Kingdom Come Week 8; The Camel and the Needle
Luke 18:18-30
The Church of the Nativity stands over the cave where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It is one of the oldest worshiping congregations in history. Yet many who visit this massive basilica are surprised to find the only way in is through a tiny opening. Everyone must bow down in order to get in. The door was reduced in size at least twice to make it impossible for soldiers to ride in on horses or camels.
Some say small doors like these are the explanation behind one of Jesus’ most famous and baffling parables: the camel and the eye of the needle. Here’s the situation: a leader of the Jewish community asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus immediately questions his question. “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God.” This is troubling since Jesus’ seems to deny He is God. Unfortunately, the tone of Jesus’ question does not come through. In effect, He replies, “If I am good, do you realize you are calling me God?” After planting that seed, Jesus plunges ahead by listing commandments which the ruler must obey to enter heaven. A few things to notice: Jesus only mentions five of the Ten Commandments. All come from the second half which focuses on our relationship with others, and yet there is one missing. The ruler goes through this checklist and awards himself an A+. “I’ve been keeping all these since I was a kid,” he beams. Then Jesus’ lowers the boom. The last missing commandment is, “You shall not covet” what belongs to your neighbor. In keeping with this Jesus points out, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” First his jaw drops, then his face, then his head. He is deeply grieved at the thought of giving up all his sizable wealth.
Jesus then makes an observation: “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed 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.” Over the centuries, preachers try to soften this story and open some loopholes for the rich. First they change the camel by saying it is not a dromedary but a rope which, though difficult, can be threaded through a needle if you try hard. Or they argue the “eye of the needle” is a small door, like the one in Bethlehem, which a camel can enter if it removes all its cargo, gets down on its knees and shimmies through.
Both explanations are wrong. Jesus means a real camel and a real needle which means it really is impossible for rich people to enter heaven. The audience gets the point. “Who then can be saved?” If rich people who can pay for synagogues and offer impressive temple sacrifices can’t be saved, we don’t stand a chance. It is impossible to do anything to inherit eternal life.
Yes. Exactly. Whether you are a rule follower or a rebel, rich or rag-covered, it is impossible. But, Jesus adds, “What is impossible for people, is possible with God.” There is nothing you can DO to inherit eternal life. Inheritance is a gift. And so is salvation. So what is the way in? The ruler was close to the answer at the beginning. No one is good but God alone. This is why God came in Jesus to make us good by His grace. This is why Jesus’ ultimate answer to the rich ruler and all of us is “come follow me.” He is the Way to eternal life.
Does this mean we can ignore the part about selling all you have and giving to the poor? Not so fast. Jesus may have given this extreme challenge to the rich ruler to prove he could not
earn eternal life. Yet sacrifice is part of what it means to follow Jesus. Peter and the other disciples left all they had to follow Jesus. While this is not a requirement for salvation, sacrifice removes the idols which block our relationship with God. We, like the ruler, can be perfect on most of the commandments and “still lack one thing” – still have a few idols we can’t let go. Make no mistake, sacrifice is always painful – something has to die in order for us to truly live. What prevents you from completely following Jesus? What do you need to unload off your back? Jesus is the door to abundant, eternal life. Are you ready to bow down and enter in?