All Things Are Possible With God

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:25-27 NIV

The encounter of the rich man with Jesus is one that is very familiar. The rich man asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus responded with “Sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and follow me.” And with that response, the man sadly departed, unwilling to lose his great wealth.

Jesus concluded the encounter by saying that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And his disciples are astonished; “Who then can be saved?” To which Jesus responds with “all things are possible with God.“

What does Jesus mean by the reference to the eye of a needle? Some see it as a gate in the walls of Jerusalem that was very small. Others see it as the literal eye of a sewing needle. I am inclined to side with the latter camp and see it as a literal needle. From what Jesus says this is clearly a human impossibility.

Entering the Kingdom

All the wealth in the world is not sufficient to gain entrance into the kingdom. Nor is any amount of power, talent, intelligence, or personal righteousness. Humanly speaking it is impossible for anyone to enter the kingdom of God.

But it is possible with God. He alone can bring us into his kingdom. Rich or poor, weak or strong, it makes no difference. Trust God, leave this world behind, and follow Christ into the kingdom.