Taking Sides
Matt. 9:27-34
Did the Pharisees hate Jesus?
Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district. After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.” - Matt. 9:27-34
What was the motive of the Pharisees? Was it hatred, or was it something else?
Here, they are calling him evil, the devil himself. But what was Jesus doing to evoke so much fear?
Similar to today, the struggle is over power. Jesus was developing a following that threatened the power structure of the leaders of the faith, and also of Rome itself.
Jesus had to know that if he did what the people asked, casting out demons, giving sight to the blind, he was making himself a target. Is that what he wanted? Is that why he came?
When we love our neighbors, when we truly care what happens to them, we jump at the chance to help them when they are in need. Jesus is love. He cannot ignore the cries of his people.
There is a battle going on in our country today. It is a battle fought in the name of Jesus on both sides. Compassion for the stranger who comes here for asylum is pitted against compassion for the citizens who are threatened by crimes committed by some of these asylum seekers.
This is playing out all over the world, and both sides believe they are the more compassionate followers of Christ.
Just as in Jesus’s time, the existing power structure is being challenged, and there is fear that the result will be the decline and fall of society, again.
Which side is right and just?
If we step back and look at the issue from a distance, we see that both sides have reason to believe they are doing the right things.
So, what would Jesus advise us to do?
He told his disciples that following him would lead them to being tortured and killed for their faith. That is not a pleasant outcome, is it?
But we can see why that would come to pass.
Some say that we, as a nation, are already at war with ourselves, and our destruction is imminent. I hope they are wrong. I pray that we can find a way to come to an agreement on the goals while disagreeing on the methods.
So far, that hasn’t come to pass. Someone needs to be willing to step across the line and offer a way to peace.
More to come...