While Jesus was in Capernaum, a town located at the top of the Sea of Galilee, he healed many including Peter’s mother-in-law. News of his being there and those being healed prompted those in this town to bring anyone who was ill or demon-possessed to him.

“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.” (Matthew 8:18 NIV)

Jesus, like many today, sometimes just had to get away from the crowds. It isn’t easy when people don’t allow you time to even think! So Jesus sailed to another area. Yet the crowds still came after him. People enjoyed being around Jesus and seeing people healed was a great attraction, as well. But it wasn’t being with him that was important, it was being willing to be obedient and follow him.

“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” (Matthew 8:19-22)

How many people today are like that? They like the idea of following Jesus – at first it seems exciting! The problem comes when people discover that it isn’t always easy. Jesus warned the teacher who said he would follow him wherever he went that it wouldn’t be easy. Even animals and birds have homes in their dens and nests but to follow Jesus may mean that you don’t have any permanent home, no where to lay your head.

Another person wanted to follow Jesus but asked that he first be permitted to go and bury his father. Notice that this man is called a ‘disciple’ – he was a student of Jesus. This would seem to indicate that he was spending time with Jesus but was not committed to following him – something was holding him back.

From the customs of the time we realise that his father was not yet dead, that he did not need to be buried at that moment and it might be a while before he died. What this disciple was saying was ‘I want to follow you but not yet; let me wait until the time is right’. Keep in mind that the practice at that time was that a person was buried the same day they died so his father was still alive.

Jesus recognised this as being an excuse, leading to his response, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” He wasn’t being cruel or showing a lack of compassion. What this man needed to do was to follow Jesus now and not put it off until a later time. When the man’s father died would be the time to take care of his burial. Until then the man needed to follow Jesus.

How many people are like this today? Many like the idea of following Jesus but just not now. Perhaps they are saying: “let me wait until later when I have more time” or “I’m just not ready yet”. As Jesus told those who were delaying making a commit to follow him this is not something we can put off until later. As Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth: “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Jesus is seeking those who will commit their lives to him and follow him. What is your excuse?

Image by Kar3nt from pixabay.com.

Readings for next week: Matthew 5-10