Are All Things Possible?

In Carlos Rodriguez's book, DROP THE STONES, he zeroes in on Jesus' statement in Mark 10:27, "With God, all things are possible." (NLT)

Rodriguez's point is that most often, this quote from Jesus is taken out of context, becoming a rubber stamp to approve anything we'd like to accomplish. Not necessarily tied to developing our spiritual or moral character. Or even following Jesus.

The context of this Bible quote comes as Jesus and his disciples are going to Jerusalem. Along the way "a man came running up to him, knelt down and asked, 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'"

From Matthew's account of the story, we get additional detail - the man running up to Jesus was young and rich. From both Mark and Matthew's accounts we know that he was eager to know more about following Jesus.

So, Jesus recites the Ten Commandments in his initial answer to the earnest young man.

The young man answers, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."

Jesus looks the man in the eye, feeling "genuine love" for him, and tells him, "There is one thing you haven't done. Go and sell all your possessions, give the money to the poor... Then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21).

At this point, the man is crestfallen and "went away sad, for he had many possessions."

What's significant here - which Rodriguez points out - is that Jesus had invited the man to follow him. He was giving the guy a personal invite to be one of the disciples. And the man turned him down.

In response, Jesus has a sideline conversation with his disciples. He explains that it's very difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Comparing it with a camel passing through the eye of a needle. His followers are flabbergasted, and ask him: "Then who in the world can be saved?"

Jesus realizes they need some encouragement, so he tells them: "Humanly speaking it is impossible... But with God all things are possible."

So when taken in context, Rodriguez argues, what Jesus is saying ["All things are possible with God"] has nothing to do with materialistic goals. 

Rodriquez writes: "The desire in the heart of Jesus is for us to be able to say, 'I can give away everything. Be saved from mammon [material things]'. Yes, it is impossible for me but not impossible for God.

"How bizarre that we have turned this very statement into the prayer and declaration we use to ask for success and possessions."

God is not interested in giving us a bigger, newer SUV. 

God is not interested in if we're wearing the latest designer clothes.

God is not interested in how many bedrooms our home has, or which neighborhood we live in.

God is not interested in how big a paycheck we take home each week.

It's not that any of these things are bad, in and of themselves. The problem is that we humans have a tendency to use all of the above as symbols of status. And God clearly could care less about it.

If he did his Son wouldn't have hung out with tax collectors, publicans, prostitutes and other people who weren't making six-figure deals. 

When Jesus announced his mission in a lowly out-of-the-way synagogue in Nazareth, his home town, he didn't say, "I have been sent to broker some tremendous deals. Watch me mingle with the religious leaders folks. And get a hold of how I impress all the businessmen in town!"

What Jesus did say was: 
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, 
Because He has anointed Me to preach the Good News to the poor; 
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, 
To proclaim liberty to the captives, 
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19).

It turns out that we, to the extent that we are following Jesus' example, have the same mission. And it's impossible to accomplish it without God's help. 

Photo credits: (top) Church at Bergen; (middle) Tipsy Writer; (bottom) Leadership Raccoon.