Wednesday, January 27, 2016

gosPel 
P     Possible from the Impossible    Mark 9:17-24
The good news is all about making the impossible possible.  In Mark 10:17-27 a man came to Jesus and asked Him what he need to do to earn/inherit eternal life.  Jesus told the man about the commandments, which the man replied that he had fully obeyed them all since he was young.   Though Jesus doesn’t comment on the man’s claim, Jesus knew it was impossible for any one of us to fully keep the commandments all of our lives and that the commandments were to show us we couldn’t please God by the “goodness” of our lives.  Jesus knew in His heart that this sincere man had a problem with idolatry and that his wealth was very important to him.  “Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him; ‘There is one thing you haven’t done,’ He told him.  Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow Me.”

Mark goes on to tell us, “At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked at His disciples and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!’  This amazed them.  But Jesus said again, ‘Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.  In fact, 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!.’

Jesus used an extreme example that everyone can understand.  It doesn’t matter how many humps a camel may have – it will be impossible to thread it through any needle we can use.  The disciples realized this and Mark indicates, “The disciples were astounded. ‘Then who in the world can be saved?’ they asked.  Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But not with God.  Everything is possible with God.’” 

The Good News is not only does God make our impossible to earn salvation possible (because He provides for it completely through Jesus), but He is able to work in the seemingly impossible situations of our lives as well.  The Apostle Paul ends a prayer in Ephesians 3 with these words, “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen”  (Eph. 3:19-20)


The Good News is with God all things are possible.

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