Luke 18:18-27
December 14, 2025 | Osaka Church
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
“What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Today’s Gospel tells us the story of when the Lord Jesus said, “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.” Today, let us trace the Gospel back from this final statement.
“What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
This is the answer given when the people couldn’t help but ask, “So who will be saved?” in response to the Lord’s words, “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.” In Jesus’ time, wealth was a sign of God’s blessing. That is why people raised their voices: “So who will be saved?” In response, Jesus nodded silently and said, “But what men cannot do, God can do.” Saving people is what God does.
But there was someone who did not understand this. He tried to do “what God does” on his own.
He first asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, and honor your parents.” Jesus said, “Didn’t the Law command you to do these things?”
The man was thrilled. “I have kept all these commandments since I was a child.” Jesus added, “Sell all you have and give to the poor, and follow me.” His face turned pale when he heard this, because he had much he would have had to give up. He said he had also faithfully kept the commandment to “love your neighbor.” He had likely given generously to unfortunate people up until then. But the Lord replied, “Sell them all.” It says he was “greatly grieved.”
Jesus delivered the final blow.
“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.”
Why did he fail? This failure is not something that only happens to other people. It is a trap that we Christians can fall into at any time.
He asked the Lord, “What must I do to receive eternal life?” He believes that eternal life (salvation) can be obtained as a result of doing something. This is not at all strange to modern people who judge lazy people who think they can get something without doing anything. However, if you are faced with Jesus and you search around asking “what must I do?”, you will fail.
Of course, if you have a specific challenge, it is natural to pray, “Lord, what should I do?” But asking, “What good must I do to be saved?” completely misunderstands the Lord Jesus. However, it is not surprising that this man asked such an inappropriate question. The first words he uttered when he came to the Lord were, “Good Teacher,” He understood Jesus as a teacher who would teach him something useful.
Today, we are going back through the Gospel reading. We have finally reached the first words, “Good Teacher.” We have come to the conclusion that it is wrong to consider Jesus a “teacher.” So what should we have called Jesus? The answer can be found by going back to the episode that was narrated just before today’s Gospel.
People brought their children so that they could touch Jesus. The children rushed toward the Lord, shouting with joy, but the disciples stopped them. The Lord rebuked them, saying, “Stop,” and picked up the children and taught the people.
“The kingdom of God belongs to people like this. Listen carefully: no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they accept it like these little children.”
Jesus is the kingdom of God, eternal life itself, to which “little children” run. What is required of us is not to “do something” or “become good believers,” but to first “accept” Jesus into our lives with absolute trust. We need to open our hands and say, “Give me your life,” rather than “tell me what to do.”
God will do what we cannot do.