Sticks and Stones
Do you have situations where your words don’t translate what your mind thinks?
Lately, well not really lately-more like always, my mind doesn’t think fast. I’ll just say that. It baffles me when something happens and afterward I cannot fathom why in the world I didn’t react a certain way. A way that made sense. A way that would have caused the outcome to have been better.
I also hate when I say something in response that I shouldn’t have OR think of a response that would have been great, way after a conversation. Can you believe I would have kept my mouth shut when I should have actually said something? Why oh why can’t I get it right…
Jesus always got it right.
I love imagining how cool he was as he walked along with droves of people around him just waiting to hear what he had to say next or witness what he would do. He always blew folks away. Never was he common or predictable. Always a step ahead and totally far-out. No, I’m not stuck in the 80’s but how else can I describe how amazing he was/is. He blows me away daily.
For example, in Luke chapter 13 people were pointing fingers. As they brought up this and that, Jesus was quick to respond in ways that put them in their place. Some were implementing others for their sins and Jesus pointed out that everyone sins. An example of grace in the way of patience and time and chances was told by his parable about a fig tree which clarified the need for everyone to repent. And of course there’s the example he made by healing a woman on the sabbath. I especially like this one for several reasons.
How quick are we to point out others faults. In reality, all that does is magnify our own faults. In this story recorded in Luke, the ruler of the synagogue showed his backside to the people when he told them to get healed on the other days of the week, not on the sabbath. Ha! Never mind that Jesus was there teaching on the sabbath...and never mind this woman had been walking around for eighteen years with her affliction. Why should she have to wait one more day to be healed by Jesus right there in front of the whole congregation so that He could be glorified? Well, Jesus put that guy, that “ruler” in his place. He didn’t jump up defensively and holler at him, or stick his tongue out or show his own backside to make things worse. No. Jesus plainly and very effectively told him off. Most likely he did so in a reserved and very distinctive manner. Gosh, I’d love to be so awesome.
“You hypocrites.” he said. Ha, aren’t we all.
Jesus went on to give a plain example of how we’re all hypocrites. We all fall short of the glory that is due to our father in heaven.
He then added, (vs 16) “Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Yeah, why not? Bless her heart. I know I wouldn’t be standing in the way of some of my friends being released from the pains and sufferings I know keep them from joy no matter what day it was. Plus, if I had opportunity to get healed from my own sufferings I wouldn’t say, “Um, can we wait until tomorrow?” PLUS! How like humble Jesus to round-about-in-your-face show that he is stronger and more powerful than Satan...Satan kept that woman bound for eighteen years, but Jesus freed her in less than a moment.
There’s no secret to why that happened.
Verse 17 drives it home. “When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated.”
They were put in their place! Hey, don’t judge. You’re no better than anyone else. You may not agree with someone else’s choices, but that doesn’t give you authority to be the flame thrower. There are other ways to “deal” with your opinions and thoughts that are way more helpful than pointing out the wrong of others. And when we choose the correct way of handling them, we get the right response. “...but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”
Jesus was doing his thing. And people noticed. What happens when someone does something right? Do they get as much attention as the ones who do something “wrong”? Doesn’t seem like that’s usually the case.
The next time someone throws something in my face, I’m going to try to think of the “right” response. Even if it comes to me hours or days later...Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words seem to hurt much longer.
