As I pondered this cute little story, I wondered why this guy was in the garden with Jesus and his disciples wearing only pajamas? It seems as though what he was wearing was totally inappropriate for the setting, not to mention inappropriate to wear around the Messiah at such a crucial time. Now, I know that very few realized that Jesus was the messiah at this time, but everyone understood that there was something special about Jesus. He had been healing people, treating people with a graciousness that they were not expecting, and stirring up the religious establishment in ways energized the crowds. So, why would this young man appear in his jammys?
It is easy to forget sometimes that this kind, compassionate, friendly Jesus is the holy Son of God. While it is true that Jesus accepts us just as we are, we should always have a reverence for Jesus' holiness. Maybe this young man was present to see Jesus in his street ministry being so kind to people who weren't used to being treated kindly by church leaders. He saw Jesus healing people and feeding hungry crowds. It could be that he felt so comfortable around Jesus, he forgot to respect Jesus. I can imagine him hearing that Jesus was at the garden and he thought that he would go and hang out around Jesus. And Jesus was such a nice guy, and, by the way, Jesus said that he looked on the inside of a person, not at the outward appearance, so I don't need to change into proper clothes to go out. I'll just go and hang out awhile; see if he is healing or feeding anybody and then I'll be ready for bed when I get home. But as we see, the young man was not at all dressed for an arrest and the chaos which followed. He went home naked and ashamed.
I know that this is pure conjecture. But there are those today who make Jesus such a nice guy to hang out with, we forget who Jesus is. We make Jesus our best friend, which he is. But he is also the holy Son of God. Anytime we read in the Bible of someone being in the presence of God, we don't see a casual attitude. Moses removed his sandals as a sign of respect for standing on holy ground. Isaiah realized his unholiness when he saw the Lord, high and lifted up. His response was that he realized that he was unclean. But so many times we treat the presence of God casually and without reverence. But without a proper reverence for the presence of God we are unprepared for the chaos which ensues in our life and we are likely to be rendered naked and ashamed by the trials of life.
I am not talking about wearing ties or dresses to church. I am talking about living a life of reverence for the holy Son of God .
More tomorrow.
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