The Toughest Ticket

If You’ve Got the Cash

What’s the toughest ticket to get? Maybe it’s the Masters, Super Bowl or World Cup. How about a prime table at the hot new restaurant in town? Maybe it’s the best bungalow at an exclusive resort in Bora Bora.

But none of these are a big deal for those with big bucks. Let’s face facts. Money talks. And it talks VERY clearly and VERY loudly. Let me put this another way. If you’ve got the cash, you can always crash.

A Wealthy Up-and-Comer

In Mark 10:23-27, Jesus says while that may be how things work here on the third rock from the sun, it’s not how it works in His Dad’s kingdom. You might buy your way into any place your little heart desires now but that all changes when you try to enter eternity.

This comes on the heels of a conversation Christ has with a wealthy up-and-comer on the far side of the Jordan River in Judea (Mk 10:1, 17-22). 

Leaving His Loot Behind

It seems the rich young dude wants to join Jesus’ posse. Before he can, the Lord tells him to leave his loot behind. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me” (Mk 10:21).

Faced with the choice, the guy simply can’t part with his portfolio. “He went away sad” (Mk 10:22). Jesus has tried to tell him that he no longer owns his stuff but his stuff owns him.  

Debriefing the Disciples

Which leads us to verses 23 through 27. Here Christ debriefs His disciples and explains to them what just went down. As the rich young dude drags his bags of cash back home, the Lord turns to His team.

“Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!’” (v23). He wants them to understand what they’ve had a front row seat to witness. 

Hard to Swallow

I’m fascinated by the use of the word “hard” (Gr. δυσκολως/duskolos). The only time it shows up in the NT is in the three versions of this story (Mt 19:23; Mk 10:23; Lk 18:24). 

So what does it mean? It’s a compound Greek term that paints a picture something that’s hard to swallow. The literal definition is “difficult to get through the colon.” Did you wince just a wee bit? Yeah, me too.

Stomach Cramps

Much as we might like to move on, let’s chew on that for a moment. There are times you eat a big meal and there’s a load of doubt whether it’s going to make it through your digestive system. 

That’s what it is like any time there’s an attempt by “the rich to enter the Kingdom of God” (v23). I’ve got stomach cramps just thinking about it!

A Fat Portfolio

If you’re like me, you’re probably wanting to know who Jesus means when He’s talking about the rich. He’s certainly not talking about you and me, right? RIGHT?!? Hang on. We’ll get to that in a minute.

First let’s take a closer look at the word the NLT translates as “rich” (Gr. χρημα/chrema).   It means possessions, wealth, means, and money. Jesus is talking about abundant financial resources.

It certainly describes those who not only have a pocket full of cash on hand but a fat portfolio as well. Assets. In its most basic terms, our Savior is talking about stuff.

Jesus’ Definition of Rich

Now to you and me. Do we fit Jesus’ definition of rich? I have good news. And I have bad news. The good news? Yes, chances are if you’re reading this you’re rich. You may not see yourself that way, but you are.

Let me explain. According to Andy Stanley’s research, if you live in the U.S. and have a household income north of $50,000 a year, congratulations. You’re not only among the richest people on the planet but who have ever existed! 

Now the bad news. Let me go back to what the Lord is laying down to His disciples. “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” (v23). You thought that big meal was difficult to digest? That’s nothing compared to trying to squeeze your stuff through the pearly gates!

Shocking His Posse

Jesus’ statement shocks His personal posse. “This amazed them” (v24). He doesn’t just raise a few eyebrows. The verb in the original Greek (Gr. θαμβεω/thambeo) describes being totally startled, shocked, and surprised.

You may be astonished to know that this word only appears three times in the NT, all three in Mark’s bio of Christ. First, when the Lord performs an amazing exorcism at the Capernaum synagogue. “Amazement (Gr. θαμβεω/thambeo) gripped the audience” (Mk 1:27).

A little further down the page here in Mark 10, our Savior and the Twelve are nearing the climax of His march to Jerusalem. At this point, “the disciples were filled with awe (Gr. θαμβεω/thambeo)” (Mk 10:32).

Shock and Awe

Here’s the big idea. Jesus WILL catch you off guard! He’ll shock you with His unrelenting love. He’ll stun you with His mind-bending compassion. He’ll fill you with awe at His unlimited power. 

Let me put it this way. Why do you think they call it amazing grace?

Unlocking Difficult Doors

You can certainly understand why the guys are blown away by Christ’s words. I mean, if rich folks can't buy their way into God’s good graces, who stands a chance of getting in?

