Children’s Sermon

Mark 10:17-31

Impossible?

By Lois Parker Edstrom

OBJECTS SUGGESTED:

A needle and picture of a camel.

Picture of a camel available at:
http://www.terragalleria.com/middle-east/israel/jerusalem/picture.isra10220.html

Camels are interesting animals that are well suited to live in the desert. Camels have small ears that are lined with fur to keep desert sands from blowing into the ear canal. Their eyes are protected by a double row of long, curly eyelashes and they have heavy eyebrows that shade their eyes from the sun.

Camels have two toes on each foot and a heavy foot pad that spreads out as the camel walks. This keeps the camel, which is a large animal, from sinking into the sand.

Do you know how much water a camel stores in its hump? The answer is – none! The hump stores fat, not water. Camels use this fat as a source of energy when food is not available. Camels can, however, go five to seven days with little or no water. They have a unique thermostat in their body that allows them to tolerate heat and conserve moisture.

Now that we know a bit about camels, let’s talk about a Bible verse in which Jesus uses a camel to teach a lesson. He said, “It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God” (10:25).

When you see that a camel is much taller than a man and you look at this needle, you can easily understand how it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Then is it impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? No, and here is why.

Jesus also said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God” (10:27).

Jesus was teaching us that our attitude and relationship to God is what is most important. When we put God first, all things, things we cannot even imagine, are possible.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan