In Matthew's Steps: No Time For Opinion

The First Step: Read: Matthew 8
The Meditation: No Time for Opinion

Focus Verse: “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” Matthew 8:16

Simon and Garfunkle sing a song, “The Sound of Silence”, which speaks of a dream, a frightening dream really. One of the verses says(You can sing it if you remember the tune too...)...

"Fools", said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

Despite wanting silence when my kids are around sometimes, I too find the sound of silence to be rather frightening. Silence that comes after a performance, with no applause. Silence that comes as you sit together in the midst of a tragedy. Silence that falls from the lips of those who dislike you.

Silence is quite scary, especially if you’re wanting a response. If you’re waiting for someone to say : “Good job” or “Better luck next time” or anything, silence can be rather deafening. Silence between people speaks more than words ever could. Disagree with someone, have a conflict with someone, and the silence that you share is louder than any fight you could put up.

Jesus, though, doesn’t seem to mind. After the HUGE sermon on the mount, probably the longest sermon in the history of sermons, Jesus doesn’t wait for a response. He doesn’t ask his disciples what they think. He doesn’t do a survey, critiquing his style or the content of his message. He just gets to work. And fast too. Immediately after coming down from the mountain, Jesus is healing people. First a man with leprosy, then a centurion’s servant, than Peter’s mother-in-law. Then we’re told that Jesus is healing MANY people. “Everyone” who comes to him.

And does Jesus stop there? Does Jesus ask the disciples and those around him what they think now? No. He’s off then, calming the storm. Healing two more who are demon-possessed. In fact, the ironic part of this chapter is, the criticism Jesus receives is that he’s doing too much. After he casts the demons into the herd of pigs, “...then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they say him, they pleaded with him to leave the region.”(vs. 34). The only critique Jesus receives and listens to is... “You’re doing TOO MUCH!”

It’s amazing as you read through the book of Matthew how little time Jesus wastes gathering or listening to the opinions of other people. They hit him eventually. In the very next chapter, Jesus faces words from his critics. Later he’ll hear his disciples start to complain. And it is in the end the opinions of his own people that put him on the cross. But here, right after the big Sermon on the Mount, there is none of that. No time to talk. Just work.

What if we were the same way? What if we stopped listening so much to our critics and the opinions of others and focused instead on what we’re suppose to be doing? I’m always amazed how much time the media spends in polling. “What do you think of what Obama is doing today?” “What do you think of his recent vacation?” “What do you...” Ahh! It’s rediculas! How much time would we save ourselves, how much hastle and grief would fade away, if we shrugged off the opinions of those who disliked us and focused instead on the task Jesus places at our feet: bringing good news to the poor, tending the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, providing for those who have none, sitting with those who are in distress.

Or, better yet, what if we stopped criticizing others and focused on the people we can help in our lives. How much time would we save if we focused on the positive rather than drudging up the negative? Instead of criticizing our neighbors, what if we brought over dinner to them? Instead of nagging about our co-workers behind their back, what if we brightened up their day with a card, or just a word of thanks? Then, in peace, we might enjoy the blessed sound of silence...together! Amen.

Questions to Answer
1) What sticks out at you in this chapter of Matthew? What do you think of Jesus’ frantic activity here?
2) Often we break this chapter up in church into its various healing stories. What insights are gained in reading this chapter as a whole, rather than as one healing story or another?
3) How have you listened to criticism? Has it entergized you or depressed your spirits? How have your words affected others?

A Prayer to Pray
Almighty God, your son Jesus comes to do your will, to heal the sick, cure the lame, and proclaim liberty to all. May we join him on his walk to the cross. Keep our eyes set upon you that we may continue to work despite the opinions of others, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.