Let’s face it. Have things really changed that much in two thousand years? Money and power unlock the most difficult doors. There are very few things you don’t have access to if you’ve got the cash. Do I need to bring up the recent college 

admissions scandal?

Jesus Doubles Down

With their apostolic jaws on the ground, the Lord doesn’t back down. Instead, He doubles down. In doing so, He cooks up an example so ridiculous that people are still trying to explain to this day.

“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” (v24-25).

This seems to be our Savior’s way of saying don’t get cocky just because you’re not loaded. “Boys, it’s next to impossible for ANYBODY to gain admission into My Dad’s kingdom!” 

Camels and Needles

So what’s the deal with this whole camel-through-the-eye-of-a-needle talk? Some folks say Jesus is talking about small gate in the walls of Jerusalem. Supposedly the only hope of squeezing your camel through the opening was for it to crawl awkwardly on its knees.

There’s just one problem with that theory. There’s zero evidence such a narrow entrance ever existed during our Savior’s earthly ministry. But nice try. Now using a camel to encourage you on Hump Day to buy insurance is another thing all together!

Don’t overthink it. The Lord is using this ridiculous analogy to get His point across. It’s Christ’s way of drawing a comical cartoon as a way of commentary.

Stacks of Cash

In the process, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter hammers the nail one more time about how difficult it is for those who are loaded to “enter the Kingdom of God” (v24, 25).

To close all the loopholes, He uses a different word the second time around. This is πλουσιος/plousios,which describes anything in abundance or an incredibly large amount. Think massive stacks of cash and huge piles of stuff. 

Joe Loans a Tomb

This is the very same term Matthew uses to describe a very well-to-do follower of Jesus named “Joseph, a rich (Gr. πλουσιος/plousios) man from Arimathea” (Mt 27:57). 

He loans the Lord his tomb. Joe has no clue He won’t be there long! This is also a huge hint that some wealthy folks DO get into God’s kingdom. How? By leveraging their money and stuff for others.

Leaving the Luxury of Heaven

Let’s turn things around and look at this the other way. Did you ever consider what the Lord left behind to come to our rescue? He walked away from the lavish heavenly palace for you and me.

In a letter to a church in Corinth, Paul puts it this way and uses a very familiar word. “Though He was rich (Gr. πλουσιος/plousios), yet for your sakes He became poor so that by His poverty He could make you rich” (2Cor 8:9).

Spread It Around

Jesus gives His wealth away for the benefit of others. Instead of trying to squeeze our investments through heaven’s gates, God calls us to be a blessing to others by spreading our stuff around on this side of eternity.

The old saying is spot on. You can’t take it with you! That’s why you’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer. 

Heaven’s Beggars

Even if you could, why would you want to? We can’t wrap our brains around the luxury Jesus reserves for us in eternity. What waits for us on the other side will make folks like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet look like beggars.

Overwhelmingly Overwhelmed

If the Dirty Dozen was caught off guard the first time, Christ blows them away when uses His camel-and-needle imagery. “The disciples were astonished” (v26).

John Mark uses a combo of two different words here, περισσως/perissos and εκπλησσω/ekplesso. The NLT simply translates this as “astonished” (v26). 

Honestly, that sells their reaction short. This could just as easily be “overwhelmingly overwhelmed.”How would we say this today. How ‘bout this? Mind. Blown.

Greasing God’s Palm

At this point, the boys have a question. “Then who in the world can be saved?” (v26). I mean, if a big wad Benjamins doesn’t make it easier to get on God’s good side, who stands a chance?

This may be crass but let’s cut to the chase. We can’t grease God’s palm like He’s some sort of divine maitre d’. Why? He already owns it all (Gen 14:19; Job 41:1; Ps 24:1).

A Birthday Present for Daddy

Think about that. If it’s all His in the first place, you're simply attempting to buy Him off with His own money. It’s like a little girl asking her daddy for money so she can buy him a birthday present. Cute idea but it doesn’t do anything for his bottom line.

Your Undivided Attention

Okay, now that He has their full attention, “Jesus looked at them intently” (v27). The original text makes it clear that He looks straight at them. 

It’s the very same verb describing the moment the Lord locks eyes with Peter at the disciple’s triple crown of denial (Lk 22:61). There’s nobody else in the room. There are times when Jesus wants our total and undivided attention. This is one of them.

Zip. Zilch. Zero.

He tells His team, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible” (v27). Boys, you’re ABSOLUTELY right! Again, the Greek here is both incredibly enlightening and horribly discouraging.

