Key Verse: Mark 10:17-27
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with humble hearts, seeking wisdom from Your Word. Lord, we ask that You open our eyes to the truths that challenge us, convict us, and draw us closer to You. Break any pride in our hearts, Father, and help us to see our desperate need for You. May Your Spirit move in this place, stirring us to obedience and faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Introduction
Take your Bibles and turn with me to Mark 10:17-27. Again, Mark chapter 10, verses 17 through 27.
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
— Mark 10:27 (KJV)
Church, this passage contains one of the hardest sayings of Jesus Christ: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” That’s a shocking statement! It stunned the disciples, and it should stun us today.
Folks, we live in a world that idolizes wealth. We think success means having a fat bank account, a big house, a nice car, and a retirement plan. But Jesus turns that thinking upside down. He warns us that riches can be a great hindrance to salvation!
Now, don’t misunderstand me—Jesus isn’t saying it’s impossible for a rich man to be saved. But He is saying that it’s exceedingly difficult. And church, if that’s true for the rich, then we all need to examine our hearts, because the love of money, the grip of materialism, and the pride of self-sufficiency can keep anyone from coming to Christ.
Point 1: The Deception of Wealth
Look at the young man in this passage. He was rich, powerful, and religious. He came running to Jesus and asked, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Now, that sounds sincere, doesn’t it? This young man wasn’t a rebel. He wasn’t living in open sin. But there was a problem—he thought salvation was something he could earn by his own goodness.
Jesus responded by listing some of the commandments. And the young man, full of self-confidence, said, “Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”
And church, here’s where Jesus cuts to the heart. He says:
“One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”
— Mark 10:21
What happened? The Bible says, “And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”
Folks, he wanted eternal life, but he wanted his wealth more. He wanted heaven, but he wasn’t willing to let go of what he had on earth.
And let me tell you something—the greatest deception of wealth is that it makes you feel like you don’t need God. Riches can give you comfort, security, and power, but they can also blind you to your spiritual poverty. That young man had everything the world could offer, yet he lacked the one thing that truly mattered: a heart fully surrendered to Christ.
Point 2: The Impossibility of Human Salvation
After this young man walked away, Jesus turned to His disciples and said:
“How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”
— Mark 10:23
The disciples were astonished. You see, in Jewish culture, wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s blessing. If someone was rich, people assumed that meant they were righteous. But Jesus shattered that assumption. Wealth is not a guarantee of God’s favor—it can actually be a stumbling block!
Then Jesus made the statement that shook them to their core:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
— Mark 10:25
Now folks, let’s be clear—Jesus is talking about a literal camel and a literal needle. Some have tried to explain this away by saying there was a small gate in Jerusalem called “The Needle’s Eye,” and camels had to kneel to get through. But there’s no historical evidence for that. Jesus was using deliberate exaggeration to make a point: it is humanly impossible for a rich man—or anyone—to save themselves!
And that’s why in verse 26, the disciples ask, “Who then can be saved?” And church, that’s the right question! Because if wealth and success don’t guarantee salvation, then what hope does anyone have?
And here’s the answer—none.
With men, it is impossible. You can’t buy your way into heaven. You can’t earn your way in. You can’t achieve it through your own efforts.
But with God, all things are possible. Salvation is a miracle of God’s grace. And church, if you are saved today, it’s not because of anything you did—it’s because God did the impossible!
Point 3: The Call to Surrender
The real issue in this passage isn’t wealth itself—it’s idolatry. The young man walked away because he loved his money more than he loved God. And folks, that same battle is going on in our hearts today.
What are you holding onto that keeps you from fully following Christ?
- Maybe it’s money.
- Maybe it’s your pride.
- Maybe it’s your comfort.
- Maybe it’s your sin.
Jesus calls us to surrender. He calls us to lay it all down and follow Him. He told the young man, “Come, take up the cross, and follow me.” And He tells us the same thing today.
And let me tell you, church—Jesus is worth it! He said, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:29)
You will never lose when you give everything to Christ.
Call to Action
Folks, what’s keeping you from fully surrendering to Jesus today? Maybe you’ve been trusting in your own goodness like that young man. Maybe you’ve been chasing after the things of this world, thinking they will satisfy. Maybe you’ve been holding back from following Christ with your whole heart.
But Jesus is calling you. He’s saying, “Come, take up the cross, and follow me.”
And let me tell you something—every person whom Jesus called, He called publicly. If you need to surrender something to the Lord today, don’t wait. Come to Him right now, just as you are, and lay it all down at His feet.
Closing Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your Word and for the truth that salvation is only possible through You. Lord, we confess that too often, we cling to the things of this world instead of surrendering completely to You. Break every chain that binds us, remove every idol from our hearts, and help us to follow You with all that we are. We give You all the glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.