Jesus moved on

Matthew 12:14-21

14 The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were going to ruin Jesus. 15 Jesus, knowing they were out to get him, moved on. A lot of people followed him, and he healed them all 16. He also cautioned them to keep it quiet, 17 following guidelines set down by Isaiah: 18 Look well at my handpicked servant; I love him so much, take such delight in him. I've placed my Spirit on him; he'll decree justice to the nations.19 But he won't yell, won't raise his voice; there will be no commotion in the streets. 20 He won't walk over anyone's feelings, won't push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph; 21 the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers.

Food for soul!

Did you know that by fighting your enemy you make him or her hero? The more you hate someone the more s/he will become famous, because all the time you will be thinking of her or him. This makes him all the time present in your mind and life. In a sense, the highest compliment you can pay a person is to persecute him or her. This is what the religious leaders (the Pharisees and Scribes) of the time of Jesus did. They cannot stop hating Jesus, even as they follow him from place to place. And as they do so, "a lot of people followed him."



All of this reminds us of two things. One, that when it comes to Jesus, even religious leaders can get him wrong. Two, that when it comes to Jesus everyone must make up their mind to follow him or not, regardless of what religious leaders do or say. Today's gospel shows this very well: while "The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were going to ruin Jesus... A lot of people followed him." Following Jesus is indeed a personal decision.



Did you notice that when his enemies decided to ruin him, Jesus just moved on? He did not fight them. He did not argue with them. He just moved on with his life. Jesus never confused recklessness with courage. First, for the time being, he withdrew. The time for the head-on clash had not yet come. He had work to do before the Cross took him to its arms. For time being, "Jesus, knowing they were out to ruin him and his mission, moved on."



What does Jesus want to teach us by his retrieval, by moving on? He is saying that weakness is no sin, and can even become strength if you learn how and when to do it. Why lower yourself to the level of your enemies by arguing with them? Why let your enemies ruin your life?



Yes, it is always our first instinct to react, to meet aggression with aggression; to fight back. But the next time someone pushes you and you find yourself starting to react, remember to not lower yourself to the level of your opponent by arguments. In such moments, do as Jesus did, MOVE ON, think of something else, or literally go away before the enemy ruins your day. By so doing, you appear to bend. But you are not, since you only appear to surrender like the animal that plays dead to save its skin. This is the essence of the surrender tactic: inwardly you stay firm, but outwardly you move on.

Jesus, knowing they were out to get him, moved on!