Let the Dead Bury Their Dead

This reply that Jesus gave to the grieving son in Matthew 8:22 must have caught all of those within earshot completely off guard. This man had just lost his father; the man who raised him and molded him into the kind of citizen that he was. He must have had great respect for his father who was now gone, and he went about planning for his burial. This is the case in any instance when a loved one leaves this world. He wanted to follow Jesus, but asked to be allowed to take care of this piece of business first. Let me go to Matthew to give a better illustration of this and its significance in these final hours of the age. (The status quo is coming down quickly)

Matthew 8:18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

In short, Jesus was on the move and he told his followers, "Let's go over there. This meant that he wasn't lingering; he wasn't waiting for anyone to go and tend to some last minute business or to bid someone farewell.

Matthew 19-20 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

In other words, he told the scribe that it wouldn't be business as usual. He wouldn't have a certain dwelling place night after night and he would have to live by faith alone.

Matthew 8:21-22 "And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

This man made what would appear to be a very common request. He was already a disciple, however, he wanted to honor his father who had raised him up, but was now gone. Jesus instructs this man to follow him and let others tend to that. It of utmost importance that we put our relationship with the Lord Jesus above everything; even the events that we think are monumental. Jesus was departing to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and if this disciple had gone to bury his father, he would have returned to find Jesus gone. When the Lord instructs us to do something, it's for a reason. The next verse sums it up.

Matthew 8:23 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

His disciples followed him. When Jesus got on board the ship, they got on board too. Wherever he went, they went to unless instructed by him to go to a specific place for a certain span of time. They didn't take vacations or have days off. Their relationshiop with the Lord was ongoing and ares should be the same. The concept that we are not our own is lost in much of the preaching today. We all dwell in a vessel of clay and have a different law working in our members. We all strive to die daily to our old nature and become increasingly Christlike. Yet many not only struggle with these battles, they feast on teachings of prosperity and name it and claim it. Last week the pastor of the largest church in America was interviewed by Larry King. He says, basically that God wants you to have it all. Forget that it may take your heart off of the eternal. Forget all of the warnings throughout scripture that warn of the pitfalls associated with prosperity. (Some folks can handle wealth; most cannot.) I listened to this guy for five minutes and went about other business.

As you read the gospels; as you spend time in them meditatively, you learn of just how radical Jesus was as he called men to discipleship. He was the particularly hard on the religious folks who took pride in their years of study and their status among the citizenry. (Actually he was just honest) He turned the world upside down as he called men to "forsake all and follow him. This steadfast commitment is of the utmost importance. Any lingering idols within our hearts will cause us to stumble when things are going nutty. The example of the man who had lost his father displays the level of commitment required of us and the importance of ensuring that our commitment is steadfast. Another familiar example of this can be found in the parable of the ten virgins.

Matthew 25:1-4 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps."

Two things of interest here. The oil is representative of the infiling of the Holy Ghost. The lamp gives off light in a dark space. A lamp that has no oil in it will be useless in a dark space. It will cause the one holding it to look as though they're prepared, but when the time of trying arrives, the lack of preparedness will become blatently obvious. It is urgent like never before to ensure that we're walking in the Spirit at all times. (The importace of this cannot be stressed enough as the consequences are eternal)

Matthew 25:5 "And while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

This verse gives us a picture of the church at the end of 2006. Everyone is asleep; even those who ponder these things daily struggle to not become overcharged by the temporal things of this life. I really believe that when things begin comming apart at the seams, the saints with oil in their lamps will be prepared; even the ones who may have been thinking along pre-tribulation rapture doctrines. Those who neglected time with the Lord and were following afar off will be woefully unprepared for the hour of temptation that will come upon the whole earth.

Matthew 25:6-8 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."

This passage ought to be sobering to any who is atuned to the times that we are in. These are times in which the great falling underway has begun and will pick up steam in the days ahead. This is no time to be walking about with an empty lamp as Jesus warned us that the days just prior to his return would be more traumatic than any other time in history. Thesie are times when you absolutely must follow the Lord Jesus completely; regardless of what family members think, regardless of what neioghbors think, and even, regardless of what the brethren think. We must have oil in our lamps or we will stumble.

Matthew 25:9 "But the wise answered, saying Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves."

The wise don't have enough for another; they cannot carry one who isn't prepared.

Matthew 25:10-13 "And while they went out to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch ye therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

As I was copying these verses down, the term "go and buy" kept coming to mind and I remembered the verse in Revelation in which the Lord Jesus offers councel to the Laodiceans.

Revelation 3:17-18 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

I councel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white rainment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and annoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see."

There's several potential posts rolled up into these two verses. These folks in Laodicea were content; they had riches and goodly things in abundance. They became half-hearted in their relationship with the Lord. I have often wondered what happened to this church after they received the letter from John. We have no way of knowing, but I hope that they came to repentance. Riches will pierce you through with many sorrows and these preachers who teach nothing but success in this life (prophets of profit; another future post) are causing millions to not prepare for the times ahead. "Your Best Life Now" is a book that you can find in almost any store. The title tells me enough to not mess with it as the focus is here instead of the hereafter.

The conclusion is this; follow Jesus with all of your heart and all of your being. If he reveals to you that you are to leave your city, travel to Ouagadougou, stand in the city square, and wait for an elderly widow woman to come by and give you instruction, DO IT. "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

As I write this tonight, I see many areas in which I need to grow. I see many areas of my life in which the Lord still has a lot of work to do. I praise him for all that he has done in my heart and I know that he is faithful to complete the good work that he has started. I pray that you're seeking him ever so fervently and that your heart is stablished. This age is coming to an end and the glorious appearing of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ is at hand. The great and terrible day of the Lord will soon come to pass. Great for those who are born again and watching. Terrible for those who seemed to have "more important things" to do instead of seeking the Lord while he may be found. I pray that you're fully trusting in the blood of Jesus this hour.