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Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, never harming, always charming. Is that so? Perhaps it’s the picture occasionally painted in a child’s Sunday school lesson, but it’s not the historic Christ.
Jesus threw so many hard teachings at the disciples, it’s little wonder they got miffed. The Lord announced: Reality is wrapped up in me. Truth can only be found in me. If you try to save your life, it’ll slip through your fingers. If you give it away, you’ll find it. I’ll deny you before the Father if you turn back. If anything is keeping you from me, whatever it is, throw it away. If it’s your eye, pull it out. Your hand, cut it off. Your sins, all of them are wiped out — I can do that! I am rebirth. I am life. Eat me. Drink me. And finally, do not be afraid for I have overcome the whole universe!
Jesus came not to bring peace, but a sword. The razor–sharp sword of his Word that divides your soul and spirit, that says, “Does this offend you?” He encroaches, invades, and infringes on your comfort zones. He tears aside the curtains of your conscience and throws open the locked doors of your bad habits. He will brashly call your sin — sin — and he challenges you to leave it behind.
Praise God for the hard sayings of Jesus. He’s not uncaring or unfeeling about your life. He’s not uninvolved. God has a way of offending — and thank his holy name that he does.
Thank you, Lord, for caring enough to offend me. Don’t let me ever get comfortable in my sin. Press me up against your hard teachings until I see the offense as… a blessing. |
