Hook, Line and Sinker

A Series on the parables of Jesus – Part 2
Parable of the two sons
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 21:23-32 

 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

On Tuesdays, I’ve been picking up my five-year-old granddaughter from preschool, taking her home for lunch and then dropping her off at her afternoon school. She’s kind of a character and does things to be funny that actually are funny.

 

Today, she was running late, so I told her to hurry up and finish her lunch. She responded by saying that she wanted an apple sauce packet. Her Mom said that she could take it with her in the car with Grandpa.

 

About half way to school she said, “Here Grandpa. You can have my apple sauce”. I declined and told her that it was hers; that she should eat it. But she said, “No. It’s for you Grandpa. It’s a gift”. Taking the container, I thanked her and told her how thoughtful she was.

 

After dropping her off at school, I got back in the car and looked down at the gift. What a sweet granddaughter to share her lunch with me like that. Not every five year old would be so thoughtful. But, then I picked it up. It was empty! She got me… hook, line and sinker.

 

On the Sunday before Passover, Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as king. Shortly after arriving, he violently drove the merchants out of the temple. Following these events, the religious leaders confronted him.

 

^23b “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”   NIV

 

Responding to their attack, Jesus framed his counter-question so that no matter how they answered, they would look bad. In doing this, Jesus provided himself with the perfect opportunity for a teachable moment… a parable.

 

Like an expert fisherman, he cast his line out by setting the story. It was about a father who told his two sons to go work in his vineyard. The first son said no, but then thought better of it and went to work. The second son said yes, but then decided to ignore his father, and disobeyed him.

 

Asking a simple question, Jesus hooked the fish.

 

³¹ “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.  NLT

 

How do you and I question Jesus’ authority in our life? Do we say yes, but then just go do whatever we want? Does our pride get in the way of humility and obedience? Does our desire for control help us to justify and rationalize sinful behavior? Is there an area of our life that we haven’t given over to Jesus’ authority?

 

Hook, line and sinker… can you feel the hook?

 

***

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.

Mark 4:23 NLT

Copyright 2023 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Triple Dog Dare

The Life of Jesus Series:

How Jesus interacted with others.

Mark 2:1-12

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202%3A1-12&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 1983 movie, “A Christmas Story”, Ralphie was an eye witness to the famous flagpole scene where one of his friends is forced to place his tongue on the frozen metal flagpole because of a “triple dog dare”.

 

His friend had no choice but to do it. Is that what happened to Jesus in this story?

 

Let’s consider the circumstances. Jesus had returned to Capernaum and was likely at Peter’s home. There was a huge crowd; so big that people were standing outside to listen, or to just get a glimpse of Jesus. Those who needed healing may have been waiting for hours.

 

It’s possible that this is a part of the back story of the paralyzed man and his friends. They may have faithfully and patiently waited for hours. Finally, not giving up hope, they devised a plan of desperation; a plan to lower their friend down through the roof of Peter’s house right in front of Jesus.

 

Following this is a series of events that is very revealing.

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  ⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”                       NIV

 

To the teachers of the law Jesus responded, ¹⁰ “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ¹¹ “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” ¹² And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers.                 NLT

 

Was this the result of a “triple dog dare”? Was Jesus forced to heal the paralytic like Ralphie’s friend was forced to stick his tongue onto a frozen flagpole?

 

 

What if the story had ended before the paralytic was healed? What if the only thing that Jesus had done for him was to forgive his sins?

 

I think the point of this story is not the faith of the paralytic and his friends. It’s that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins even before the crucifixion and resurrection. And, as the religious leaders so insightfully pointed out, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”