Jealous for the Whole

There are days that I wish that I could have the mind of a 1st century Jew. Sometimes the Bible feels like an inside joke and I am missing out on the best punch lines. Its almost like walking into Inception during the middle of the movie and trying to discover the nuances of the story line. You know something deep is happening right before your eyes but you don’t understand everything that is going on.

I get that feeling when Jesus says:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 ESV)

The full implications of what Jesus said are beyond the understanding of my 21st century perspective. Why did he choose to address the family? I am not sure, but I bet it had a huge affect on the crowd listening. On this occasion, Jesus doesn’t speak in parables. No, he wants to be very clear when he says, “anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33 ESV).

Let me be transparent and admit that I don’t get all of it, but I do understand this. Jesus does not want a percentage, He is jealous for the whole. He is not interested in visitation rights; He wants all of you. Every breath. Every dream. Every weakness and strength.

He wants my lack of understanding and so that he can fill it with the knowledge of Him. He wants to take my lack of commitment and place a hunger inside of me that only He can satisfy.  When I am not in my element, God is. Its OK that we are not filled in on all of the details, because He already is. He is glorified when I raise my hands in total dependence for the sake of his name. God doesn’t ask me to know everything, but he commands my total surrender.