The God of the Impossible

"Going a little further, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass before him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14: 35-36

Jesus had declared to his disciples that what is impossible with man is possible with God. And here, in the hour of his greatest suffering, he shows that he really believed in his own teaching. In an astounding display of faith, he asks his Father if there is another way to accomplish the plan of salvation-a plan that he has known since the beginning of time.

Jesus spoke of his death on many occasions. In fact, only a few hours before this Jesus had prepared his disciples for his coming death. He frequently quoted prophetic scripture from the Old Testament that foretold of his death and resurrection. He was fully aware of his purpose as a sacrificial lamb, yet as he agonized on the night of his death, he prayed for the impossible. In effect, Jesus pleads,"Can we save them some other way? Is this the only way to fulfill your will, or is their another way?" He asked the impossible because he knew the God of the impossible.

It is noteworthy that God brings forth salvation only through impossible situations. The nation of Israel was birthed through Abe and Sarah, who were "well past child bearing" age. They should have been living in Florida playing shuffleboard and bingo, but instead, they were having babies. John the Baptist was born of a barren woman. It is hard to miss the hilarity in the angels declaration to Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was now with child, "...and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." (Lk 1:36-37). I can just see the angels in heaven, rolling in laughter at it all. It pleases God to intervene in the most ridiculously hopeless circumstances.

And best of all, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world was born of a virgin. A virgin! We so spiritualize this that we may miss the bigger message. Virgins do not have babies. It is physically impossible. I have a friend who often wonders what makes God laugh. I think that this could be it. "Hey, you know that girl Mary, that virgin girl who has never married? Yea, well, she is giving birth to the prophesied Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." I think I can hear Him chuckling even now.

How many different ways can God say it? He is almost screaming it from the rafters of heaven: I am the God of the impossible! He not only works through impossible situations, but he prefers them. Over and over he astounds us and breaks the mold of human limitations. He fed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish, made the dead to live, stopped storms with his words, and walked on the water. Best of all, he transformed the sickest and most hopeless souls. We have a God that delights to show himself strong in the midst of hopeless situations. So we can take heart and expect to see His hand move in the midst of our impossible circumstances.