Life Journal 050205 Matthew 13

Matthew 13 and 14 tell us about how he taught when He spoke to the crowds. Even when it was just the boys (the 12) Jesus didn’t "Wow em" parsing ancient sanskrit, or spend time revealing idiomatic sayings from the lost language of the garden. Jesus just explained the stories. And still His explanations left His closest followers with a measure of mystery. I tend to look at it like when I began to golf, putting is the tedious and crucial element.

I was told, "Don’t aim at the hole. At a distance, focus on a three foot radius around the hole. The idea is to get close. As you set your sights on area around the hole you, stress less about getting everything right, about how small that little hole is. Relax and you will actually come much closer to being accurate."

Jesus lived among a crowd of people who focused on doing everything precisely right, all the rules and motions but they seemed to have lost sight of the bigger picture. I occasionally golf with people like this, they become so self aware of every mental or physical mistake that rather than enjoying the game they are all bound up in self contorting critique and direction. Okay I am that occasional golfer!

Jesus also lived among another group of people who knew they could never live up to the self contorting standards touted by the "precision religionists." These crowds pretty much only participated on the outside, never really expecting the great rewards and benefits the others contended for. Sometimes I am a golfer like that too. "It doesn’t matter what I do. I will never really do really well, so just whack the ball and have some fun with it if you can. Maybe you will hit a long one. You can’t hope for much more anyway." That is the self talk that goes with that kind of self resignation.

I think the crowds Jesus spoke to were like this last group. For the most part they were just kicking around fringe. Their self talk was that they were clearly excluded from serious "God hopes." The wisdom of their capitulation was made clear by those who seemed so competent with the religious precision.

Then along comes Jesus and tells stories, lacking precision, but clearly defying the norms of the precision game. Matthew says, "Here is another story Jesus told: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.’" Here is another . . . "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field." Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread." Matthew goes on and says, "Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds."

What am I hearing you say to me today Lord? I am hearing you say, "Listen to the stories in other people’s lives. Tell your own stories to the crowds, stories that may lack precision but communicate the message. Quit worrying so much about getting everything precisely right that you get all bound up."

I am hearing you saying, "Relax and enjoy the time you have on the planet. Focus on the three foot radius. When you get up to the hole you’ll be surprised with how close you are and we can work from there. After all there is a lot more I could tell you about heaven than what you can learn from how a woman bakes bread! Trust my stories and one day you’ll be amazed at how far you come and how close you are to where I want you to be!"

Further reflections from Jesus; Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Mat 11:29-30 (NLT) "Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. John 16:12 (NLT)

Glad to be with You in the Word: Pastor Art