The Snake in the Dust
The Trouble with Jesus: His message requires acceptance or rejection. Indifference doesn’t fly.
It’s been another one of those weeks. We used to say all hell broke loose, but now it seems hell just hangs around and has taken up residence. People are fighting, accusing, demanding their own way. Consensus is a forgotten concept. You just can’t get away from it.
Well, some do. They’d rather turn from the media reports and those places where people demand attention. There is a segment which does not follow the news alerts, who just don’t care to know what’s going on in politics, who’d just as soon tune in to dance parties than listen to analysts dissect what’s going on. Apathy plays better for them than reactive protests. They are either numb from it all, or they haven’t learned to care.
So hell burns, and no one is there to put out the fire.
The Trouble with Jesus: His message requires acceptance or rejection. Indifference doesn’t fly.
Burning Issues
Ok. Won’t say any of that isn’t true. The hot buttons of today, war, inflation, abortion, guns, health care are like lit flames of oil floating over an ocean of political and social unrest and dissatisfaction. Shouted out or shut down, it’s a bad, sad world out there. No wonder that a Google search for “Where is God?” produces billions of hits.
Jesus saw it, and some would say even saw it coming. “The harvest is large…” he said. That Google search proves people are searching for more than an internet website, people wanting answers to big questions hoping there’s another way, some way to be in this world and live. Jesus gathered seventy or so of his followers and sent them to bring an answer for us to grasp and possibly change things, maybe not on the specific issues but how people approach each other about them. Achieving that kind of reversal would be the bigger resolution.
Bless the Mess
Really, Jesus’ instructions to his team were not all that revolutionary for the time and culture. Basically, it was go into persons’ houses and declare “Peace.” The Jews understood it as Shalom, a customary greeting and farewell. Whereas on the surface it may appear like an attempt to dispel tension and conflict, a blessing of wholeness and goodwill was its real intention. At its core was an assurance that between the two parties is acknowledgement of a sacred worthiness centered in God and the basis by which the relationship should function.
Eyes Wide Open
Sounds pretty idealistic, but Jesus also was a realist, actually downright pragmatic. “I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.” Not all would welcome an offer of peace, some instead being absolutely ugly to them. Jesus prepares his messengers to expect rejection and be ready to move fast if necessary. Travel light, only with whatever clothes are worn on backs and pockets empty. That’s good reasoning because having nothing means nothing can be taken from them, so they won’t be set up as targets. Depend on others for immediate needs and from that know who true friends are. Extended blessing should expect hospitality in return.
Hospitable Living
In welcoming places, heal the sick. Exchange met needs with needs met in places most needed. In affirmation of life, the message would be heard more clearly and accepted.
“The Kingdom of God is near!”
To accept the message is to accept Jesus. In other words, this is the way God would have the world work, learning and living in dynamics that view each one and other as deserving hospitality, that is basic needs served, respect offered, and finding ways to lift each one to a better life. Jesus’ life brought “Love your neighbor” by sending out messengers empowered and authorized to do as he did.
It’s Not Up to You
Again, realistically not everyone is on board with Jesus’ purpose and message. Even here though Jesus refuses to allow knee-jerk responses, only allowing an announcement of wiping dust from feet (which would not be there if the hospitable act of washing feet had been offered.) “Love your enemy,” he said. (Luke 5:44) Stay on message: “The Kingdom of God is near.” Any deserving consequence is to be left to God. To reject the message is to reject Jesus. Just leave and go find another place that will respond to the message.
Named 2024 Notable Book Award by Southern Christian Writers Conference! The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings Ask for it wherever you buy your books, or just Click Here.
Graphic Illustrations
Jesus’ approach worked. The messengers returned with stories of healing persons of demonic possession by the power of Jesus’ name. Jesus throws out this imagery in response, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightening.” Then he said something about walking among snakes and scorpions without being harmed.
Jesus, tossing Satan out of heaven is one thing. Telling people they can walk on snakes and deadly spiders is another. If you think people are going to buy into this, just watch the dust rise from feet on that one!
Ok, so Jesus likes the hyperbole. In that culture it was a technique to get people to realize the big picture point. After all, they didn’t have videos in that day, so people needed to use their imaginations a bit more.
So what’s the point? Satan is the enemy of God, and Satan is going down (however you like to picture that.) The source of the enemy is evil. Think about what that looks like to you. War? Mass shootings? Injustice? Oppressive laws? Evil inherently is venomous, deadly.
So is cynicism, distrust, hatred. Jesus’ offers another way that doesn’t turn callously away from the wrongs of the world, nor does it spew reactivity blaring over equally loud opposing voices that offer no solution but animosity toward one another.
“Peace to you,” he said. Jesus heals and pushes back against evil with a power it can’t understand or rise above. Live in Jesus’ shalom and know that heaven knows your name.
With shalom, you need not question, Where is God? God is near.
Interesting you comment about the google search “where is God?”. I might need to use that for a #!