I found myself pondering many things today, but I am going to make brief statements about just 2 of them.
First, Jesus warning about the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees. Jesus, of course, is talking about how a little bit of their teachings has a way of taking over your whole being. Earl Cowden (a former pastor and current good friend of mine) once told me about teachings in the church that we are told we must do. He spoke about the people in the early church who said christians must be circumcised, and how that "must" practice continues today. His examples: some will say we must be baptized by immersion, others will say we must speak in tongues, and still others say we must use only the King James bible. Earl told me that when we get caught up in what we must do, that leads to a great deal of "mustyness." It seems to me the religious teachers in Jesus day were all about what must and must not happen, and that kind of yeast is still alive today.
Second, Jesus asks the point of gaining the world if you will forfeit your soul. It is so sad to see a culture where people base their worth on what they have. In fact many do not even realize the difference between wants and needs. I watch HGTV, and people are always looking to buy new houses with the stuff they really need; 5 bed rooms and 4 baths, a master suite, and a 3 car garage. Crazy thing is, it is always a couple with no kids. Why on earth do you need 5 bedrooms?! How many places could you possibly need to shower and poop? But we think we do, and we teach our kids that success is a 5 bed 4 bath home and 3 cars. Jesus says he is coming to reward us for what we have done, and unfortunately all so many are doing is working hard to get big houses and then relaxing in said house in what little time they have left. As I look at all my own stuff, I realize that the stuff is not bad, it is how that stuff demands my time and energy, and it is all human concerns. I want a reward from Jesus, and so my concern should be for that. I have spent a lot of time recently asking God to show me what he would have me do. I am also now asking how to show my kids what is important, that they will be better equipped than I am to make wise decissions when it comes to where their concerns should lie.
I LOVE the "mustiness" analogy. There are enough REAL "musts" in the Bible without us making up a set others. Of course I think that is what Jesus was saying...that the religious leaders were constantly adding to the requirements whatever benefitted them!
ReplyDeleteI'm always saying.. the more you own.. the more it owns you.. I know in my own life.. I "own" a lot more than I need and sometimes I feel bogged down by it. Rob the last 2 verses intrigue me... is Jesus talking about a physical death or spiritual death?
ReplyDeleteI think the last 2 verses are saying that 3 disciples are about to get a taste of what the kingdom looks like in its glory really soon, because the very next words are, "after 6 days..." In other words, I believe Jesus is prophesying his transfiguration. It may seem simplistic, but Jesus' transfiguration is an event that Peter wants to last for a long time; an event where God speaks; an event where Moses and Elijah show up. It is a taste of the reward for following Christ.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm sure there are plenty of smart people who would have a different answer.