Jesus

Honour and Violence

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6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.  Luke 6:6-11

Jesus did not compel all He met to honour Him as Lord of the Sabbath. However, He would not be denied. With or without honour the mission of establishing His kingdom would go on. He did not allow this man with a withered right hand to remain in his corner of shame to be used by those who sought to accuse Jesus of wrong-doing. With only a functional left hand this man was caught in a perpetual state of uncleanness and social estrangement. And now he was being used as bait.

Jesus called the man up and healed him. “Stretch out your hand.” In that moment Jesus disrespected the sacred conventions of the religious; and by extension he was a threat. If an honour deficit is allowed to rule the heart, the heart always moves towards fury and violence.

But, Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, more than covers the shame of honour deficits. The One who healed in the moment He said, “Stretch out your hand,” stretched out His own hands on a cross and carried our shame, our honour deficits, for our healing.

“22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:22-25

Meekness: Counter-Intuitive

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3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness…

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;

though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11But the meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Psalm 37: 3, 7-11

On a morning in which the free press of France has been violently attacked it may seem strange to write of meekness. However, the truth is, any morning in this world will serve up a number of wicked and violent reasons not to value meekness.

In Psalm 37 David contrasts the lives of the meek and the lives of violent. The motions of true faith in God generate meekness. Meekness is a typically non-valued quality observed in humility and gentleness. It is controlled strength, like that of a mighty horse able to respond to the slightest directive.

Meekness is counter-intuitive. Occupying the land seems to belong only to the strong and mighty. They take it. However, the inheritance of the earth belongs to those who have been gracefully brought into the rule of Christ the King. The prophetic vision of the fruits of meekness “they shall inherit the land” are only met in the Messiah. Jesus announces the reality of His Kingship and His people when he says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  (Matthew 5:6)

David encourages his people to choose meekness in respect to God and to His promises. Throughout Psalm 37 he contrasts the lives of the meek. We must be aware of how meekness will be tested in respect to

Emotion. vs. 8
Speech. vs. 12
Consideration of the weak. vs. 14
Fulfilling your commitments. vs. 21
Doing good and being generous. vs. 26

Meekness is future-present lifestyle. It is the only commended point at which we might say Jesus is our example. The Gospel-shaped life is not looking for an example of righteousness that can be copied. Rather the Gospel shaped life is formed through the transformative power of a Saviour who gives us the grace to enter into meekness with Him. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

The Inn-Keeper Was So Accommodating!

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6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

I’ve often wondered why the inn-keeper is vilified. Surely this nameless and non-mentioned participant in the birth of Christ could be painted in a better light. He was so accommodating!

Perhaps he had already turned away countless others seeking shelter. But there before him was a pregnant woman. His inn was full. But if it was just shelter they needed for the delivery, they could use the stable. As far as he knew the couple before him were nobodies and the child – another nobody. But they had a desperate need and he met it. And there in what we might call a “back room,” the King of Creation fully occupied a manger.

As we watch Jesus in the Gospels we see this humility over and over. He takes what is offered, does more with it than expected, and occupies all the space offered with His glory. He is King no matter what seat He is offered at the table.

Imagine what Jesus can do with a life fully surrendered to Him!

Live like an exile: Bless the city.

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7But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7

The captives from Jerusalem abiding in Babylon might not be blamed for maintaining a self-protective edge. Why should they give themselves wholeheartedly to the success of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon? Surely they want to get back to Jerusalem as quick as possible. They are longing for home. Wouldn’t it be a kind of betrayal if they pursued good for all of Babylon’s residents?

God has a surprising word for these exiles: Seek the welfare of the city and pray for the city. If the city thrives then they will thrive. God does not want them to isolate themselves nor does He want them to engage only for self-preservation. Rather, God wants them to actively seek the peace, the shalom, the well-being of Babylon.

Like these exiles, the Church of Jesus lives with a promise of what is to come. If we seek the welfare of our city we must nurture a vision of peace and blessing shaped by the presence of Jesus Christ our King. We proclaim Gospel Truth revealing who God is and we radiate His glory through persistent intercession and generous godly labour.

Live like an exile: Live Engaged!

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4“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.  Jeremiah 29:4-6

God addresses the Israelite captives in Babylon as people who are to live under Him and in His covenant no matter where they live. He has sent them. And now He commands them to engage in life there. