A Snake’s Admirable Qualities
As the study of the lives of the disciples continues, Simon the Zealot is among the final few disciples to be explored. The Gospel of Matthew introduces the twelve disciples and almost immediately follows their introduction with the harrowing phrase ‘be wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove’ (10:16b). It is somewhat surprising to encounter a scripture that seems to complement the characteristics of a snake. Certainly, one of the most widely known biblical references to a snake highlights the ways in which the snake is responsible for several acts of evil from disobedience to deceit (see Genesis 3 which describes Adam, Eve and the serpent in the garden). Snakes are not only reviled in the opening book of the Bible, most of us are taught from an early age to be very wary of snakes. Yet, Matthew quotes Jesus as suggesting that the disciples should imitate the wisdom of a snake.
Because I was raised in Mississippi, I was well-aware of the fact that there were several varieties of venomous snakes such as water moccasins and rattlesnakes that were commonly found in the area. As a result, we were extremely cautious around bodies of water and places where snakes could easily hide such as leaves, pine needles, woodpiles, wooded areas, etc. Most of the people that I knew seemed to embrace the mantra “the only good snake is a dead snake.” However, others who were more knowledgeable and experienced could offer lots of advice about ways to distinguish venomous snakes from non-venomous snakes. People from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would frequently offer instructions on ways to avoid (or minimize the likelihood of) encounters with snakes. However, even with lots this kind of knowledge, I’ve always maintains a “healthy respect” for snakes.
Birds, on the other hand, have almost always been the source of endless fascination. The wide variety of birds could be identified and appreciated for their vibrant colors and beautiful songs. The state-bird of Mississippi is the Mockingbird (named for its ability to imitate environmental sounds not only of other birds, but also of people). One of my best friends had a lovely, yellow parakeet that we could watch for hours jumping around in its cage.
Even as a child, I was struck by the enormous contrast of fear and fascination that could be revealed in one short phrase—-‘wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.’ Just the word snake would evoke a sense of extreme caution, but the sound of birds seemed unbelievably soothing. This admonition from Jesus to imitate the qualities of an animal that we feared and an animal that most people really liked was striking. One of the dilemmas that the phrase introduced was the difficulty exhibiting the two qualities simultaneously. In some translations, the word wise is replaced by the word “shrewd” which typically has a negative connotation. In other translations, the snake is described in Genesis as being “crafty” which isn’t quite as negative as shrewd, but because it was used to describe a snake, it wasn’t very desirable.
Most people maintain that even venomous snakes aren’t aggressive unless they are startled or feel threatened. I was never convinced by the phrase “the snake is more afraid of you than you are of it.” Some would add, people are much larger than most snakes. Perhaps, in that sense, snakes demonstrate not only wisdom, but also courage in their willingness to respond defensively to a threat. Most experts report that snakes would much rather flee than attack. We’ve all seen how quickly most birds seem to flee when they feel uncomfortable. Birds only attack when they are forced to defend themselves or each other.
Simon was a member of the Zealots, a select band of Jews who were so outraged by the oppression of the Romans, they were known to carry small blades, called sicas, that could be easily hidden within the sleeves of a robe. They were prepared for, and encouraged, armed conflict against the Romans. Many would question why Jesus would choose a member of the Zealots to be a disciple, especially given their proclivity to violence. Obviously, Jesus did not encourage violence. Perhaps, one of the roles of Simon was to demonstrate the dramatic change that becoming a disciple would make not only within an individual, but within an entire group.
The qualities and skills that we possess can be used in a variety of ways, not only to harm, but also to inspire, to lead and to engage. It would almost seem insultingly sophomoric to proclaim that we all possess qualities of snakes and doves. However, this is exactly what Jesus encourages—the possession of both traits. Our opportunity is to learn and to teach others how these skills can be appropriately used. As we think about the commission to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Neither of these is easy—teaching, baptizing or making disciples—but this is what we are told to do. These are skills that require training, courage, determination, sensitivity, wisdom, patience and much more. While the tasks may appear incredibly daunting, an even more piercing question simply asks, “what will happen if we don’t do these things?”
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
