Monday, December 10, 2001

"A HIGH PRICE for Following Jesus!"

"I have not come to bring peace but a sword." Matthew 10:34b

The words of Jesus above are not among my favorites. I find Luke's word "division" in place of "sword" less offensive but still startling. (Luke12:51, emphasis added). I much prefer to see Jesus as "the Prince of Peace" and to claim for myself his promise: "Blessed are the peace-makers; they shall be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Still, either text may be more realistic than assuming we can follow Jesus today and pay no price in our relationships to family and friends, with work colleagues, in our community and nation and, yes, in our congregation. Sometimes, especially in our congregation. Indeed, if "everybody likes us all the time" we are wise to ask, "Am I truly saying and doing all Jesus expects of me?"

However, the fact we pay a high price and feel deep pain is not, by itself, a sign we are following Jesus. We may be doing so but there may be other reasons for the responses we experience. I see (sometimes!) there is always more than one reason for people's responses to me!

Matthew 10 is named "The Disciples' Ministry and Its Cost" including the cost of "growing opposition." (In Interpretation: MATTHEW , by Douglas R. A. Hare.) Hare calls verses 26-42 "encouragement to fearless confession" and understands Matthew to be speaking not only to the first disciples but also to followers of Jesus in the Post-Easter Church.

Matthew prepares us to ask during this season: "To what ministry and witness am I called? How will my immediate and extended family respond? What price am I prepared to pay when people I'm connected to deeply hear my words and see my actions? If my neighbor, employer, landlord, banker, a government official - or a member of my family - brings pressure on me to change my views and activities, what will I say and do?

Myron Talcott

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