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THE PROBLEM WITH JESUS"
Mt. 8The problem with Jesus is that unlike us, he treats everyone the same. We treat people through the lens of our own bias and preference. Chapter 8 is filled with the mighty miracles of Jesus. But each case that Jesus ministered to presented a bit of challenge:The Leper Mt. 8:1-4 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. It says that Jesus "touched" him. In that society and at that time, it was understood that lepers were not to be touched. It was considered "unclean," and had devastating social and religious implications. But Jesus didn't care, because unlike us, He treats everyone the same. The challenge: are you willing to allow God to touch you in the area you are most vulnerable in? Are you willing to touch others who are not "supposed" to be touched by you? The Centurion Mt. 8:8 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.Jesus here was willing to go to the man's house. It sounds simple on the outside. But this case also had great social and religious implications. This man was not just a centurion. He was a Roman centurion. Not only was it against Jewish customs to associate with Gentiles, but the Romans were the great oppressors, and were despised by the Jewish people. Even the centurion himself tried to deter him, for he knew the "house rules." But Jesus, didn't care, because unlike us, He treats everyone the same.The Demon Possessed and AfflictedMt. 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.Those who came in the front door with demon possession, left the back door completely healed, delivered and whole. Most people wouldn't welcome these people into their home, but not Jesus, because unlike us, Jesus treats everybody the same. Being Different, and GuiltWe must never be afraid to be different. Nothing happens unless we are different. Jesus was different. Pst. Randy told us something about being different. The word different actually means "fellowship with God." In other words, the more different you are, the more fellowship you have with God. Because of this, a different person is a very powerful person. "Different" is what Jesus was.If we are not free in our fellowship with God, and in our "different- ness," we become easy targets for guilt. Guilt is one of the biggest tools the enemy uses against believers. Guilt causes us to become very cynical, suspicious, and running from God, where we were supposed to be open and free, and see others through the eyes of Christ. We must be free from guilt, but to do that, it might get a bit messy. This is because Jesus will need to mess up our customs and traditions. Jesus treats everyone the same. Fruit is on the InsidePst. Randy peeled an orange for us. When you buy an orange or a banana, you are paying not for the skin. You are paying for what is on the inside. Though you cannot see it, you are trusting that the fruit you buy is good on the inside. When you buy into Jesus, it is the same way. You take him for what He has on the inside. That is where the really tasty part is. If the life you have in Christ has been bitter, you probably need to dig a little bit deeper, because the real tasty part is on the inside. Like the peel of an orange or a banana, life on the outside doesn't taste very good. The secret lies a bit deeper than church culture, religious tradition and the rules that bind us. Jesus is not like us. No one is too leprous, too Centurion, or too demon possessed. The problem with Jesus, is actually the solution for us. He treats everyone the same, and as we come in contact with our real difference, we cannot help but do the same.
Mt. 8The problem with Jesus is that unlike us, he treats everyone the same. We treat people through the lens of our own bias and preference. Chapter 8 is filled with the mighty miracles of Jesus. But each case that Jesus ministered to presented a bit of challenge:The Leper Mt. 8:1-4 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. It says that Jesus "touched" him. In that society and at that time, it was understood that lepers were not to be touched. It was considered "unclean," and had devastating social and religious implications. But Jesus didn't care, because unlike us, He treats everyone the same. The challenge: are you willing to allow God to touch you in the area you are most vulnerable in? Are you willing to touch others who are not "supposed" to be touched by you? The Centurion Mt. 8:8 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.Jesus here was willing to go to the man's house. It sounds simple on the outside. But this case also had great social and religious implications. This man was not just a centurion. He was a Roman centurion. Not only was it against Jewish customs to associate with Gentiles, but the Romans were the great oppressors, and were despised by the Jewish people. Even the centurion himself tried to deter him, for he knew the "house rules." But Jesus, didn't care, because unlike us, He treats everyone the same.The Demon Possessed and AfflictedMt. 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.Those who came in the front door with demon possession, left the back door completely healed, delivered and whole. Most people wouldn't welcome these people into their home, but not Jesus, because unlike us, Jesus treats everybody the same. Being Different, and GuiltWe must never be afraid to be different. Nothing happens unless we are different. Jesus was different. Pst. Randy told us something about being different. The word different actually means "fellowship with God." In other words, the more different you are, the more fellowship you have with God. Because of this, a different person is a very powerful person. "Different" is what Jesus was.If we are not free in our fellowship with God, and in our "different- ness," we become easy targets for guilt. Guilt is one of the biggest tools the enemy uses against believers. Guilt causes us to become very cynical, suspicious, and running from God, where we were supposed to be open and free, and see others through the eyes of Christ. We must be free from guilt, but to do that, it might get a bit messy. This is because Jesus will need to mess up our customs and traditions. Jesus treats everyone the same. Fruit is on the InsidePst. Randy peeled an orange for us. When you buy an orange or a banana, you are paying not for the skin. You are paying for what is on the inside. Though you cannot see it, you are trusting that the fruit you buy is good on the inside. When you buy into Jesus, it is the same way. You take him for what He has on the inside. That is where the really tasty part is. If the life you have in Christ has been bitter, you probably need to dig a little bit deeper, because the real tasty part is on the inside. Like the peel of an orange or a banana, life on the outside doesn't taste very good. The secret lies a bit deeper than church culture, religious tradition and the rules that bind us. Jesus is not like us. No one is too leprous, too Centurion, or too demon possessed. The problem with Jesus, is actually the solution for us. He treats everyone the same, and as we come in contact with our real difference, we cannot help but do the same.
