Paraphrase: (12/20/09)
Mt 19:25-26, Mk 10:26-27, Lk 10:26-27 The disciples could scarcely believe what they had just heard. “Who, then, can be saved?” they said. Jesus looked around at them and replied, “Nobody. It’s impossible for man to do. But, God can. He can save those who can’t save themselves.”
Key Verse: (12/20/09)
Lk 18:27 – Those things that man cannot even hope to do, God can do!
[There is no impossible with Him!]
New Thoughts (12/21/09)
This is one of those passages which provide something of an innocent proof of the validity of the witnesses. It also suggests to me the limited usefulness of memorizing Scripture in word-for-word style. Consider that we are given three witnesses to this brief exchange, and no two of them agree on the words Jesus spoke. This is as clear an evidence as one might care to have that these three men are each writing their own accounts, based on their own sources. Yet, in spite of their having arrived at different phrasings, they are all conveying but one single point: Impossible for man, possible only with God.
In any court of law, the testimony these three provide would be seen as corroborating one another. Yes, there are variations in the words assigned to Jesus, but they all convey the same message. Each witness has somewhat modified the quote according to his own ears. In other words, each colors the evidence with his understanding of events. That is entirely typical of mankind. It is the way we work, whether we recognize that fact or not. We tend to hear things somewhat differently than they were spoken. We may be expecting certain shades of meaning, and therefore have auto-translated what was actually said.
How often this very tendency leads to misunderstandings! We are expecting to be offended, and therefore find something in the words we hear with which we can be offended. Or, we are so besotted with a particular individual that we find everything that one says to be wonderfully good, even when they are in actuality speaking to our detriment. These may be the extreme cases, but we have all known them to happen. Most of us could honestly confess that they have happened in our own lives. But, these colorations of what we hear said to us do not necessarily invalidate our memory, or the evidence we might give based on that memory.
Listen: when we sit in service, listening to a sermon, I can assure you that folks walk out of there having heard very different messages. My wife will often come home deeply impressed by a point I don’t even recall hearing. I, on the other hand, may have laid hold of some other aspect of what was taught that totally eluded her. Is one of us therefore wrong about what was said? Not at all! We just each have our natural points of focus, and will tend to recollect most clearly those aspects of the message that most nearly touch on our personal hot buttons.
Here, the variation is much less. The three have not excluded certain points, for it is really but one sentence that is in view. There’s not a lot that could be excluded there. Yet, each still recalls the sentence a bit differently, and that just makes it more clear that each has his own point of reference. How wonderful, in this light, to be able to point to these three valuable sources to build up the record! By the mouths of two or three witnesses the case is proved, and here we have them laid out before us.
The proof is not to be found in three separate accounts that agree word for word. That is proof not of the witness, but of collusion. The proof is found in that, while they are in agreement as to the major points and themes of what Jesus was about, they remain unique and uniquely personal in their relaying of the witness. Yes, we can find cases where two or even three of them wind up using the exact same phrases to cover a particular event, and it is certainly possible that they had reference to some other written record in preparing their own memoirs. I would note, though, that even when I write my paraphrases of these Scriptures, it is sometimes the case that there is no other phrasing required than what is already written. As such, I find that the balance of variation and verbatim copy in these accounts is such as serves to indicate clearly the independence of the authors who wrote them.
On the other point regarding memorizing of the text: just consider this case. Which version of the words of Jesus would one memorize? How are we to make the choice? For that matter, in which translation? Admittedly, this could be a case of personal perspective coloring the evidence, but I think not. When I consider the record of the New Testament, it seems to me that none of the Apostles, nor even Jesus, show signs of concerning themselves with managing a word for word quoting of the Writings. On the other hand, when I read of the temptation of Jesus in the desert, I find that the devil is rather good at such things. Yet, it is the Apostles and Jesus who bring forth the true and clear meaning of what is written, whereas that old legalist the devil uses accurate quotations to back up wholly inaccurate points.
Here, however the three evangelists have chosen to record the phrase Jesus has spoken, they have all captured the clear and true meaning of what was said, and it is upon this clear and true meaning that we do well to focus. So, let me to it! Indeed, there is one particular translation of one particular variation that I found particularly plain, thunderously clear, in relaying the point. “Without God, it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Mk 10:27 TLB).
That’s it! Without God, it is utterly impossible. What is? Salvation! It’s not just the rich guy we’re talking about here, it’s the whole matter of salvation. Who can be saved? On their own? Not a soul. Without God, by works alone, by sweat of brow and every discipline of thought, absolutely nothing will ever be accomplished in this regard. You cannot obey your way into heaven. You cannot minister your way into heaven. You cannot serve your way into heaven. You certainly cannot force your way into heaven. There is only this one path laid by which men might be saved: with God!
Everything is possible with God. Now, notice something about that. We are past the point of, “By My own right arm, I will do it!” It is true, and it is His own words, but there is something more said here. It is not “By God, all things are possible.” It is with God. In the authority of Jesus, as faith unites us with the purpose of heaven, we are found to be laboring with God. As such, the impossibilities that we find before us are made possibilities. As Mary was told, so it is for us: ‘Impossible’ does not apply with God. As He abides in us, and we in Him, that same thing becomes our story. Impossible does not apply when we are working together with Him. When we oppose Him? I dare say only impossible applies. But, when we are with Him, doing our best to think His thoughts and see His perspective; when our desire is truly to do His will: then I know this holds true. Everything is possible because impossible doesn’t apply.
Of course, we have all heard the skeptics ridiculous questions in this regard. If nothing is impossible for God, can He then create something so heavy He can’t move it? Can He then set into motion that which He Himself cannot stop? But, for such questions, the only appropriate answer is, “Don’t be inane.” Quite frankly, whether He can or not is rather a moot point, for the ability does neither suggest nor require that He actually do so. The clear and simple point of the Truth of God is that what He has determined shall be shall be. What He has determined to do shall be done. What He has determined to stop shall be stopped.
When this Truth of God is brought into connection with salvation, as it is here, it becomes a great and marvelous Truth indeed! Who can be saved? Whomever God has determined to save. In fact, where God has determined to save, it’s not a matter of can be. It’s a declaration of will be. The most impossible of men can be saved if and only if God has determined that he will be. The most cherished of men, rich in service to others, faithful in ministry and ever so righteous at least as men are able to measure is in the same boat. He, too, can be saved if and only if God has determined that he will be. The corollary to this is more marvelous still: If God has determined that he will be saved, he will be! It’s not a possibility any longer, it’s a certainty. For, God’s word does not return to Him without having accomplished all His will. That, as I have said in many ways before, and as I shall doubtless be saying many more times in years to come, is the foundation of my blessed assurance, and for it I am deeply and eternally grateful to my God and King.
