March 7, 2024

Today's Reading: Mark 10:13-31

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 39:1-23, Mark 10:13-31

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.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:25-27)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  It is natural that when we find a hard word from Jesus that we try to find the loophole. The saying about the camel and the eye of the needle is an example—people find many creative ways to explain why it doesn’t mean what it says. For example I remember hearing that the “eye of a needle” was a special gate into Jerusalem, and camels couldn’t go through it while they were piled high with the things they often carried for travelers, so the trick was to take off the camel’s saddle and provisions. So what Jesus really means here is that we can have stuff, we just shouldn’t be too attached to it. It’s a nice story, but it’s completely made up, to, again, find us a loophole around the clear saying of Jesus. It’s harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. 

Well, maybe the Good News is this doesn’t apply to you or me because we aren’t rich. It’s not as if any of us is Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos building rockets into space for fun with our spare change. Most of us are more in the bracket of people who still watch the fluctuating gas prices and food prices with trepidation. Surely, we’re not rich, so we’ve escaped this word of condemnation. Sorry, but if you had something to eat today, you’re richer than vast swathes of the world’s population. There aren’t many people in the world this warning doesn’t apply to. It’s okay if that troubles you, it troubled the apostles as well. Do you see how they respond, immediately recognizing the implications of Jesus’ statement? They wonder if this is the standard then who could possibly be saved. But Jesus does what Jesus so often does, instead of pointing us to a path to save and sanctify ourselves by keeping the Law, instead He points to the goodness and mercy of God. It is impossible for us to keep the Law, try as we might. But behold, with God the impossible becomes possible. Just as the lame walk, the dead rise, and the sinful are forgiven, you are saved not by your poverty but by the overflowing prosperity of God’s exceeding mercy. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Now my conscience is at peace; From the Law I stand acquitted. 
Christ hath purchased my release

And my ev’ry sin remitted.  Naught remains my soul to grieve;  
Jesus sinners doth receive (LSB 609:6)

-Deac. Eleanor Corrow, Higher Things Board Member and coordinator in LCMS Missionary Services. 

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Unforgivable? Unforgiveness is a prison—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In a world full of turmoil, many use forgiveness as a coping mechanism without understanding what true forgiveness is. Learn what forgiveness from Christ looks like, and how He forgives His people.