I love how Jesus came to earth as a Savior, and the first thing he did was whip his parents into shape for having the temerity to become pregnant before the wedding – good heavens, don’t you know what people will think?? And then those tax collectors, extortionists, really – he really gave them a piece of his mind, didn’t he?
And that poor woman caught in adultery – yes, he shamed her, saying, “Don’t you know better than to do that?” In fact, he empowered all those men standing around with rocks in their hands ready to enforce the rules. “Yep, she broke the law. Have at it,” he said, “We have to get rid of people like this; they deserve what they get.” Can’t expect Jesus to deal with people without our help, can we?
And then he came to religious leaders. “Well done,” he said, patting them on the backs. “The way you keep all the rules, the way you intimidate people, let them know who’s closest to God, you don’t take any piddly excuses and ‘I’m sorry.’ Those pathetic people – I don’t know how you can stand to have them in your congregations! Just make sure they sit down and shut up. But you religious leaders, you were right there ready for me as I came to proclaim my message: ‘I came that you may have rules and have them more abundantly.’ You made my job that much easier, boys. High fives!”
Ooooh, not really. I’m just kidding. He didn’t do any of those things.
But you would not know that by listening to many religious leaders today.
If he had, he wouldn’t have been true to the heart of God. The common people would never have listened to him, much less trusted him. Only those religious leaders would have listened to a word he said – because he’d be offering nothing different than man (and they were men) has offered throughout the generations. If he had done that, it would have been more-of-the-same, and his name would be as forgotten as the names of all those Pharisees.
In fact, he came to give us freedom. He came to show us who and how to love. And what he really said was, “I came that you might have LIFE and have it more abundantly!”
Anyone not telling you that is not telling you the truth about Jesus.
Yes, that’s the Jesus I know and love. That’s the Jesus who speaks for God. That’s the Jesus who loves you no matter what and has boundless compassion for humanity.
I hope you find that Jesus, the real Jesus, this holiday season.
Merry Christmas.
– Susan
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In