Vol. 1 Issue 14
Vol. 1 Issue 14
Galilee – As we continue to follow Jesus of Nazareth and report on what he does and says, we are struck by his seemingly contradictory teachings. Not long ago he said "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13 NIV)
And just a short time ago he spoke to a Samaritan woman about living water being a gift from God. (ref. John 4:10)
Recently though he seems to have said that there is a price that must be paid to be one of his followers. A large crowd was following him when he suddenly turned to them and said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-- yes, even his own life-- he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out."
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 14:26-35 NIV)
Then again maybe this is not so contradictory, for on one occasion Jesus told his disciples "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48 NIV)
None the less, it is a paradox. The gift is free, but there is a price to be paid by those who would possess it.
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