What does "what is impossible with man" reveal about God's nature? Key Verse Luke 18:27: “But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’” Snapshot of the Context • Jesus has just encountered the rich ruler who walks away sorrowful because he will not part with his wealth (Luke 18:18-23). • The disciples, stunned by the difficulty of entering the kingdom, ask, “Then who can be saved?” (v. 26). • Christ’s response shifts the focus from human limitation to divine capability. Phrase Under the Microscope: “What is impossible with man” • “Impossible” signals absolute incapability—no human effort, wisdom, or resource can accomplish the task. • “With man” clarifies that the impossibility rests entirely on our side of the equation—fallen, finite, and powerless to meet divine standards on our own. Revelations about God’s Nature • Unlimited Power – Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Lord GOD… nothing is too difficult for You!” – Job 42:2: “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” • Sovereign Freedom – Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.” – God’s ability is never hindered by external constraints or unforeseen variables. • Gracious Initiative – Ephesians 2:8-9 shows salvation is God’s gift; Luke 18:27 underscores that the gift is something we could never secure ourselves. • Faith-Building Reliability – Hebrews 11:11 recounts Sarah receiving strength to conceive because “she deemed Him faithful who had promised.” – The impossibility clause invites trust—God’s track record guarantees He can and will act. • Creative Resourcefulness – Genesis 1: Creation ex nihilo displays God bringing reality into being where nothing existed. – Isaiah 43:19: “I am about to do something new; even now it is coming—do you not see it?” He invents solutions beyond human categories. • Personal Involvement – Isaiah 59:1: “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save.” – God’s power is not abstract; He reaches into real human situations with effective help. • Redemptive Focus – Matthew 19:26 (parallel passage) appears in a salvation dialogue, revealing that God’s supreme demonstration of the impossible is turning rebels into sons and daughters. – 1 Peter 1:3: He “has given us new birth… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Living the Truth Today • Replace “I can’t” with “God can”—align your vocabulary with His capability. • Pray bold, Scripture-anchored requests; remember Ephesians 3:20, He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” • Confront personal weakness (sins, fears, limitations) by anchoring in Christ’s sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9). • Encourage others: testify to moments when God shattered impossibilities in your life. • Worship with confidence: exalt the God who specializes in what no human can even begin to accomplish. |
    |