Question: What does Jesus mean when He says that all things are possible to him who believes?

Question: What does Jesus mean when He says that all things are possible to him who believes? If He cannot make a square circle or sin, what does Jesus really mean?

Response: The Lord is not dealing with the hypothetical. He’s meeting humanity at our point of need. Our greatest need as individuals is salvation. Certainly all things are possible for the Lord, and, if He desired to do so, he could easily take a mountain and cast it into the sea.

But that has no value to individuals. On the other hand, we do have “mountains” in our lives. These include our need for salvation, our emotional needs, physical provision, our relationships with family, friends, and spouses, and other issues of life. It’s upon these that He directs His primary focus.

In John:10:10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
See All..., Jesus declares, “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Again, He doesn’t provide everything we desire (wealth, a new car, a huge home, or other material things). Rather, He provides everything we need. Likewise regarding healing—the Lord gives us what we need. 

For example, in 2 Corinthians 12 Paul wrote of his “thorn in the flesh.” We don’t know exactly what it was, but it was clearly a physical issue that was painful. Nevertheless, by allowing this to continue, the Lord accomplished some things in Paul’s life that he needed to experience. 

So Paul writes, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

We are all different individuals with many similar needs. The promise of Jesus addresses those things that are of importance to us.