Matthew 3

I feel like there is a lot of here, there, and everywhere in this chapter, but there were 4 very separate verses that called to my attention.

“ ⁵ As they remained silent, Jesus looked around at them in anger, grieving at the hardness of their hearts…”

“¹² But he repeatedly warned them not to make him known.”

“²¹ When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.”

“ ³⁵ Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

And each represents the “here, there, and everywhere.” 

I’ll share my thoughts on each one because I think they are all so pertinent.

Verse 5 really made me pause.  He looked at them in anger, grieving at the hardness of their hearts.  In anger, with anger Jesus grieved at the hardness of their hearts.  That once again, the sabbath was more important than helping someone need.  

I look at the news and can’t help but wonder if Jesus, in anger, is looking at us and grieving at the hardness of the hearts of so many of the people who call themselves his followers.  People who claim righteousness, people who daily name their Christian faith, while detaining, imprisoning, beating,  mocking, and murdering innocent women, children, and men.  I know that I look on in anger, grieving.  I can only imagine what Jesus is feeling as they use his name to further their cause. 

Then in verse 12 when it says that Jesus asked repeatedly to not be made know… Just now as I typed that, I thought I bet he’s still wishing the same!  “Please stop using my name!  Please don’t tell anyone that think you are following me.”

That’s not where my mind went when I first read it but it’s sure where it went just now.  In fact it made me think again of that verse in Matthew (10:32-33) where he talks about those who publicly acknowledge him and those who publicly disowns him.  That word publicly makes me pause.  There are some, the ones above, who are doing both at the same time!  How does that work? 

We are going to dive deeper into this in The Quiet Path Circle, but this one continues to play in my mind. 

Sometimes, I feel like I can hear, no feel Jesus’ weeping, his crying out in anguish and pain.  I imagine if I was Minneapolis or St. Paul, or any of the other areas where this is happening, I would actually hear and feel Jesus crying out in anguish, pain, sorrow and grief.

Verse 21 says that Jesus’ relations thought him out of his mind because of all he was doing and saying.  I feel like we are watching this playing out in real time, right now!  His relations being a group of his “followers” throwing Jesus to the ground over and over, shooting him with rubber bullets, with pepper spray or pepper balls, kicking and beating him, mocking him once again.

Who is it that’s out of their mind?  

And in verse 35, whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother… Ask yourself, today who appears to be doing the will of God?  The ones beating, mocking, shooting, detaining, or the ones singing, dancing, protecting, seeking justice? 

May we find ourselves on the side of Jesus. May Jesus call us brother, sister and mother. May we be brave enough to acknowledge Jesus publicly with our actions.

Until next time…♥️