DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORSHIP OR RIDICULE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WORSHIP OR RIDICULE

"While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live..'  So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples….When Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, 'Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.'  And they ridiculed Him.  But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.  And the report of this went out into all that land."  (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26).

Jesus elicited a variety of responses to Himself and His ministry.  Some, like the Jewish leaders, hated Him, and wanted to kill Him.  Some ridiculed Him and scorned Him.  And some worshiped Him.  

The basic meaning of the word "worship" is to kiss, not in a romantic sense, but as in bowing to kiss the hand of someone  as a sign of submission and respect.  In our focus verses, a ruler – a man who had a position of authority – came to Jesus and worshiped Him.  That is, he bowed or maybe even prostrated Himself before the Lord Jesus.  He recognized that Jesus was worthy to be worshiped.

On the other hand, when Jesus came to the ruler's home, there was a noisy crowd of people mourning the death of the girl with weeping and instruments.  When Jesus said the girl was only sleeping, they erupted with ridicule.The word "ridicule" is a translation the Greek word meaning is not just to laugh, but "laugh down" or "laugh greatly." It is also intensive in form because the same word is used two times.  The literal translation would be "laugh down him laugh down."  Thus the KJV translates it, "laugh to scorn."  They were in total disbelief and dishonor.  Like Rodney Dangerfield, Jesus just didn't get no respect.

Even today there is a wide range of responses to the Lord Jesus.  Some want to get rid of Him.  Some bow in worship before Him while others ridicule Him.  The ridicule may not be as blatant as the crowd Jesus encountered at the ruler's house, but it is just as real when people ignore Him. By their apathy toward Him, they are showing that they do not really think very highly of Him.

May our response to Jesus be as the Psalmist:  "O come, let us worship and bow down.  Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts… " (Psalm 96:6-8a).  Worship or rejection.  That is the choice.

Love, Dad