But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
Most of us know the story of Peter Orasuk, a man who was heavily involved in drugs until he was reached by the Gospel and delivered, to become one of the most dynamic Gospel preachers of our day before his homecall. Despite his wicked and reckless lifestyle, several of the Christians in his area had not given up on him, and were faithful in witnessing to him. There were probably times when they wondered if their efforts were worthwhile, but their patience and persistence were based on the truth that the Lord Jesus is presenting in today’s text. Many were surprised when Peter was saved, but the Lord Jesus was not.
The context of today’s text is Jesus’ admonition that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The amazed disciples wondered who could possibly be saved, if the rich were so restricted. The impossibility of a camel passing through a needle’s eye was so apparent to them. I have threaded a few needles, and know by experience that even a slender thread is a challenge sometimes. But a camel, never! No wonder the disciples were perplexed. Were rich people blocked from salvation? Were there restrictions on the grace of God? The truth of the Gospel lies not in that some can never be saved but in that nobody can be saved except through the power of God.
Millionaires and drug dealers alike find it impossible to gain entrance into God’s Heaven on their own efforts and merits. Those of us who are neither millionaires nor drug dealers remember when we had to come to the same conclusion: Heaven was blocked to us by our own inabilities and unworthiness. Just as a rich person could never pay enough, a religious person could never pray enough, a diligent man could never work enough, so you and I could never gain God’s favour. The camel of our sin is far too great to pass though the restrictive needle’s eye of God’s righteous requirements. But this becomes irrelevant in the face of God’s power and grace.
Our sin, our worthless works, and our misguided piety cannot pass through the needle’s eye, but the Lord Jesus was not so encumbered. He had no sin, His works were perfect, and His devotion to His God was absolute. The needle’s eye was no obstacle to Him, as He faced the righteous wrath of God against our sin. Because He passed through that needle’s eye, we are spared.
As we carry the Gospel forth, we should be encouraged that the Lord Jesus has already done the work, and sinners who cannot meet God’s demands can rest in the possibility available through His power. -Jim MacIntosh