Covered in the Dust
"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him."
-Matthew 9:9
Jesus had been turned away. He had healed a man possessed by demons, and the people of that town were so scared, and perhaps angry at the loss of their herd of pigs, that they sent him away. And so, Jesus returned to Capernaum. The sun hangs low in the sky, the air is thick with hot moisture, and the smell of fish in inescapable. Most people are getting ready to close up shop. The peak hours are past, and dinner with friends and family is all anyone can think about.
Jesus is likely on his way to Peter’s house for the night when he and his disciples pass a paralytic man being carried home from a day of begging. Jesus sees him and responds, "Take heart son, your sins are forgiven." Those walking by take mental note, and pronounce judgment on Christ in their hearts. Jesus senses their disapproving looks, and knowing the thoughts of their hearts rebukes them, and then to prove his authority to forgive sins, he heals the paralytic. Those watching gasp, and begin to whisper to one another in astonishment.
As Jesus continues to the house, those who witnessed the miracle follow behind at a safe distance to see if he will do anything else that night. Jesus did not
disappoint.
He came to the square of the city, the main hub of shops and businesses. As he made his way through the maze of booths he came to the booth of a tax collector, a man despised by all of his peers. This man not only took their money, but he did so for a foreign, oppressive government. Surely Jesus would either ignore him or excoriate him. When Jesus stopped in front of the booth, everyone braced for the coming confrontation. But Jesus uttered only two words: Follow me.
Then the most amazing thing of the day happened. More amazing than a man delivered from demons, more amazing than a lame man walking home; a tax collector got up and left his booth. He didn’t wrap up business or close up shop. He just got up, and left. He invited Jesus to his home for his dinner, and Jesus accepted.
It is hard to fathom the courage it took for Matthew to leave behind his whole life. Perhaps Matthew had heard of Jesus before and was just waiting for an invitation. Whatever the case, Matthew decided that what Jesus offered was infinitely better than what he had.
The call still goes out each and every day. To the destitute and the successful, to the blue collar and the white collar, to the righteous and the wicked - it echoes in our hearts and minds, "Follow Me." Can we, like Matthew, respond by leaving everything we know, the certainty of our processes, the familiarity of our habits, leaving them to follow Jesus, trusting that following him is infinitely better than what we currently have?
Homework this week: Hear and respond.
-Matthew 9:9
Jesus had been turned away. He had healed a man possessed by demons, and the people of that town were so scared, and perhaps angry at the loss of their herd of pigs, that they sent him away. And so, Jesus returned to Capernaum. The sun hangs low in the sky, the air is thick with hot moisture, and the smell of fish in inescapable. Most people are getting ready to close up shop. The peak hours are past, and dinner with friends and family is all anyone can think about.
Jesus is likely on his way to Peter’s house for the night when he and his disciples pass a paralytic man being carried home from a day of begging. Jesus sees him and responds, "Take heart son, your sins are forgiven." Those walking by take mental note, and pronounce judgment on Christ in their hearts. Jesus senses their disapproving looks, and knowing the thoughts of their hearts rebukes them, and then to prove his authority to forgive sins, he heals the paralytic. Those watching gasp, and begin to whisper to one another in astonishment.
As Jesus continues to the house, those who witnessed the miracle follow behind at a safe distance to see if he will do anything else that night. Jesus did not
disappoint.
He came to the square of the city, the main hub of shops and businesses. As he made his way through the maze of booths he came to the booth of a tax collector, a man despised by all of his peers. This man not only took their money, but he did so for a foreign, oppressive government. Surely Jesus would either ignore him or excoriate him. When Jesus stopped in front of the booth, everyone braced for the coming confrontation. But Jesus uttered only two words: Follow me.
Then the most amazing thing of the day happened. More amazing than a man delivered from demons, more amazing than a lame man walking home; a tax collector got up and left his booth. He didn’t wrap up business or close up shop. He just got up, and left. He invited Jesus to his home for his dinner, and Jesus accepted.
It is hard to fathom the courage it took for Matthew to leave behind his whole life. Perhaps Matthew had heard of Jesus before and was just waiting for an invitation. Whatever the case, Matthew decided that what Jesus offered was infinitely better than what he had.
The call still goes out each and every day. To the destitute and the successful, to the blue collar and the white collar, to the righteous and the wicked - it echoes in our hearts and minds, "Follow Me." Can we, like Matthew, respond by leaving everything we know, the certainty of our processes, the familiarity of our habits, leaving them to follow Jesus, trusting that following him is infinitely better than what we currently have?
Homework this week: Hear and respond.