You Can’t Hide

A possum tried to hide halloween candy in my car engine!

Scripture:

Luke 12:1   Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. ² Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. ³ Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Observation:

Jesus had just finished his comments about the scribes and the Pharisees when the scene shifted. Suddenly, it seemed that Jesus was surrounded by thousands of people. The word used in Greek is where we get our word myriad, and it generally meant about 10,000 people. While there were thousands present, Jesus remained concerned with his teaching and training of the disciples. It appeared that everyone was welcome to listen to his instruction, but it was primarily for his inner circle that would be experiencing persecution in the days ahead. 

Jesus wasn’t necessarily warning his disciples about the coming persecution, but their proper response to the persecution that they would face. Just as the scribes and Pharisees were lying in wait for Jesus, so they would be lying in wait for the disciples. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was becoming visible as they focused far too much on their interpretation of the law, and failed to live into the nature of God found in holy love. 

To truly follow Christ would be costly. While the Pharisees lived duplicitous lives, the disciples would have to claim their life of faith. They could not be hypocrites, but would have to reflect what it meant to be a Christ follower in the light of day. They would not be able to have a secret life in Christ, but whoever they claimed to be and the Jesus they followed would become known to all. 

Application:

There is no place for a half-way disciple in this world. It’s kind of like being sort-of pregnant. You either are, or you’re not. I think that’s the point that Jesus was making. The model of fidelity that came from the Pharisees would be extremely destructive to the life of the disciples. 

If we think that we can hide our faith, or that we can pretend to be followers of Christ, we are only fooling ourselves. If we think that we are protecting ourselves by hiding our faith, then we are just as guilty as the Pharisees. To be a follower of Jesus Christ will be costly, and persecution will come. However, the only way to be prepared for that persecution is to fully embrace following Jesus. 

Jesus wants his disciples, then and now, to get the big picture. When the final judgment comes, all will be revealed. It’s not worth hiding now for the world’s sake and eventually lose it all. 

Prayer:

Lord, there seems to be so much to learn about being a disciple. Please, help me to open my eyes, listen well with my ears and my heart, to your teaching. Amen.