“Impossible” (Gr. αδυνατος/adunatos) means powerless, incapable, impotent, and unable to be done. There’s no chance for anyone…rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, white or black, straight or gay, liberal or conservative…to save themselves. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

Sucking the Hope out of Their Hearts

Can you feel how Jesus’ statement not only sucks all the air out of the room but all the hope out of their hearts? The thought must be running through their minds, so what are we doing?!? Did we make a HUGE mistake ditching our careers to follow this Guy?!?

It’s so easy just to scoot onto the next verse. But I wonder if Jesus pauses at this point. Does He let that sink in? Does He let the Twelve chew on that for just a few seconds? 

Let me put it another way. Does He let us realize just how bad the bad news is before He tells us how very good the Good News is? I think it’s critical to remember where we would be without Christ coming to our rescue.

Everything Is Possible…WITH GOD!

Don’t worry. The Lord doesn’t leave them hanging. “But not with God. Everything is possible with God” (v27). Whew!! When the Almighty gets involved, anything can happen!!

Back up and read those first four words again. “But not with God” (v27). Anytime you run across a “but God” statement in the Scriptures, it’s a BIG deal! 

Some folks like to point out that when we use the word “but,” it means we should ignore everything that’s been said up to that point. Stay tuned for the important part. What’s coming next is what REALLY matters.

I Like Big “Buts"

We need to remember that when God is involved, it’s a big “but”! With apologies to Sir Mix-a-Lot, I gotta say that I love these big “buts!"

You’ll find all over the place (Gen 8:1; 31:42; 50:20; 1Sam 23:14; 1Ki 5:4; Neh 9:17; Ps 49:15; 73:26; Is 40:8; Jon 2:6; Mt 19:26; Jn 1:18; Acts 2:24; 3:14; 5:39; Rom 6:23; 5:8; 8:9; 1Cor 1:27; 2Tim 2:9). When you’re hope tank is below “E,” do yourself a favor. Start reading these. 

The Mighty One

The word the NLT translates later in verse 27 as “possible” (Gr. δυνατος/dunatos) is EXACLTY the opposite of what we just read earlier in the very same verse. It describes something or someone that’s powerful, mighty, and strong.

This is the ability to totally control your circumstances or the situation. It’s no surprise that God is known as the “Mighty One (Gr. δυνατος/dunatos)” (Lk 1:49). He’s the One Who Makes EVERYTHING Possible!

The Ultimate Variable

Think of Him in math terms. Our unchanging God is the ultimate variable. Anytime He’s part of the equation, He changes the answer because He IS the Answer. He solves the stickiest and trickiest problems. He makes anything and everything possible.

The Most Exclusively Inclusive Offer

That includes getting anybody into God’s kingdom, even rich folks. You might think the One Percent are wicked and have zero chance of God’s eternal blessing. Wrong. He makes EVERYTHING possible! 

God throws the doors open wide for anyone and everyone who trusts in Jesus. Faith in Christ is the most exclusively inclusive offer of all time. Roll that around in your noggin for a moment.

Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, for Anyone

The truth of God’s ability to do anything, anywhere, anytime, for anyone is one of His mega-themes laced throughout the 66 documents we call the Bible. Here are just a few examples.

The whole story begins with our Creator creating absolutely everything out of absolutely nothing (Gen 1:1). That sets a pretty high bar right from the get go.

No One Can Stop Him

God makes a personal appearance to Abraham to reassure him that He not only could but would bless a pair of senior citizens with a bouncing baby boy (Gen 18:14).

Near the end of his wild ride with God, Job cuts to the chase. “I know that You can do anything and no one can stop You” (Job 42:2).

A Praising Prophet and a Pregnant Teenager

Jeremiah praises Yahweh for His limitless power (Jer 32:17) and Yahweh says the prophet is all over it (Jer 32:27).

When Gabriel drops in to tell a virgin teenage girl that she’s not only expecting but…get this…pregnant with the Son of God, he says, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Lk 1:37 ESV).

The One Thing He Can’t Do

The night before His execution, Jesus pleads in the garden with His Dad for a way around dying on the cross (Mk 14:36). Spoiler alert! Christ not only dies but rises from the dead!! 

You see, God can do anything…but fail.

Your Money’s No Good Here

Meanwhile back in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus wants His disciples to understand that what He offers is WAY better than money and stuff. Even if we could carry our cash with us into God’s kingdom, it would be worthless there.

For heaven’s sake, if they use gold to pave the streets, liquidating by assets for eternity is kinda stupid. As the old saying goes, your money’s no good here.

So who gets in? Folks who hold their money loosely and their Savior tightly.

©2019

Jay Jennings