 |
| WHUPPA WHUPPA WHUPPA |
Matthew 20:20-23
Request from James and John’s mother
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus along with her sons. Bowing before him, she asked a favor of him.
I’m thankful that my mother was not a helicopter mom. You know, the ones who always hang out in the school office every day chewing out the secretary for some perceived slight against her child. More often than not, she was in the office, but mostly because she was supposed to be there (she was a substitute most of my grade-school years.) Nonetheless, she was protective, but not overprotective; more like a sniper in the bushes ready to take out a problem from a distance before it becomes too big, rather than the full aerial assault some mothers put out to defend their shnoogy-woogums from a B on a paper or something like that.
 |
| Just a little closer… |
James and John’s mother kind of comes off this way in this passage from Matthew. She obviously loves her sons; nobody can fault her for that. She wants to look out for them. However, asking the Son of God for places at his side in the kingdom to come for her sons… may be a little excessive. Jesus pretty much answers that, as well. It’s not his to give, but the Father’s.
This kind of puts us in an interesting position though, because it’s a word of uncertainty from the one who is supposed to be a light in the darkness, a shepherd of lost sheep. Lent, as much as it is a time of fasting and repentance, it’s also a time to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. While we know that there is hope and light in the future, the details are often fuzzy, obscured by obstacles. It’s like we’re in a forest, surrounded by trees, and we can only see maybe 20 feet of path in front of us.
That’s why its’ so important to trust in Jesus to get us through. We may cry and beg and scream for comfort and certainty, but that’s not the reason why Jesus came. In fact, Jesus pretty much guaranteed we wouldn’t have a comfy ride; he tells us to get up, take our crosses and follow him. He’s leading us to the Kingdom of God, but gives us a compass, not a map. The journey will be dangerous, and we may slip, but by placing our hope in Christ we can and will make it through.
Although, sometimes it would be nice to have some kind of aerial transportation once in a while. Maybe a jetpack. Please can it be a jetpack? I like jetpacks.
