WATCHWORD:
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:18-22
Meditation:
Slow Down and Listen
The Pastor was sitting on the floor with a group of children, talking with them about the children’s message. He asks “What has 4 legs, scampers around on tree limbs, and has a big bushy tail?” No answer from the children. He offers a clue, “It likes nuts!” Finally, after a lengthy period of silence one small boy tentatively raises his hand and says — “Pastor, I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.”
“It seems like”…Whenever we are confronted with a dilemma, we’re inclined to want that dilemma to be resolved in the most logical way. In this story, the little boy’s experience with the pastor posed a conflict for him. He knew what it sounded like, but what answer does the pastor want?
Despite information to the contrary, the boy was trying hard to see Jesus Christ in that information, because that has often been the answer before. How much like us? We have a fixed meaning for a word or a passage, so it’s hard to see it differently, especially if the original meaning had multiple definitions.
There are times, within my long standing Bible study group when I am surprised by how some of us read meanings into scripture passages that seems to run counter to how I would interpret the passage. Not that I’m a theologian, but how can they possibly come to that conclusion? It’s clear to me! (Really?)
Some of our multiple understandings stems from the history of how scripture has been passed down to us. When we dig into the meaning of certain passages, even to the point of researching Hebrew, or Greek or Latin, we are confronted with multiple definitions of the same word. What has that to do with different understandings of the same words and phrases? Probably a lot.
For a good number of years I liked the preaching of one particular televangelist. He spoke as a well-informed Biblical scholar. In many of his messages he pointed out the different meanings of a keyword, but in the end, those differing meanings did not take away from the lesson.
In the passage above, can you imagine how the Disciples reacted to what they saw, and then tries to sort out the meaning; not so much the ‘If you believe’ part, but the power to kill a tree with words!
Just between you and me, I don’t want to get lost in semantics, or the multiple meanings of words in different languages, or within a parable story. I want the message to be clear, not encumbered with extraneous sidebars. When we spend 30 minutes in our Bible group discussing whether this occurred at 900 BC, or 450 BC, I begin to have unChristian-like thoughts.
When I read a Bible passage, God’s Word, His Holy Message, I want to read it, think about it, and, as Martin Luther has suggested, let the passage ‘read me’. In other words, sitting quietly, simply listening for what is the Lord telling me. What do I take away from these Holy Words that will enrich my Walk?
Even though he wrote Bible commentaries, Martin Luther argued against the use of commentaries because he thought they altered God’s personal message to the individual reader, to you and I. Reading, with an open mind to meaning, not a scholarly study, would be a good approach to scripture reading. (I’m still going to use my commentaries! Sorry, Marty.)
A Prayer for Strength:
Lord, I am weary and don’t know when this “race” will end. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this trial, or that one. Help me to stop trying to outrun the trouble but rather to run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world can separate me from your steadfast love. Please give me a measure of your love today; give me the strength to endure what is before me. Thank you for your love that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever in your Kingdom! Amen.
