Matthew 8:20

[Fletch]

Matthew 8:18-22 NIV

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."



In Matthew 8:20 Jesus, tells a would be disciple (student) what it will be like if he follows him. That foxes can go to ground to rest, that the birds of the air can return to their nest for safety. but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Jesus was a traveling rabbi a teacher. He was reliant on the kindness of others to provide a place to rest or provide money so they could procure a room for Jesus and the disciples to rest and eat.

I am a die hard Rich Mullins fan, Rich was killed in an automobile accident about 11 years ago. Rich did everything he could to escape stardom. He went so far as to move to an Indian reservation in New Mexico to escape the limelight. Rich was a modern day disciple, a troubadour if you will. Rich composed and recorded as song in the early '90s based around Matthew 8:20.

Growing up as a pk (pastors kid) I knew the scripture but never really understood it. That is until I heard Rich's interpretation of it.

Rich followed the text perfectly, explaining that foxes have their dens, birds have their nest, BUT, the hope of the whole world rested on the shoulders of a HOMELESS MAN!

I had never thought of my Lord and Savior as a homeless man. But, after his leaving Nazareth for the last time he never had a true earthly home, someplace where he returned to at the end of a long day teaching. He stayed with friends or the sick and the Godless. He ate and spent time with the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the lepers, the lame, the blind. Those people that society would just as soon pretend didn't exist. You know the people that are still looked at by society exactly the same today.

What a humbling thought that our hope, our future, our Salvation rested on the shoulders of a HOMELESS MAN.

Thank you Jesus for staying true to God's plan for our Salvation!

[hotrodtom]

Christ truly was an alien in this world. He is still viewed as an alien to the non-believer. His teachings, life, death, resurrection and promise of eternal life is still alien to those that have not accepted his gift to them.
What we can learn from him in the context of what Dave is saying is, where is your hope and security? In money, possessions or things, friends, work? No, your TRUE hope is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ which is the ONLY acceptable atonement for our sins, that whomever believes and receives the free gift will have eternal life (through Jesus Christ) in Heaven.
Too many times, pastors, deacons and layman have become burdened with "dealing" with the people of the church and the world. It can be truly draining. If we look to our role model in Christ, we see that he joyfully served the ones that he would die for, while at the same time serving our Heavenly father. He KNEW that God would provide his every need, therefore he had no "burden" to do the work, only the DESIRE to do the work and will of the Father that sent him.
For those that are true believers, we know that we are aliens in this world (Exodus 18:3, Job 19:15), and that this world is not our home. Our home is in Heaven, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for us.

Every time I see a homeless person, I think of our Lord and Savior, which had only one Earthly possession. That was his garment which the soldiers took from him at Calvary and cast lots for because of it's value (it was woven of one piece of cloth, without seam or stitch). How often do we put value in the things of this world which we possess, but will be burned up in the world to come by the purifying of fire.

Are we willing to become "homeless" to serve or God and creator in the same manner as his precious son?

[Fletch]

As many of you know I am a fan of Rich Mullins' writings, even though for me Rich was taken out of this world far to soon. His words and song have always touched a cord with me. Here are the words of one of his songs that tells it like it is. Our Lord and Savior was by all rights a Homeless man.


You Did Not Have A Home

Oh, You did not have a home
There were places You visited frequently
You took off Your shoes and scratched Your feet
‘Cause you knew that the whole world belongs to the meek
But You did not have a home
No, You did not have a home And You did not take a wife
There were pretty maids all in a row
Who lined up to touch the hem of Your robe
But You had no place to take them, so You did not take a wife

No, You did not take a wife
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
No, You did not have a home
Well you had no stones to throw
You came without an ax to grind
You did not tow the party line

No wonder sight came to the blind
You had no stones to throw
You had no stones to throw
And You rode and ass’ foal
They spread their coats and cut down palms
For You and Your donkey to walk upon
But the world won’t find what it thinks it wants
On the back of an ass’ foal
So I guess You had to get sold
‘Cause the world can’t stand what it can’t own
And it can’t own You ‘Cause You did not have a home
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man

No, You did not have a home
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
And the world can’t stand what it can’t own
And it can’t own You
‘Cause You did not have a home.


The bold and italics for drive home the point.

[vmaxdreamer]

Fletch,
I had a really bad night and day. Blood pressure dropped ,heart speeded up and my top lip swelled up. Side effects to Chemo. Today everything is doing better so had some time to visit the web site and saw your post.
Intrigued at Rich Mullins lyrics{ I play guitar at Church} Wow! talk about making my day. When he played the hammered dulcimer I flipped out. Years ago I made my own Lap top Mountain Dulcimer and wayching a video on You Tube It light the fires once again to get another one and play. God knows just how to put things together. Thanks for your post.
peace and Blessings
Pastor Chip

[Fletch]

Pastor Chip, when I first came back to the Lord, Rich's words and music grounded me on where we as followers of Christ are suppose to be. Rich was truly salt and light, his actions and lifestyle were the things that we as Christians should be doing. He lived a very humble life, dedicated himself to helping others at every turn. A man who could have lived a life if luxury chose to life a meager existence on an Indian reservation.

Rich was a bit of an oddball, none of his music was even written down until the day that it was recorded, with the exception of the 'Jesus' album. Two weeks before his death one of the guys in his band convinced him to go to K-Mart and by a cassette recorder. They sat in a motel room and had a jam session and the words and melody's were recorded and almost 2 years following Rich's death the Ragamuffin Band put those words and music on disc.

I remember hearing John Rivers of KLOVE radio one time telling about Rich's funeral. He prayed 'Lord send us another such as this man'. About 5 years later Todd Agnew arrived on the Christian Contemporary Music scene. Todd's music like Rich's causes you to stop and think about the things you do in your life and how you represent Christ. All to often I find that the shoes fit a bit tight after singing along.

Music is such a big part of our worship, it shouldn't be a Sunday only thing, if it is you're missing a Blessing.

In Christ

[vmaxdreamer]

Amen Brother.
I was reading the other day about how David played for King Saul and the evil spirit had to leave. I believe the Holy Spirit draws nearer when we sing praises to him. I now will pursue another avenue to praise my Saviour with a Dulcimer. I haven't played one in years but I believe it will all come back. I don't believe in coincidences. I think thats an incident where GOD chooses to remain anonymous. Your post and my reading it will bring HIM praise.
THANKS
Vmaxdreamer