Blog
Dear Trailhead family,
You were probably taught as a youngin' that staring at people and eavesdropping isn't polite.
And while it may not be polite, it is fascinating.
Recently I was sitting at a gate at an airport on the backend of a very busy weekend. At that moment, reading felt like too much work, and listening to a podcast just wasn’t doing it for me.
What to do? What to do indeed.
It wasn't a conscious decision, but I found myself watching the people flow by my gate. Some people were relaxed, smiling, laughing. Some people were stressed, rushing, holding children and bags and the weight of the world on their shoulders.
And I caught snippets of conversation; nothing too profound but real people in the midst of real life. Maybe it was profound after all.
All that to say, I spent a pleasant 90 minutes that day watching people and eavesdropping.
Which brings us to Jesus.
In Luke’s account of the life of Jesus, Luke writes this setup line: “While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples”. (Luke 20:45)
I’m going to assume that Jesus knew He was being overheard. I'm also going to assume that what Jesus said was for the eavesdropping crowd as much as for the disciples. So let’s lean in and eavesdrop too.
Jesus began, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Oh, snap. This feels like that moment as a kid when your older sibling got punished. Holy fear mixed with giddy excitement.
Someone sees what is happening and is addressing it!
But the story isn’t over yet.
Much to my amazement, Jesus begins to people-watch.
Luke continues, “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” (Luke 21:1-4)
So what do we do with this eavesdropping and people-watching?
We rest or we repent.
We rest in the assurance that God is not fooled by human charades. Someone may appear to be fooling everyone, but God is not fooled.
God knows. God is just.
We repent if we are the one taking advantage of others. We repent if we are keeping score, thinking that our good works are elevating us above others.
God knows. God is just.
I've heard it said that Jesus comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comforted.
Two categories, summing up much of life.
So which one are you? Afflicted or comforted?
If you are like me, you are both.
Grace and peace be upon you,
Grant