We all have our picture of Christ. The culture loves Jesus a lot more than the “church.” If this passage gets widely read, then everyone’s picture of Jesus may be in jeopardy.
Matthew 8:19-22 (NIV)
19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
When do you have the most routine? Is it in the mornings? Bedtime? Meals? My biggest routine is going from sleep to fully dressed and ready for the day.
But then we have things that mess up our routines. For instance, a couple weeks ago my dad was rushed to the ER – had that happened before or during my normal routine – I would have thrown on whatever clothes I could quickly find and get to the hospital – the emergency takes precedence over normal life.
In the same idea, the Jewish culture, even today, has a very strict and important prayer and life routine. Daily prayers and rituals were commanded – along with the Ten Commandments. But when a relative dies, all routines were exempt. Listen to this from the Talmud – a Jewish rule book:
“He who is confronted by a dead relative is freed from reciting the Shema, from the Eighteen Benedictions, and from all the commandments stated in the Torah.”
The exception: it’s clear – this culture took the death of a relative very seriously. You could even touch a dead relative. Death was a serious process:
1. Prepare and cleanse the body
2. Place in a tomb for one year
3. Put bones in an ossuary
4. Bury w/ceremony
One full year for mourning.
This is very serious – very emotional – very intense.
There are a lot of theories on what this guy meant in verse 21.
21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
- My dad is near death – I have to take care of him.
- My dad just died and we have to bury him.
- My dad’s bones aren’t ready for the ceremony.
And Jesus, being so compassionate and empathetic, says – you can’t do that if you follow me.
What a jerk. Jesus – he wants to follow you, can’t you just let him grieve? I mean, even the strict Pharisees gives an exception for that. Jesus, you really seem to be asking to much here. It’s almost like you are saying that following you is more important than the love for his family. Jesus, why not be understanding here? Honor your father and mother – remember that?
What Jesus said rang very loud to everyone there verse 22 .
22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
- The Scribes and Pharisees heard Jesus say that he was more important then the exception to the rule – superior to the Talmud
- The people heard that following Jesus was a commitment so serious that their relationships and family took 2nd place.
- And we hear a lack of compassion.
Ya know, following Christ is a commitment that is serious. And we, too many times, put this commitment on the same playing field with work, school, vacation and XBOX.
Think about it. This story can happen, is happening all around us. Jesus, I’ll follow you, but -
- I need this bf/gf right now.
- I can’t commit to giving money right now to your Kingdom – the poor, the needy.
- I can’t forgive you because of the pain I am going through.
- I have to bury my past first
- I have to break this addiction first.
- I have to finish college first.
Jesus communicated the immediate importance of following him – the Kingdom and your spirituality is now. Whatever else you may be thinking, the spiritual life comes first – or it dies like that guy’s father.
This calls for wise thinking. The call for moral code and honor is godly – living a life and putting to death our sinful nature is of God. But the supremacy of Christ may just demand your loyalty over a relationship or desire that is (in itself) not a bad/sin thing.
This is a call of balancing responsibility here on earth (school, work, family) with God. Jesus consistently makes a point that no commitment should be superior to our commitment to him.
Matthew 10:37-39 (NIV)
37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Luke 14:25-26 (NIV)
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
How is the balance going in your life? What seems to challenge your commitment to Him?
