Proper 24 B
“What is possible with God?”
Mark 10:23-32
18 October 2015 – Redeemer
All things are possible with God. Does that mean if you’re 4’11” tall you can plan on playing in the NBA? Does it mean that if you have been diagnosed with heart disease you don’t need to watch your diet or exercise because God can keep your heart healthy even if you aren’t? Does it mean that you can squander all your wages, never save for retirement, but still expect to retire at 55 on twice the wages you currently earn? Is any of that what it means when Jesus says “all things are possible with God?”
In today’s text we might have the most misused Bible verse in the history of preaching, teaching, and Bible verse quoting. Is it possible for God to give the necessary skills to a 4’11” man to play in the NBA? It is possible, but don’t use this verse to back it up. Is it possible for God to provide for you more abundantly in retirement than you planned? Yes, but since God mostly works through created gifts and has given you a body and a brain, put away at least 10% of your income for retirement, (after of course, you give 10% to the Lord’s work) and don’t let this verse convince you of the foolishness of not saving, but expecting wealth.
This verse isn’t about God promising to do whatever you want Him to do or excusing you from doing what makes sense – take your medicine, don’t spend more money than you make, look after yourself. Do you know what impossibility Jesus is talking about here? He’s not talking about short people playing in the NBA or sick people being made well or Donald Trump getting elected president. Jesus is talking about getting you into heaven. And that’s impossible for you to do! Do you believe that? Do you believe that it is impossible for you to get into heaven?
I think it’s exactly the opposite. I think 99.9% of all people who believe in life after death believe they are going there. I’ve never read an obituary or tribute in the Saint Cloud Times that says, “Grandpa was an ornery, angry man who mistreated his loved ones and we’re not sure he made the cut for heaven.” Nor have I ever read, “Our son destroyed his life with drugs and wrecked our family, so we’re pretty sure he isn’t with Jesus.” People who believe in eternal life, almost universally believe that everyone is going to live forever.
But that’s not what Jesus says. And since He rose again to life after being dead three days, we need to hear what He meant when He said, “All things are possible with God.”
Now, as we hear in this political season, context is important. So let’s remember the context of these words. A rich young man just asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus, knowing the man was full of himself and his accomplishments, told the man, “Go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.” The man walked away from Jesus. All indications are that that man did not enter into the Kingdom of God.
That’s where the text begins, “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?” Jesus looked around. And what did He see? He saw an incredibly successful young man walking away from Him. He saw His disciples looking at Jesus as a failure. There’s nothing worse than a preacher who chases off a wealthy member and puts a greater burden on the other members. He saw his disciples wondering if all that they had given up was worth it. And seeing all this, Jesus needed to teach them about life and wealth and heaven. And remember whenever Jesus speaks about the Kingdom it’s not going to be the way you expect – like He said, “the first will be last, and the last first.”
A wealthy man just walked away from Jesus. Now, what is the common attitude of almost every generation toward wealthy people? Wealthy people are blessed. In fact, in most cultures, it was the rich person who was looked upon as the most favored by God. It makes sense. If you have an abundance of wealth and material possessions then God must really love you. If you don’t, then you probably aren’t one of God’s favorites.
However, none of that squares with the Word and Way of Jesus. He says, “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.” So now, put this in today’s context – who do you think, in this whole congregation, by what you see with your eyes – is the most likely guy to get into heaven? Well, wouldn’t it be me? I’m a called and ordained servant of the Word. I’m a card carrying clergy of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. If there was anyone who was favored by God it would be his pastors – right? If that’s what you think Jesus might well say, “If you think pastors are getting in because they are pastors – it would be easier for the Vikings to win a Super Bowl than for a guy like Bruce Timm to get into heaven.” If you think what you have or what you do or who you are will get you into heaven – there’s about as much chance of you getting in as squeezing a camel through the eye of the needle. It’s not happening.
Jesus’ disciples, for a change, actually grasped what He was saying. If the rich guy who looks super blessed isn’t getting in, who can get in? Then who can be saved? With man this is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible. You see this isn’t about your NBA dreams or your health or your foolish plan for success with sacrifice. God isn’t promising you any of that – He is promising you that He can take care of the impossibility of getting you into heaven.
Why is it impossible for you to get in? Because you don’t have what it takes – you need to be holy to stand in the presence of the Holy God. You need to be without sin to live forever because God Himself has said sinners die – they don’t live. And you have no way to get rid of your sin. You’ve probably tried from time to time and failed, but what is impossible for you is not impossible for God.
Do you know there is another passage in Scripture almost identical to the words of the text. In Saint Luke’s Gospel, near the beginning, we hear a messenger from God say, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Do you know the story? I’ll give you a hint – an angel said these words. To a young woman. Who was betrothed to man named Joseph. It is as impossible for you to enter into heaven as it is for a Virgin to conceive a child. With you – impossible. With God – not impossible.
Jesus conception is the beginning of many impossibilities – not only does a Virgin conceive, but a woman gives birth to God in the flesh. God becomes a man to take your sins and suffer in your place. God loves you so much that He pays the price for your sin with the body and blood of His Son. Three days after He died Jesus rose from the dead and appeared alive to over 500 people. Before He ascended into heaven He left 11 guys who were pretty much failures for most of the time they knew Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit they spread His Word across the known world. So that you could get into heaven the Holy Spirit made sure God’s Word of this Jesus was preached and the gifts of this Jesus were given out in the Sacraments for over two thousand years and over hundreds of thousands of miles. The sin that you are born with is forgiven. The sins that you commit are forgiven. The sins that you don’t even remember have been taken away. The sin that you wrestle with and try to throw off, but it keeps returning like a boomerang – that one too – forgiven. That great sin that you committed, that still haunts you, that makes you think well, if it weren’t for that one I’d be in – that one too is forgiven. If you’ve ever been crushed by your sins, thought yourself worthless, imagined that there’s no way someone like you is loved or welcome by God, sorry – nothing is impossible for God and all of those very truths that sound impossible – possible, certain, sure, true, as real as Jesus standing alive on the third day letting Mary hug him and the disciples feel His living breath upon their faces.
When Jesus says, “Nothing is impossible for God” He’s talking about saving you, about bringing you into heaven, about forgiving you, resurrecting you, breathing eternal life into you. For you that’s impossible. For God not impossible. God wouldn’t have any trouble getting a camel through the eye of needle, but that’s not what He wants to do – He wants you in the Kingdom so He did what is only possible for Him to do. He forgave you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
17 October 2015 anno Domini