What do you think of Ahn Jung-geun, the Korean independence activist?
Most Koreans view him as a patriot who gave his life for the greater good and the independence of his nation. However, there are foreigners who, due to a lack of understanding of Korean history and the atrocities of Japanese colonial rule, see him as a violent criminal who murdered an innocent man and even abandoned his own family.
Just like how K-Food and K-Culture have spread globally, I believe that if K-History gains more exposure, such misunderstandings will fade.
Today, Jesus is one of the most influential figures in the world. Even those who are non-religious or atheists have at least heard his name. Yet, ironically, many still don’t truly know who Jesus was or what he taught.
Did you know that Jesus once told one of his disciples not to go to his own father’s funeral?
If this is true, does it mean Jesus was telling us to abandon our parents and follow only him?
Without understanding the true meaning behind his words, it’s easy to misinterpret this.
Let’s find out the real intent behind Jesus’ words through this review of the SkyPod radio broadcast.
The True Meaning Behind Jesus’ Words About Skipping a Funeral
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus tells a disciple not to attend his father’s funeral. If he were just an ordinary teacher, you’d expect him to encourage the disciple to go. So why did Jesus say otherwise?
It all comes down to priorities.
Matthew 8:21-22 NIV[21] Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”[22] But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
This wasn’t about literally skipping a funeral; it was about understanding the spiritual priority between the physical and the spiritual.
Choosing Between Physical and Spiritual Priorities
So, was Jesus saying we should completely reject the physical and only focus on the spiritual?
Of course not.
Even in the Ten Commandments, God commands us to honor both Him (our spiritual Father) and our parents (our physical caretakers).
Respecting our physical parents is absolutely important in faith.
Respecting our physical parents is absolutely important in faith.
Exodus 20:12 NIV[12] “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
However, when it comes to setting priorities, physical and spiritual matters differ greatly.
They are fundamentally different in nature—like pulling a rope in a tug-of-war. Once you start pulling in one direction, it becomes extremely difficult to switch to the other side.
Likewise, once you turn to physical concerns, it becomes harder to return to spiritual focus.
Let me give a modern example.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many young adults struggled to find work. Some decided to take a break and wait until the pandemic passed. But even after the economy recovered, many never returned to the workforce.
They are fundamentally different in nature—like pulling a rope in a tug-of-war. Once you start pulling in one direction, it becomes extremely difficult to switch to the other side.
Likewise, once you turn to physical concerns, it becomes harder to return to spiritual focus.
Let me give a modern example.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many young adults struggled to find work. Some decided to take a break and wait until the pandemic passed. But even after the economy recovered, many never returned to the workforce.
Why?
Because once you stop, it’s difficult to start again.
In the same way, Jesus knew that if his disciple returned to physical matters, like a funeral, it might be hard to refocus on spiritual work.
That’s why he encouraged the disciple to stay committed to God’s work once he had already begun.
What Did You Think Before This?
Before reading this, how did you understand Jesus’ statement about not attending a funeral?
Jesus wasn’t rejecting the idea of a funeral, nor was he telling us to disrespect our parents.
There was a much deeper spiritual meaning.
In Matthew 22:29, Jesus rebuked the Sadducees for misunderstanding the resurrection, saying:
“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
(Matthew 22:29)
Shincheonji Church’s SkyPod radio broadcast operates under the slogan “Making Smart Believers,” exploring biblical themes and explaining them scripturally.
Through this, it continues to communicate with believers, non-believers, and atheists alike, helping to clear up misunderstandings about the New Testament.
Because once you stop, it’s difficult to start again.
In the same way, Jesus knew that if his disciple returned to physical matters, like a funeral, it might be hard to refocus on spiritual work.
That’s why he encouraged the disciple to stay committed to God’s work once he had already begun.
What Did You Think Before This?
Before reading this, how did you understand Jesus’ statement about not attending a funeral?
Jesus wasn’t rejecting the idea of a funeral, nor was he telling us to disrespect our parents.
There was a much deeper spiritual meaning.
In Matthew 22:29, Jesus rebuked the Sadducees for misunderstanding the resurrection, saying:
“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
(Matthew 22:29)
Shincheonji Church’s SkyPod radio broadcast operates under the slogan “Making Smart Believers,” exploring biblical themes and explaining them scripturally.
Through this, it continues to communicate with believers, non-believers, and atheists alike, helping to clear up misunderstandings about the New Testament.
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