.  But we get Jesus’ point, don’t we?  Sin is bad and we should fight against it mightily!

Jesus uses hyperbole in our text today.  He uses it after he has had a conversation with a man who had “tons” of money.  Jesus says, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (v. 25)  Wait!  That’s impossible!  You have all seen how big a camel is, and you have all seen how tiny the eye of a needle is.  It is impossible for a camel to jump through that tiny opening!   That is exactly Jesus’ point!  But Jesus wants us to learn today that God is the God who does the impossible.  God is The God who Can Get a Camel through a Needle’s Eye.

Why was Jesus talking about camels and needles?  It all starts when a man approaches him.  From the other accounts of this incident in Matthew and Luke, we are able to learn a number of things about this man.  He is young.  He is also called a “ruler.”  Likely this means he had a leadership role in his local synagogue.  He’s a moral, upstanding guy.  And, as we shall see, he had “tons of money.”  He was rich.   You know the guy!  He probably had a great personality and had perfect teeth and great hair!  He is “Mr. Wonderful.”  And to his credit, he’s also concerned about his immortal soul!  He runs to Jesus with his question.  Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?  (v. 17)  This man is a do-er.  He is an overachiever.  He’s convinced he can do what needs to be done to get to heaven.  But it’s nagging at him.

Jesus’ response is curious.  Why do you call me good?  No one is good except one – God. (v. 18)  It’s as if Jesus wants the man to think.  “You think you’re a good guy.  You flatter me by calling me good.  If you want to talk pure “goodness”, only God is good!  Are you calling me God?”

One commentator has called this conversation the best conversation of Jesus we have recorded in the Bible.  See what he does next.  You know the commandments. (v. 19)  And then Jesus pretty much quotes commandments 4-10, not exactly, but essentially.  These are the commandments that deal with our interaction with our neighbor.  There is a reason Jesus began where he did.  Mr. Wonderful takes the bait.  Teacher, I have kept all these since I was a child. (v. 20)  This man wasn’t a guzzling, wenching, brawler!  He wasn’t a dirty, rotten crook!  “Jesus, I’m already a good guy!”

Jesus looked at him, loved him (v. 21)… That is such an important detail in this story!  Jesus loved this man!  He was not cruelly toying with him.  Jesus wanted this man in heaven one day!  And so, lovingly, he says, One thing you lack.  Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then, come, follow me. (v. 21)  We are told, When he heard this, he looked sad and went away grieving, because he had great wealth. (v. 22)

Like a skillful surgeon, Jesus made an incision intended to help and heal.  He exposed the man’s heart.  That was the man’s problem!  Yes, he was, as people love to say, a “good person.”  But his heart was in the wrong place.  God wants our heart.  The very First Commandment says, You shall have no other gods.  And this man’s heart belonged to another.  Money.  He loved and trusted his money more than he loved God and God’s only Son.

Because riches can so easily become a god, Jesus comments, How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. (v. 23)  The disciples are stupefied!  They thought the rich have all the advantages in life!  Jews even believed that wealth was a sign of God’s favor.  If you had wealth, that meant God really likes YOU! (Sounds like our culture, too!)  And now Jesus says it’s hard for the rich to enter God’s kingdom!  Jesus even doubles down!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (v. 25)  Lest he be misunderstood, Jesus adds, For people, it is impossible. (v. 27)

There is the loving, honest truth.  It is impossible for the rich to save themselves.  It is also impossible for the upper-middle class, the middle-class, and the poor to save themselves.  As fallen sons and daughters of Adam and Eve we simply do not have the capacity to save ourselves.  Oh, we can play the part of “decent human being.”  Each of us can be a “good person.” Like Mr. Wonderful.  But we can never be good enough to save ourselves.  Our hearts are wrong.  We are all camels.  Not one of us can get through the eye of a needle.  Not one of us can get ourselves into God’s kingdom.

But God has done the impossible!  He disconnects your sinful heart from loving those things that can never be god and can never save you!  He changes your heart with one simple, little message:  Jesus loves you!  Jesus died and rose to save you!  Through that message of Christ’s love, hearts are changed!  Through that message, you fall out of love with this world, and you fall in love with Jesus!  Through that message, God brings you into his kingdom!  Through that message, God does the impossible!   He gets camels through a needle’s eye!

Amen.