Between mountains, somewhere in America, there is a rock formation that looks like the eye of a needle, called “Needle Eye Mountain”. People there say that a camel can pass through the eye of this needle.
One day a young man came to Jesus and asked: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. …And Jesus said: “Again I tell you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:16, 22-26).
Many people will try anything to be rich. With his answer to the young man Jesus wanted to emphasise that wealth as well as the striving after wealth can be very dangerous. It may give a false confidence that you don’t need God in your life. The wise Solomon said: If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want (Eccles. 5:9). Paul writes: For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil (1 Tim.6:10). He also writes: Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have (Heb. 13:5).
We read that the disciples were “greatly astonished” when Jesus said: “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.” They realised that it was about much more than merely the wealth of the young man. That’s why they asked: “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus also mentions other things which are treasured by to people and which can come between man and God. People may be ashamed to say that they are Christians. Jesus says: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes” (Luke 9:26). People who choose Jesus sometimes come into conflict with their own family members who are of a different faith. Then Jesus warns: “Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples” (Matt. 10:37).
We all sin. Therefore each one of us can say that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for me to enter the kingdom of God. But Jesus said: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Because that which is impossible for us to do, He did for us. He paid for our sins on the cross so that we can enter the kingdom of God. For sin pays its wage – death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23).
Lord Jesus, thank you that You made it possible for us to enter the kingdom of God. You became for us the Way to eternal life by paying for our sins on the cross. Amen.
