Indian Headshakes

Although I am an Indian who grew up in India, I didn’t learn Indian headshakes because I grew up among blind people who couldn’t see movements – they needed words. Indian headshakes can communicate or miscommunicate.

In 1996, we, as a family, moved from Texas to Chennai, India, to serve in a Bible college. My parents lived nearly 700 kilometers (430 miles) south of Chennai. They were adamant that we visit them soon after we moved into our apartment in Chennai. So, my dad hired a small car, and seven of us (Lori, our three sons, dad, a driver, and me) crammed into that car for a 20+ hour drive to my parent’s house (because of Indian roads, it took that long). Within 30 minutes of our journey, the driver pulled into a gas station. He shook his head at the gas pump attendant, and the gas pump attendant shook his head at the driver. Ten minutes later, the diesel car was full of petrol – a volatile situation! So, they had to empty the gasoline tank and refill it with diesel, and I had to pay for both full tanks!

The Lord Jesus once again told the disciples that he had to suffer before his kingdom/rule came on earth.

“Give me your ears to these words: Son of People (Anthropos) is about to be delivered over (paradidomi) into the hands of the people (Anthropos).” (Luke 9:44)

The verb paradidomi referred to being ‘delivered over’ and ‘betrayed.’ His situation was precarious – although he was People’s Son, meaning King, the people would take his future into their hands, betray him, and crucify him.

But the disciples couldn’t understand it. What Jesus said was confusing to them, just like Indian headshakes!

“They didn’t understand this word; they were hidden from it because they couldn’t perceive it, and they feared to ask him concerning these words.” (9:45)

The disciples went through levels of incomprehension – lack of understanding, hiddenness, couldn’t perceive, and afraid to ask. His words totally baffled them.

They were so convinced Jesus was a Davidic King who would defeat their enemies – Herod and Rome – that they couldn’t comprehend that their own religious leaders would betray him. Sadly, they were too afraid to ask him for an explanation (not that they would have understood even if he had explained). Their ears weren’t tuned to what he had to say: the Son of People (Anthropos, mankind) must be betrayed in the hands of the people (Anthropos, mankind).

Even now, Christians find it difficult to accept that they might have to face tragedies. But I have known many godly families who endured harrowing events in their lives. During their sufferings, they understood God was still righteous, good, and powerful. He let them go through suffering not to harm them but to show them his love. Just like Job, they questioned God, wondered why God punished them while they were righteous, and had “friends” who weren’t friendly. But they persevered.

Sadly, evil will come to us. But God’s love will never depart, as it never did Jesus.