Our text for today is the Gospel reading, and especially these words, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.’”
So the other day, I was talking to my sister who is currently living in China. They had been traveling for some time because the schools were off. As you may know, it was the Chinese New Year not too long ago. Talking with her however, it doesn’t seem like it’s a one-day celebration over there. It almost seems like the festivities go on for a while. This year was the year of the dragon.
Have you ever gone to a Chinese restaurant, and on the placemats they have all the animals of the Chinese calendar printed with their descriptions? I kind of like the opportunity to look at the animals with other people. Of course it’s not because I consider the Chinese Zodiac to be legitimate in any way. It’s because the year I was born happens to have a pretty good animal. Maybe some of you know which animal corresponds with your birth year. I’m the horse…a pretty good animal to be. It’s described as being very independent, hard working, intelligent and friendly. It might also mention something about being selfish, but I just kind of skip over that part. Now, all the animals of the Chinese calendar are given both positive and negative characteristics. So regardless of which animal you are, there are some good points. However, looking at the animals, I just like being the horse instead of, for example, my sister’s animal, the rat. I mean, have you ever seen a child pretending to be a rat? Is it really just coincidence that children seem to like imitating animals like the lion? It’s an animal that portrays power, and of course the roar is always fun to mimic.
In our Gospel reading for today, our Lord uses animals to describe both Himself and Herod. And at first, they may not seem to be the animals we would expect to find being used.
“Go tell that fox.” Years ago in our own culture, this of course may have been taken as a compliment. However, here I don’t think Jesus is referring to Herod’s appearances. Instead, by using the fox, Jesus is describing Herod as a crafty, deceitful, treacherous individual. And certainly Jesus had every right to describe Herod that way.
Just consider our text. Herod was pretty crafty in his attempt to take Jesus out of the equation by running him out of his territory. Herod sends the Pharisees to Jesus under the appearance of being concerned with His well being. This is obviously not what we normally find in the Pharisees’ dealings with Jesus. Like the man who sent them, they too are being very cunning.
Sometimes I think when we consider Satan’s workings in our lives, and in the world, we would probably chose a different animal to portray him. No doubt some would think up the image of a beast. A beast would of course bring to mind a truly ferocious creature, with the desire to devour its prey. However, a beast is also an image that can never be mistaken for anything else. It’s not like the polar bear which can actually lure its prey with a very friendly look about it.
I think it does us well to consider how evil works in our text for today. This attack on Christ and His ministry was very clever and crafty. The Pharisees came not with some lynch mob. They came unarmed, unthreatening, in hopes that they might plant that small seed of fear. Though the motive was to get Jesus out of town, they represented themselves as ones who were concerned for Christ’s safety.
Now as we know, Jesus would have had every reason to believe the Pharisees. Herod had already shown himself willing and able to put a prophet to death. John the Baptist was executed under Herod’s authority. But what crime had John committed to deserve such a punishment? The reality is, Herod killed John simply because he didn’t want to hear what John was preaching. He didn’t want to be convicted of sin, nor led to turn to God in repentance and faith. He wasn’t interested in God’s call to the sinner to rely completely on grace and mercy. And he was willing to kill someone just to keep him quiet.
Now here, it may seem like this confrontation is one that is much less hostile and violent; however the motive and the hope is still the same. The goal was that Christ would be silenced; that His ministry would simply disappear. That God’s will and purpose would be averted. In this case, it may not have been as evident as it was with John. It may even have appeared to be somewhat peaceful.
Sometimes Satan works more like a fox than a beast. And the reality is that, as Christ’s disciples, we are more likely to cave to the crafty and deceptive approaches than we are to a very aggressive threat. We can clearly see a beast approaching. But the fox not as much.
Fear begins with a small seed; maybe so small one doesn’t even notice it at first. But the problem is that in time, it grows. It begins to branch out, ultimately becoming terribly effective. Think of how often our discipleship is thrown off track because of fear. “Don’t give to the church; you may not have enough later on when you really need it.” Now that certainly sounds better than a more negative response: “God doesn’t deserve my money.” But the sad thing is, that little seed of fear produces the same result. Without committed disciples how can the church really do anything? How can it achieve the purpose for which God established it? Fear allows us simply to entertain ourselves as long as we possibly can; in fact it not only allows it, but attempts to justify it. Because it’s not the beast, but the fox, it may even sound appropriate. But the work of the kingdom suffers. Not because of some overt hatred towards God or the Church, but the feeling of fear or uncertainty.
Sometimes entire congregations can be crippled by a sense of fear. Hannibal, after the grand victory at Cannae, could have taken the city of Rome with comparative ease. But he neglected to take advantage of that opportunity. When, some time later, he attempted to take Rome, a terrible storm prevented him from doing so. Then he is said to have exclaimed with chagrin, “When I could, I would not, and now when I will, I cannot.” Jesus did not let this fear penetrate. Instead He responded to it confidently and aggressively. It did not cause Him to pause, but reminded Him that His time was short.
Sometimes, I believe, we lack the sense of urgency by which Scripture calls us to live. While Christ was set on continuing His ministry here on earth, His response shows us that He also understood His time was limited. If we live like we have all the time in the world, we will miss opportunities to love one another, to serve one another, and to serve our God.
So our Lord calls to us in the midst of those fears. When Satan tries to deceive, when doubt is planted, our Lord calls us to gather in and under Him. Now in our fear, what do we want to turn to? Maybe someone with the might and power of a lion? Sounds good to me. Or maybe just a more majestic creature like a soaring eagle. Both bring a sense of brilliance and domination. But instead, Jesus utilizes the image of a hen gathering her chicks.
Is it a usual image used to create a feeling of safety and security? Maybe not for many of us. However, when you consider the image, you begin to realize there is no safer place to be. You see, the confidence a hen brings to her chicks is not necessarily in her ability to ward off predators by sheer physical might. Rather it comes from the hen’s unwavering determination to protect, even if it means death for the hen. Some of the most powerful creatures, while they may ward off predators through intimidation, aren’t always willing to go as far as the hen.
This is not the only time Christ focuses on this characteristic. Christ shows this same description when He compares Himself to the hired hand. The hired hand will not give up his life for the sheep. But the true shepherd is willing to die for the sheep.
Christ could have used the image of the great lion of Judah, or the soaring eagle. But His love was seen in His determination, even in the face of threats, to continue to heal, reach out, and call the lost to Himself. The greatness of His love was seen when He stretched His arms out on the cross that all sinners might gather unto Him to receive the body that was laid down for us, and the blood that was shed.
He is not one who turned away when threatened. Fear did not cause Him to hesitate for even one moment.
The desire we often have is to abide under His wings of protection and grace without actually needing His wings of protection. To have faith and trust without ever being led down paths that require faith. To build the kingdom by holding on to the earthly.
But this is not the Gospel, nor our lives as God’s children. Christ calls the one in need; the one who is in need of forgiveness, not the righteous. He calls those who are in fear to live in His care and love. He calls those who cannot fend for themselves. He calls us to live and walk in faith and trust, responding to Satan’s craftiness and deceitfulness boldly and aggressively, that God’s will and purpose might always be accomplished. That all people might gather under His wings of forgiveness and salvation. May this always characterize our lives as Christ’s disciples and stewards. AMEN.
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