Long trips
Hey all, looks like I'm zig-zagging my way through Matthew. This week is on Matthew 8:18-20:
This is Jesus' coy way of making sure we know what we're getting ourselves into before we take his journey. The religious scholar came to him and wanted to join him. I don't think we have any reason to believe he was insincere. Jesus is cool. This guy dedicated his life to being a God expert. The two are meant for each other.
Jesus could have just been focused on church building and been like "Sure, hop in the boat. You're in." That would have been uncaring though, because Jesus was going for a much longer trip than people were probably thinking. You don't invite someone into your car to take a ride, and then take a three year trip to the planet Mars. If you care, you have to tell them what they're signing on for.
Marriage ceremonies are like that, but people rarely pay attention to the details. Better or worse. Sick or healthy. Rich or poor. Sexy or not. It's not just a limo ride to the champagne room. It's a very long, very unpredictable commitment. If you try to bail out early because the scenery has changed, or you're tired of the journey, you're a chump! You need to make your mind up beforehand, not on the way.
So the teacher of the law wants to tag along. Jesus tells him it's going to be a long ride, perhaps for the rest of all time. He's not just going across the lake. He's going to keep on going, never resting or declaring himself "arrived." If that's not what he's looking for, he's better off staying where he is.
People rush into Christianity sometimes, without realizing that it's serious. You're not "done" when you pray the sinner's prayer. You haven't "arrived" when you attend church. It doesn't end when you get to heaven. This is an eternal thing. You're going a long distance over a narrow rocky path. Are you sure that's what you want?
Are you interested in being with Jesus, even on the run, or are you just concerned with getting to heaven, or being safe from hell? Have you decided to rest, thinking "Finally, I'm a good person. I can quit trying to become better." Have you mistaken anything in this world for being as permanent or as eternal as Jesus?
I wonder if his answer to us sometimes, when we cry out "I want to follow you, Jesus" is "Really? Do you even know what that means?" The Israelites were interested in leaving Egypt, mostly, but they had no idea that the journey would last the rest of their natural lives. It wasn't a quick trip across the border to an agency waiting to set them up with free food, free housing, free medical, and free education. They had to be grownups and put some effort in. They complained and struggled the whole way to the promised land, but God was with them all along.
So, decide to be in it for the long haul. You've already started the journey. God is with you the whole trip, regardless of whether you "arrive" within our lifetime.
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
This is Jesus' coy way of making sure we know what we're getting ourselves into before we take his journey. The religious scholar came to him and wanted to join him. I don't think we have any reason to believe he was insincere. Jesus is cool. This guy dedicated his life to being a God expert. The two are meant for each other.
Jesus could have just been focused on church building and been like "Sure, hop in the boat. You're in." That would have been uncaring though, because Jesus was going for a much longer trip than people were probably thinking. You don't invite someone into your car to take a ride, and then take a three year trip to the planet Mars. If you care, you have to tell them what they're signing on for.
Marriage ceremonies are like that, but people rarely pay attention to the details. Better or worse. Sick or healthy. Rich or poor. Sexy or not. It's not just a limo ride to the champagne room. It's a very long, very unpredictable commitment. If you try to bail out early because the scenery has changed, or you're tired of the journey, you're a chump! You need to make your mind up beforehand, not on the way.
So the teacher of the law wants to tag along. Jesus tells him it's going to be a long ride, perhaps for the rest of all time. He's not just going across the lake. He's going to keep on going, never resting or declaring himself "arrived." If that's not what he's looking for, he's better off staying where he is.
People rush into Christianity sometimes, without realizing that it's serious. You're not "done" when you pray the sinner's prayer. You haven't "arrived" when you attend church. It doesn't end when you get to heaven. This is an eternal thing. You're going a long distance over a narrow rocky path. Are you sure that's what you want?
Are you interested in being with Jesus, even on the run, or are you just concerned with getting to heaven, or being safe from hell? Have you decided to rest, thinking "Finally, I'm a good person. I can quit trying to become better." Have you mistaken anything in this world for being as permanent or as eternal as Jesus?
I wonder if his answer to us sometimes, when we cry out "I want to follow you, Jesus" is "Really? Do you even know what that means?" The Israelites were interested in leaving Egypt, mostly, but they had no idea that the journey would last the rest of their natural lives. It wasn't a quick trip across the border to an agency waiting to set them up with free food, free housing, free medical, and free education. They had to be grownups and put some effort in. They complained and struggled the whole way to the promised land, but God was with them all along.
So, decide to be in it for the long haul. You've already started the journey. God is with you the whole trip, regardless of whether you "arrive" within our lifetime.
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