Truth is...

The religious leaders at the time of Christ weren't all that excited about Jesus walking around gaining followers and respect. In fact, they wanted him to stop.

They figured if they could just get Jesus to say something blatantly false or ridiculously stupid or undeniably blasphemous, his reputation would be wrecked, and his followers would come back to viewing them as the real authorities.

The only problem is that their religious riddles and verbal traps never fooled Jesus. He saw them for what they were and responded with such deftness and aplomb that even Jesus' detractors were left speechless.

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Truth Is...Trying to catch Jesus off-guard is like waiting for a square to have three sides or trying to smell the color nine.

      

This verse is in the middle of a parable Jesus told comparing the Kingdom to a field containing both good seed and weeds. The landowner's servants suggested going into the field and pulling out all the weeds, but that plan was rejected for fear of damaging the good crop while attempting to get rid of the bad.

In Jesus' words, “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”

Leaning into the obvious interpretation that "the harvest" represents the end of time / the second coming of Christ / the final judgement, let me make two observations:

     1. This calls into question all the speculations about a "rapture" where God's people get taken away and the unsaved folks get left behind.

But more importantly...

     2. It seems that when it comes to determining what (i.e., who) is a weed or part of the good crop, God's intention is for it to be done at the end of all things by the harvesters, not in the midst of the growing season by the plants themselves.

In other words, while I certainly am called to be discerning about what advice I take or whose example I follow, it is never my job to say, "You're in. You're out." Plenty of plants and weeds look alike when they're growing. It's only later on, when fruit is produced, that you can really be sure.

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Truth is...The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

      

In my growing-up years, I spent Sunday mornings in the second pew from the front, seated behind a row of old, big-eared deacons who were waiting to serve communion and take up the offering. I sang the hymns, listened to the sermons, and never passed notes or whispered to my friends.

When I became a teenager, I started wishing for something more than ancient songs and sitting quietly. I started looking for a faith that expressed itself in more exciting ways. And I soon found a group of friends who wanted the same.

It started with the attitude of "Jesus loves us and died for us. Isn't that worth getting excited about?" It didn't take long, though, before excitement alone wasn't enough. We started evaluating musical skills and speaking abilities to determine where to be involved.

One day, it hit me. Those old guys on the front row didn't need the latest musical style or the hippest graphics to keep them interested in Jesus. They faithfully served for decades because the gospel is true and God deserves to be honored.

To bring it back to John 6, they weren't looking for a free meal, they were sitting at the feet of The Teacher.

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Truth is...It is worth considering whether I am seeking God, or seeking blessings from God.

      

Right off the bat, let's get something straight. On my own, I've got absolutely no idea what a hyrax is...other than the antlers of a notably tall elk, perhaps.

The King James Version calls them coneys, which, of course, is a particular style of chili dog.

The Amplified Bible doesn't even translate the word, but anglicizes it to shephanim and defines them as "small, shy, furry animals (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and in the region around the Dead Sea."

None of which is really all that important.

There's a greater point being made than Solomon's mastery of wildlife identification.

This verse is second in a list of four creatures that are small in stature but exceedingly wise:

• The ant, who stores food for itself
• The hyrax, who dwells in the safety of a rock-solid domicile
• Locusts, who never travel alone
• Lizards, who are small enough to hold in your hand, but they live in kings' palaces.

So...what's that greater point I mentioned?

If you think you are disadvantaged compared to others who have a bigger influence or a healthier body or a larger bank account...stop fretting. Yahweh provides for your well-being and intends the very best for you.

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Truth Is...Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you  -  you of little faith!
-  Luke 12:27-28

      

Oddly enough, Jesus didn't have a very good relationship with the Pharisees of his day, even though they were well-known for being experts in the law and very particular about following every little detail.

This verse is in the middle of seven "woe to you" statements by Jesus against the Pharisees and it reminds me of a set of panels from the Charles Schulz comic strip, Peanuts:

Jesus used the metaphor of a half-cleaned cup to emphasize that it's not a person's public persona or image that matters, but the content of their character. If the whole shoe doesn't shine, what's the point?

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Truth Is...It's not about keeping up appearances as much as it's allowing Jesus to raise up within us a factory of faithfulness.