Matthew 17: 14 - 21
No time for reflection, no time for meditation on the event that had just thrilled their souls. Jesus is confronted immediately by human need ... by human pain. And his response teaches us ...
First, I am tremendously moved by the way Jesus met the demands placed upon him. He responded. Do I? I would want to sit awhile and bask in the glory experienced on the mountain! I would want them to come back later ... when I was rested ... when I was ready. How about you? The application for me is best described by William Barclay in his The Gospel of Matthew:
Secondly, some are disturbed by Jesus' words to his disciples as he learns of their failure to cast out the demon. Remember, Jesus had previously given them that authority. (Matthew 10:8) When confronted with their inability to do so, Jesus calls them "faithless and perverse" (verse 17). It is important for us to understand that Jesus has not lost his temper. He did not "lash out" at them. Their ability to exercise the authority which had been given to them was blocked. The Greek word translated "perverse" is a word that means "to twist, to dislocate, to confuse ... it indicates a deficiency in inner attitude leading to confusion and illusion regarding the starting point of action" (Strong's). I wonder what it was that was twisting and confusing them? What was the deficiency in their attitudes? Did they imagine that THEY were doing this? Did they think THEY had the power to do this work? I don't know for sure ... but perhaps the lack of faith stemmed from some sort of inner, heart-of-heart thinking that this was about THEIR power and THEIR ability. And the application leaps off the page! If you and I want our actions to reflect the power of God ... we must be completely certain that it is about God and not about us! Yes - Ephesians tells us we have resurrection power available to us (Ephesians 1: 19 - 20). But it is God's power ... it is God's ability ... and an inner heart of faith knows that without a shadow of a doubt.
The third observation from this passage comes from Jesus' words about having faith the size of a mustard seed and then the ability to move mountains. Literally? No. The Jews of Jesus' day had a phrase they would use about a great teacher - one who could interpret scripture well and handle difficulties. Such a teacher was called an uprooter, sometimes a pulverizer, of mountains. These were regular phrases for removing difficulties. When we exercise faith, the difficulties that block our path are removed. It is faith ... great faith ... but faith that begins no larger than a mustard seed.
Our challenges?
First, I am tremendously moved by the way Jesus met the demands placed upon him. He responded. Do I? I would want to sit awhile and bask in the glory experienced on the mountain! I would want them to come back later ... when I was rested ... when I was ready. How about you? The application for me is best described by William Barclay in his The Gospel of Matthew:
The most Christlike people in the world are those who never find other people a nuisance. It is easy to feel Christian in the moment of prayer and meditation; it is easy to feel close to God when the world is shut out. But that is not religion - that is escapism. Real religion is to rise from our knees before God to meet other people and the problems of the human situation. Real religion is to draw strength from God in order to give it to others. Real religion involves meeting both God in the secret place and men and women in the market place. Real religion means taking our own needs to God, not that we may have peace and quiet and undisturbed comfort, but that we may be enabled graciously, effectively and powerfully to meet the needs of others.That's the challenge! That may be a beginning place for prayer for us. How will you take this to prayer for yourself?
Secondly, some are disturbed by Jesus' words to his disciples as he learns of their failure to cast out the demon. Remember, Jesus had previously given them that authority. (Matthew 10:8) When confronted with their inability to do so, Jesus calls them "faithless and perverse" (verse 17). It is important for us to understand that Jesus has not lost his temper. He did not "lash out" at them. Their ability to exercise the authority which had been given to them was blocked. The Greek word translated "perverse" is a word that means "to twist, to dislocate, to confuse ... it indicates a deficiency in inner attitude leading to confusion and illusion regarding the starting point of action" (Strong's). I wonder what it was that was twisting and confusing them? What was the deficiency in their attitudes? Did they imagine that THEY were doing this? Did they think THEY had the power to do this work? I don't know for sure ... but perhaps the lack of faith stemmed from some sort of inner, heart-of-heart thinking that this was about THEIR power and THEIR ability. And the application leaps off the page! If you and I want our actions to reflect the power of God ... we must be completely certain that it is about God and not about us! Yes - Ephesians tells us we have resurrection power available to us (Ephesians 1: 19 - 20). But it is God's power ... it is God's ability ... and an inner heart of faith knows that without a shadow of a doubt.
The third observation from this passage comes from Jesus' words about having faith the size of a mustard seed and then the ability to move mountains. Literally? No. The Jews of Jesus' day had a phrase they would use about a great teacher - one who could interpret scripture well and handle difficulties. Such a teacher was called an uprooter, sometimes a pulverizer, of mountains. These were regular phrases for removing difficulties. When we exercise faith, the difficulties that block our path are removed. It is faith ... great faith ... but faith that begins no larger than a mustard seed.
Our challenges?
- Today ... value the people God allows into your day, not as a nuisance, but as a gift. Serve them as you can. Value them.
- Acknowledge today that all good done by you and for you ... is from God. It is not of yourself.
- Practice faith ... as you face any difficulties your day may erupt in front of you ... practice faith. Take it to God. And allow the mountain to be moved!
Lord ... may we be Your people today. May we be truly 'religious' today. Christlike from the inside - out.
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