“Would you like something to drink?” I ask a guest yesterday.

“Can I just get like half a cup of cold water?” the boy says.

I sometimes wonder…

Jesus is God, right?

And God is all-knowing, right?

Then…is there any possibility that what Jesus says in Matthew 10:42 is specifically intended and directed at His disciples today through the ministry of Cups Café? Hear me out…

What we have recorded Him saying in verse 42 is kinda’ awkward, almost out of place…if you ask me.

I can see it in my mind. Jesus and His Disciples are in the locker room showering and dressing for the big game, for real world ministry (Matthew 10). Jesus holds a clipboard in one hand and a broken piece of chalk in the other. A whistle hangs from a string around his neck. He adjusts his ball cap and then lifts his leg, placing one foot on the locker room bench. Jesus leans on his knee and begins his pep talk by pointing with the chalk saying stuff like:

“don’t take any cash with you and leave your credit cards at home”

“if you’re not welcome in a home, then kick the dust off your Nike’s”

“take no briefcase or laptop bag for the journey”

“stay at stranger’s houses”

“be on your guard against men” (the same men they went out to reach mind you)

“you’ll be hated and persecuted and when that happens get outta’ Dodge”

“don’t worry about what to say when the cops slap handcuffs on you”

“don’t be afraid of other guys rather fear God who can kill both body and soul”

“acknowledge me to your neighbor during a backyard barbecue and I’ll acknowledge you before God, disown me in front of your co-worker and I’ll disown you before God”

“if you love your dad and mom or son and daughter more than me, then you’re not worthy of me”

I can see Peter toweling off and saying, “Great talk, Jesus. Thanks! It sounds like we’ve already lost the game. Why don’t we all give up now and go and die?”

The other Disciples are thinking the same thing but Peter is the only one with enough guts to say anything.

And so…after this heavy discourse…it just seems strange to me that Jesus concludes with “and if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” I can hear Him saying it in an oh-and-by-the-way sorta’ tone.

What motivated Jesus to say this?

Was someone drawing water from a nearby well at the time to give it to their child? Did a thirsty kid jump onto Jesus’ lap wanting a sip of his iced tea?

Or was Jesus, God in the flesh, thinking of Cups Café? Was He thinking about you and me?

Hmmmm…just wonder.