June 15, 2014 Yes

Yes

Matthew 8:21-22 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

THIS short exchange has often caused Jesus’ followers to question, “A bit impatient, aren’t you, Jesus? Can’t the man have a few hours to bury his father?” I think we all wonder if we, indeed, have any opportunity to take a break from following Jesus.

     In essence, we don’t. How could we? Following Jesus means we pursue his words all the moments of our lives. If we aren’t pursuing Jesus, we are pursuing something else. And anything that is not of Jesus is, well, sin isn’t it?

     The true context of this scripture passage is to affirm that we must always be about speaking and living the Gospel. Jesus wasn’t opposed to the man burying his father if the man took advantage of that opportunity to also proclaim the Gospel message at the funeral. Jesus was pushing into his people so they would radically consider the urgency of preaching “good news to the poor…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

     The need for the Gospel is just as urgent, if not more so, than in Jesus’ day. Our culture has lied to us and driven us into captivity. We find no promised rest in “more”, and we are taught we can approach God at our own convenience.

     Sadly, though, our convenience is to conveniently put Jesus aside, to find excuses to say, “Later, Jesus.” The bottom line here is that, “Yes.” is the only proper response to Jesus. He is Lord.

LIFE Link: Urgently go after Jesus. Don’t let him get away!