Mission Possible

Please read Mark 10:17-27

Your mission, should you choose to accept it… is to get that enormous, dusty, cud chewing, flat-footed camel through the eye of this needle.

It is impossible. It is just as impossible as earning your way to heaven, or buying eternal life. It cannot be done.

That rich, young guy wanted a checklist, an instruction booklet, a price tag. He was a rule follower as much as he was a rule maker. He saw the benefit of outward compliance, external conformity. Rules made sense to him: do not cheat, do not lie, don’t run in the hall, buckle up, be quiet in the library. This is common sense, it is orderly, it is possible.

As I picture this scene, I think he probably felt pretty confident addressing Jesus, he was on top of the world. He was rich, he has a position of authority, he was young, he was polite, he was respectful AND he thought he was onto Jesus. He just wanted that final piece to the puzzle, the golden ticket to eternity.

It turns out that he was lacking. His void was his wealth. Jesus knew that all the rule following of a lifetime could not take the place of inner obedience. Jesus told him to sell his things and give to the poor in order to remove the obstacle that was in his way. It was also to snap his focus, whiplash style to what is important….kingdom stuff, heavenly treasure building through earthly treasure liquidation, helping the poor and answering the call to follow Jesus.

That poor, dejected fellow walks away slack shouldered. Jesus asked too much, it seemed impossible, just like that stinky camel.

Two little nuggets spin this story around. The first is found in verse 21, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Jesus loved him. His words sound harsh for love, but he loved him enough to say it and knew that this guy’s choices had to be narrowed down to two. The second is found in verse 27, Jesus said, “with man this is impossible, but not with God, all things are possible with God.” I surely cannot do it, but God can. Mission possible.

Jennie Kind