The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
March 4, 2007
Vol. 10 no. 09

Everything But...
           I am not sure if the fox is Jesus’ favourite animal - he does mention it twice - and I would not have thought that arid Palestine would be the typical environment for our kind of fox. Nevertheless, Jesus knew a human fox when he saw one.
           Note that Jesus didn’t spare words for Herod Antipas, the ruling governor of Palestine. This was no compliment for a thuggish man who had stormed his way to the top. In fact, Jesus is showing contempt for a sly person who only worries about what will keep him in power.
           We should not be shocked that Jesus has something strong and negative to say against some one else, for he utters even strong condemnations against the scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees. There is no such person as “sweet Jesus,” for in the first place Jesus is a prophet, one who speaks for God. When God has to get around to utilizing people to get the Word out, the prophets usually are not dispensing compliments.
           On the softer side, Jesus describes himself as a would-be hen gathering her brood under her wings. So much for the male-only role model many have tried to promote about Jesus! Tom Wright offers a striking image of Jesus’ hen-ness. It is known that if there is fire in a farmyard and the animals are trapped with no escape, a hen will gather its young around her and under her outspread wings. Afterwards the dead scorched hen was found with live chicks sheltered under her wings. Jesus said he would have done just that. Wright points out that in effect he did.
           In practically one breath, here is the metaphor of a person who would do anything to get what he wants, and then an example of one who would do anything to save those she loved. Not much of a choice.