CAMELS. Mark 10:17-25.

“As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to be saved?’” Mark 10:17.

Jesus eventually told him to sell all he had and give to the poor—“and the man went away sad, because he had many possessions”v.22. And Jesus said, “It is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”v.25.

Have you threaded a needle? Getting a thread through a needle requires me to lick the thread and put on glasses—it is a delicate operation. You’ll never fit a mouse through a needle, not to mention a camel. But since the 9^th century, some have argued the word “needle” refers to a “man-gate” in the city wall for men to walk through after the larger gates had been locked for the night. A camel could squeeze through such a gate, but only if he was unloaded and coaxed to crawl under the gate—getting through was hard, but not impossible.

An interpretation from the 4^th century is that “camel” is a misspelling. If one letter is changed, it becomes the Greek word for an anchor rope. That makes sense: “It is easier to thread an anchor rope through a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.”

The point is, your STUFF can get in the way. Things we love on earth can keep us from things we would really love in heaven. I admire the rich man: he RAN to Jesus and KNELT down. He knew Whom to ask. And he ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTION—“How can I have eternal life?”

Are we as passionate? Do we run and kneel? Are we asking good questions? This man was probably among those later converted on Pentecost—he was deeply moved by Jesus and I suspect he responded.

May we Run, Kneel, and Seek Answers. Then OBEY.

Dear God, if we ever love our STUFF more than you, take away the stuff.

ΑΩ