What's not forever

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. (Mark 6:53-56, ESV)

So Jesus and His disciples end up in Gennesaret and NOT Bethsaida, like Jesus asked in the previous passage, and IMMEDIATELY people began to draw to Jesus, asking Him to heal their sick.

Upon first reading this passage, it can seem like a good story, with Jesus being this supernatural hero and healing sicknesses that probably couldn't be cured during that day. But is it really?

Jesus' primary goal in going to different "villages, cities, or countryside(s)" wasn't just for Jesus to heal people, it was to preach. It was to proclaim to everyone that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, that everyone should repent and receive the Father's love and salvation, but instead, the people herded to Him, asking Him to heal their sick.

While Jesus came to give spiritual care and providence, the people always demanded physical care and providence.

This reminds of something Tim Keller wrote/said in his "Prodigal God" book/DVD study (if you haven't read/seen it yet, please do, it's a great retelling of the parable of the prodigal son). 

One of the main things in Keller's retelling of the parable was that in the parable both sons were lost, both sons wanted the father’s things but not the father, both sons were selfish and both of the sons needed the prodigal and extravagant love of the father.

Does this idea not ring true in North American Christianity now? We always want what the Father gives, but rarely do we want the Father Himself. It's almost as if we attribute God's goodness to us according to what He blesses us with. This is idolatry, all the way.

I mean, it's like when a 4 year old child complains to his parents that he wants more gifts, more things to play with, more things to get him excited, but he doesn't bother asking for the parents' love. How do you think parents would feel if they had kids that only wanted what the parents gave to them, but not the parents themselves?

And it's not even that we feel this kind of pressure because we're born in North America. No, we are not victims of this culture. We are active participants of it. I am an active participant of it.

In response to this scary truth, I've been praying for a bigger desire of God, that I would need Him more. And not only that, but I've been praying that He would want to need Him more (thanks Clara C for that clever phrase). 

I mean, after all, the stuff we have now, ALL of it dies away. All of it rusts and fades and corrodes and melts. But the love of the Father doesn't. The glory we will receive won't either. It's like how the song "Martyrs" by The Devil Wears Prada says, "Martyrs hear me out, never claim what's not forever." (If you haven't already, check out their latest record, 8:18, SO good). Even when it comes to the original passage, it was great that everyone was getting healed, but even their physical lives and wellbeing won't last. But God will last forever.

Yes, God is our great provider, and He does desire to bless us here and now, but even better than that, He already gave us the greatest gift that doesn't die, doesn't stop, and doesn't slow down. He gave us Himself, through Jesus' death and resurrection. 

Don't just want what God gives us. Want God himself. 
Need to want Him, and want to need Him.

-simon