"Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20).
Many of Jesus’ parables and statements were mysteries to His hearers. True understanding of His words and actions came after the Holy Spirit was released into believers (Acts 2:4); and the church was born. Paul explains in I Cor. 2:14 that natural man, not having the Spirit of God, cannot receive things of the Spirit; for they are foolishness to him and can only be spiritually discerned. Also, for Christians, I believe at least seven levels of understanding scripture exists. Ps. 12:6- “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times.” Prov. 9:1- “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.”
The Word contains vast riches of wisdom and knowledge not yet revealed, for we have not scratched the surface in our meager understanding. Much of the deeper truths in scripture were lost during the Dark Ages after the church abandoned her Jewish roots and was transplanted in Rome. We, as modern-day believers, are still influenced by neo-pagan traditions which have been passed down through the ages as Christian but are, in truth, anti-Christ in nature.
I praise God the Holy Spirit has restored many of the “lost truths” to the church. Yet, vast treasures remain to be discovered. Prov. 25:2- “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” True treasure rarely rests on the surface. It must be dug up and only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (Matt. 5:6); only those truly seeking deeper things of God will find them (Lk. 11:9-13).
At the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus had great fame as He healed the sick, cast out demons, fed the multitudes, raised the dead, and taught his strange doctrine of love and peace. Multitudes followed Him. A certain scribe said, “Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” (Matt. 8:19), Jesus answered, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Vs. 20). What did Jesus mean? Was He lamenting about being homeless or complaining about His itinerate ministry? I don’t think so.
Jesus offered an observation of the condition of the earth from God’s viewpoint. Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing (Jn. 5:17, 19) and spoke what the Father gave Him (Jn. 12:49-50). Jesus spoke of foxes having holes. Foxes are very clever hunters, members of the dog family and live in dens. Jesus in Lk. 13:32, referred to murderous Herod as being a fox. Foxes represent carnal, unregenerate man in his natural, earthly state being self-serving and doing the “works of the flesh”: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and the like (Gal. 5:19-21).
“Birds of the air having nests” refers to the spiritual condition of the earth. Jesus refers to birds or fowls of the air in the parable of the sower, Matt. 13:4 and Mk. 4:4, and the parable of unnatural growth, Matt. 13:32. In both parables, “birds of the air” refer to demons operating in the spirit realm and having a nest (home in the earth). Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit in a world populated by carnal men influenced by satanic power having dominion in the earth since Adam’s fall in Eden.
Jesus then said, “but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” This was a prophetic announcement of His purpose to build the body He would be head over. Paul refers to Christ as being head of the body, the church, on several occasions (see Eph. 1:22-23; 4:12-16; 5:23; Col. 1:13; 2:10, 19). Jesus’ intent was to develop His body, the church, by teaching kingdom principles, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit, and teaching his followers, even though at that time they couldn’t understand his actions.
Until the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, even his closest disciples believed He would physically overthrow the Romans and reestablish the Davidic kingdom. Only after events of the resurrection, ascension, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit did the disciples truly understand Christ as the head and the church as His body.
What about the Body of Christ today? I wonder if Jesus is still looking for a place to lay His head. Does the church, the body of Christ, today look at all like a body that is worthy of Christ as the head? Does the church of America even resemble Christ’s body? What should the body of Christ look like anyway? Would it be steeped in powerless religious tradition or be divided in doctrinal camps at war with each other? In which direction would the body be traveling—into all the world making disciples of rich neighborhoods where the real influence and money is? I think you get the point. The true body of Christ would be doing the same and greater works of Jesus (see Jn. 14:12). It would certainly reveal the very heart of God to a world lost in sin just as Jesus did when he walked the earth. The body of Christ would reveal: Who God is, What God does, and How God feels.
Paul wrote that in Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). Jesus was both the Head and Body of Christ in his earthly ministry. Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit and had the full measure of the Spirit given him by the Father (see Jn. 3:34). He walked the earth in all of the five-fold ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (see Eph. 4:11). Jesus’ character was displayed as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Gal. 5:22-23), and his ability was displayed in manifestations of the Holy Spirit (see I Cor. 12:4-11).
As members of the body of Christ, we have the same Holy Spirit and walk in a portion of the measure of faith God has dealt to every man (Rom. 12:3). The measure of faith in which we walk is determined by the amount of the Word we have working in us. We can have the amount of faith we want and in reality that is exactly what we have. If the body of Christ has the desire to be conformed to Christ, it can. The question is, where is the desire? Where is the compassion that moved Jesus to acts of power (see Matt. 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mk. 1:41; Lk. 7:12-15)?
Where is Holy Ghost power? Signs and wonders? Where are righteousness, peace, and joy? What about the church’s commitment to prayer and intercession? Why are intercessory prayer meetings the least attended and the most needed ministry of the body of Christ today? Is the body of Christ, the church, revealing the heart of God; or can the lost tell the difference between the church and the world? Some might even suggest that at least people can have some fun in the world.
Am I anti-church? No! I am absolutely pro-church, but what we often call church has little resemblance to the true body of Christ. Now, more than ever before, we must seek God’s face in repentance, turn from our cold love, and allow Holy Spirit to refill us with the fire of His compassion and power, giving ourselves to praise, prayer, and service to others.
Jesus’ statement still rings true today. Many foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests in our cities and even our families; but does the Son of man have a body upon which to lay His head? What about you? Is Christ the head of your life? Commit your life to Him today. Make Jesus, Lord and experience His life living in and through you. AMEN!
