Of Foxes and Birds

I remember as a child feeling sad for Jesus because he was homeless. I wanted to buy Him a pillow. When He said He had no where to lay His head, I took it very literally. Have you tried to sleep without somewhere to lay your head? I thought this must mean He needed a pillow. But, I have a little different view of things today. Jesus was addressing the enthusiastic scribe who was eager to follow Jesus wherever He went. Jesus wanted him to understand that this would not always be a comfortable life. Jesus was not promoting asceticism. He was not saying owning property and homes was un-Christian. He was not saying we all must camp out like nomads all the time. In fact those who renounce worldly dwellings for the sake of the kingdom, as opposed to those who are homeless for other reasons, seem to contradict themselves when they graciously receive the invitation to stay with a fellow disciple who owns a house (pays taxes on it, maintains it, and pays the mortgage).

Foxes and birds are territorial. They dig holes and build nests, and stay near them, at least for a season. They do not roam far from their homes. But, Jesus did roam. He moved from place to place much like the pillar of fire and cloud which led the children of Israel in the wilderness. When the fire and cloud moved, they moved. They broke camp and set up camp accordingly. Jesus was that fire and cloud to his disciples. He kept moving. But, it was not in order to demonstrate the kind of lifestyle He wanted or demanded of every disciple. Remember in John 1 he had a place to stay. When asked He said, "Come and see." He may have had his own private dwelling in Capernaum or at least lived with Peter and Andrew while there. He had a home away from home in Bethany in the company of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. But, He did spend time in lonely places. Peter offered to erect a tent for Him and his heavenly quests. He had no hotel reservations. He was born in barn because there was no room for Him in the Inn. He did tell the disciples to seek out worthy houses in which to dwell when they evangelized cities and villages. There is no inherent virtue in sleeping out under the stars with no pillow.

So what is the application for us today? It seems clear to me that Jesus is saying disciples have to be flexible and willing to endure hardships if following Him demands it. When persecution came to Jerusalem in Acts 7-8, the church was scattered, and homes were abandoned, at least temporarily. Jesus warned the saints in Matt.24 that there would be a day in their generational future when they would have to flee to the mountains to avoid being caught up in the destruction of Jerusalem. Mark seem to have a hard time adjusting to life on the road with Paul and Barnabas. For this particular disciple Jesus wanted Him to realize that Jesus' current ministry on earth was filled with travel, motion, movement. Jesus was seeking and saving the lost. He was avoiding a premature death. He was making His way toward Jerusalem where his destiny awaited Him. His current situation demanded the lifestyle He led. But, though it seems He did not have hotel reservations for the next stop along the road, He did not always sleep under the stars or in the rain. He had a common purse to fund His travels. Jesus was testing this disciple to see if he really meant that he would follow Jesus everywhere and anywhere. Disciples often say things they do not fully understand. Jesus would test this in two more ways with two other disciples. But more on that later.