“Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”” Matthew 8:21-22
There are times where the Lord puts in front of us a choice: follow social and familial obligations or follow Christ. It is a test we must all pass and at times it is downright agonizing. Here it is storge (sentimental) love versus Agape (God’s) love. It could be eros (romantic) or phileos (friendship), it's all the same. Human love, human loyalty, human familiarity versus loyalty to God. Every hero of the faith in the past has faced it and it was God ordained. We don't know if this disciple's father was dead or merely near death, most likely the latter, but the test is the same. Will I choose family and familiarity over Christ? The disciple who asked to bury his father before following Jesus is not specifically named in the Gospel accounts. The disciple remains nameless because it is a test put before all the Elect. We live in just such a time where we must leave the world and all its benefits and all its depravity behind to follow Christ. We are the nameless disciple. May the Lord strengthen our faith to pass the test in our day.
There are times where the Lord puts in front of us a choice: follow social and familial obligations or follow Christ. It is a test we must all pass and at times it is downright agonizing. Here it is storge (sentimental) love versus Agape (God’s) love. It could be eros (romantic) or phileos (friendship), it's all the same. Human love, human loyalty, human familiarity versus loyalty to God. Every hero of the faith in the past has faced it and it was God ordained. We don't know if this disciple's father was dead or merely near death, most likely the latter, but the test is the same. Will I choose family and familiarity over Christ? The disciple who asked to bury his father before following Jesus is not specifically named in the Gospel accounts. The disciple remains nameless because it is a test put before all the Elect. We live in just such a time where we must leave the world and all its benefits and all its depravity behind to follow Christ. We are the nameless disciple. May the Lord strengthen our faith to pass the test in our day.