Many of Jesus’ parables and statements were mysteries to His hearers. True understanding of His words and actions came after the Holy Spirit was released into believers (Acts 2:4); and the church was born. Paul explains in I Cor. 2:14 that natural man, not having the Spirit of God, cannot receive things of the Spirit; for they are foolishness to him and can only be spiritually discerned. Also, for Christians, I believe at least seven levels of understanding scripture exists. Ps. 12:6- “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times.” Prov. 9:1- “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.”
The Word contains vast riches of wisdom and knowledge not yet revealed, for we have not scratched the surface in our meager understanding. Much of the deeper truths in scripture were lost during the Dark Ages after the church abandoned her Jewish roots and was transplanted in Rome. We, as modern-day believers, are still influenced by neo-pagan traditions which have been passed down through the ages as Christian but are, in truth, anti-Christ in nature.
I praise God the Holy Spirit has restored many of the “lost truths” to the church. Yet, vast treasures remain to be discovered. Prov. 25:2- “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” True treasure rarely rests on the surface. It must be dug up and only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (Matt. 5:6); only those truly seeking deeper things of God will find them (Lk. 11:9-13).
At the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus had great fame as He healed the sick, cast out demons, fed the multitudes, raised the dead, and taught his strange doctrine of love and peace. Multitudes followed Him. A certain scribe said, “Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” (Matt. 8:19), Jesus answered, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Vs. 20). What did Jesus mean? Was He lamenting about being homeless or complaining about His itinerate ministry? I don’t think so.
Jesus offered an observation of the condition of the earth from God’s viewpoint. Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing (Jn. 5:17, 19) and spoke what the Father gave Him (Jn. 12:49-50). Jesus spoke of foxes having holes. Foxes are very clever hunters, members of the dog family and live in dens. Jesus in Lk. 13:32, referred to murderous Herod as being a fox. Foxes represent carnal, unregenerate man in his natural, earthly state being self-serving and doing the “works of the flesh”: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and the like (Gal. 5:19-21).
“Birds of the air having nests” refers to the spiritual condition of the earth. Jesus refers to birds or fowls of the air in the parable of the sower, Matt. 13:4 and Mk. 4:4, and the parable of unnatural growth, Matt. 13:32. In both parables, “birds of the air” refer to demons operating in the spirit realm and having a nest (home in the earth). Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit in a world populated by carnal men influenced by satanic power having dominion in the earth since Adam’s fall in Eden.
Jesus then said, “but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” This was a prophetic announcement of His purpose to build the body He would be head over. Paul refers to Christ as being head of the body, the church, on several occasions (see Eph. 1:22-23; 4:12-16; 5:23; Col. 1:13; 2:10, 19). Jesus’ intent was to develop His body, the church, by teaching kingdom principles, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit, and teaching his followers, even though at that time they couldn’t understand his actions.
Until the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, even his closest disciples believed He would physically overthrow the Romans and reestablish the Davidic kingdom. Only after events of the resurrection, ascension, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit did the disciples truly understand Christ as the head and the church as His body.
What about the Body of Christ today? I wonder if Jesus is still looking for a place to lay His head. Does the church, the body of Christ, today look at all like a body that is worthy of Christ as the head? Does the church of America even resemble Christ’s body? What should the body of Christ look like anyway? Would it be steeped in powerless religious tradition or be divided in doctrinal camps at war with each other? In which direction would the body be traveling—into all the world making disciples of rich neighborhoods where the real influence and money is? I think you get the point. The true body of Christ would be doing the same and greater works of Jesus (see Jn. 14:12). It would certainly reveal the very heart of God to a world lost in sin just as Jesus did when he walked the earth. The body of Christ would reveal: Who God is, What God does, and How God feels.
Paul wrote that in Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). Jesus was both the Head and Body of Christ in his earthly ministry. Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit and had the full measure of the Spirit given him by the Father (see Jn. 3:34). He walked the earth in all of the five-fold ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (see Eph. 4:11). Jesus’ character was displayed as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Gal. 5:22-23), and his ability was displayed in manifestations of the Holy Spirit (see I Cor. 12:4-11).
As members of the body of Christ, we have the same Holy Spirit and walk in a portion of the measure of faith God has dealt to every man (Rom. 12:3). The measure of faith in which we walk is determined by the amount of the Word we have working in us. We can have the amount of faith we want and in reality that is exactly what we have. If the body of Christ has the desire to be conformed to Christ, it can. The question is, where is the desire? Where is the compassion that moved Jesus to acts of power (see Matt. 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mk. 1:41; Lk. 7:12-15)?
Where is Holy Ghost power? Signs and wonders? Where are righteousness, peace, and joy? What about the church’s commitment to prayer and intercession? Why are intercessory prayer meetings the least attended and the most needed ministry of the body of Christ today? Is the body of Christ, the church, revealing the heart of God; or can the lost tell the difference between the church and the world? Some might even suggest that at least people can have some fun in the world.
Am I anti-church? No! I am absolutely pro-church, but what we often call church has little resemblance to the true body of Christ. Now, more than ever before, we must seek God’s face in repentance, turn from our cold love, and allow Holy Spirit to refill us with the fire of His compassion and power, giving ourselves to praise, prayer, and service to others.
Jesus’ statement still rings true today. Many foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests in our cities and even our families; but does the Son of man have a body upon which to lay His head? What about you? Is Christ the head of your life? Commit your life to Him today. Make Jesus, Lord and experience His life living in and through you. AMEN!