Unlikely Followers

The Pharisees devoted themselves to the rules of ritual purity and to turning the nation to righteousness—something they believed would prompt God to deliver them from the Romans.

Jesus’ purpose in his teaching was to reveal the heart of God. He distilled the entire law into two principles: to love God supremely and to love others as much as we love ourselves. While the Pharisees looked for outward conformity, Jesus looked for inward change.

A Patch Won’t Do

In today’s reading, the followers of John were concerned that he taught them a life of self-denial, including going without eating as an act of self-discipline, while Jesus didn’t demand this of his disciples.

Jesus’ answer included three metaphors. The first was taken from their wedding traditions.

Please, Jesus, Hurry!

We often feel the lack of time – to prepare for exams, finish projects, pay off our debts, or take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The man in the story faced the reality of running out of time. He had just learned that his little daughter had died and hoped that if Jesus hurried back with him, they might arrive in time for Jesus to revive her.

Read More patience, God’s timing, urgency

Which Jesus?

In 1st century Judea, blindness was a particular burden. Not only were the blind unable to see; they were understood to be deserving of their condition. Jesus healed many blind who came to him and in today’s reading, he restored sight to two men. Though he warned them to not speak about him, they “talked about him to everyone in that part of the country.”

The Real Deal

Jesus’ compassionate assessment of the people he encountered was that they were “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” To multiply the number of people reached during his ministry on earth, he delegated twelve of his closest followers to engage in spiritual work similar to his own.

Don’t Be Afraid

When Jesus sent his disciples out on their ministry assignment, he knew that they would be challenged. Knowing that disagreeable surprises can unsettle us, Jesus gave them an idea of what they would face and how to deal with it. When they went out to preach in the villages, they’d have to contend with unpleasant situations that Jesus usually handled directly. Thankfully, for them, and for Christians today, Jesus gave some guidance as to how to respond to trouble.

The Way It Is

Most of us have not-so-fond memories of some authority figure sitting us down to explain “the way it is.” We’d rather live in our own fantasy than in what we see as someone else’s reality, but Jesus has unique authority when he speaks of reality. Before he sent his disciples out on their first ministry assignment, he gave them (and us) a reality check. Some of what he told his disciples doesn’t fit well with the fantasies by which people prefer to live.

Take a Little Time

From the evidence provided by our reading, we learn that Herod tended to react impulsively. Firstly, there was his reaction to John the Baptist, a righteous man who dared to publicly disapprove of Herod’s adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife. Herod impetuously had John arrested to silence his voice.

Secondly, there was his reaction to a dancing girl.

What Do You See?

Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins so when news of John’s death reached him, Jesus sought some time alone to deal with his grief. To put some distance between himself and the crowds, he got into a boat and headed out on the lake. Not to be put off, the crowds guessed where he would land, ran along the shore on foot, and were waiting for him when he arrived.

Read More empathy, compassion, perspective

What Would It Take?

In this passage, Jesus finally gets some time alone to pray after the beheading of his cousin, John. After dismissing the crowd and his disciples, he spent a few hours on a nearby mountainside. By the time he descended, it was past midnight and the disciples were well out into the lake and working hard because the wind was against them. As the hours passed, the waves became higher, tossing the fishing boat every which way.