Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Reflections in Luke 9:49-56

My Metro riding thoughts on Jesus' approach to Jerusalem. I've adopted a Benedictine-style prayer excersize for my daily commute. You select a short bible passage, read the passage a few times, and them meditate on it, slowly conjuring up images in your mind that reflect the passage. Today I selected this passage from Luke.

Disclaimer: I don't pretend for this to be any kind of Gospel truth or hard and fast statement of faith... just what went through my mind as I prayed on this passage.
9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against us is for us. 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to another village.
By an accident of circumstance, the only version of the bible available on my phone (yes, I read the Bible on my cell phone) is th King James Version. While there are theological and practical problems this presents for me... today Iwas very grateful to have this version of the text in front of me.
I approached this passage from Jesus' perspective. I'm walking down the road, knowing full well that I am walking to my death, yet unable to convince anyone of what is to come, or (possibly?) really being able to confront it myself.  This is not an experience many of us can ever replicate; knowing full well we are walking to our death, though nobody else knows it, and knowing you have truly done nothing wrong. 
From this perspective, I watch Jesus talking to his disciples not as he might have a few weeks or months or years ago, but as a man who knows his time is short. Should they be concerned about someone who casts out demons in Jesus' name?  He answers no, "for he that is not against us is for us". the unspoken second half of this sentence is, we have much bigger problems ahead. 
Then, in leaving the village of the Samaritans, the disciples are surprised by how Jesus was rebuffed by the Samaritans. They ask if he is going to punish them in someway... and Jesus provides an Angry (and oft quoted) rebuke "the son of Man is not come to destroy men's lifes, but to save them". 
But who is Jesus mad at? I mean he has certainly "destroyed mens lifes" before. and God has as well.
Which brings me to the reason I really like the KJV here. Jesus is rebuffed in the village because "his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem." 
Have you ever tried to talk to someone who was preoccupied with something else? Who couldn't give you their full attention because they were caught up in a problem at home, an issue at work, a late bill, a sick friend?
Jesus walks into this village, stunningly Human. he is not Jesus the redeemer. he is Jesus the man. who is scared to go to Jerusalem. he is most assuredly not himself and it shows.
So maybe, just maybe? Jesus' rebuke is for himself? That he, in a moment of weakness forgot why he was there? Forgot he was supposed to try and save those souls in the Village of the Samaritans... and was instead preoccupied with his own death.
The Standard lesson here is that Christians shouldn't spend time fighting each other but rather should focus their efforts on saving the lives of those around them. And this is certainly an important lesson.
But far more valuable is to remember that even Jesus was human and made mistakes. If he was not perfect, then we certainly are not perfect either.  But we can't just use this as an excuse, we are compelled to hold ourselves up to a higher standard and re-dedicate ourselves, in that moment of deepest failing, to saving those around us.

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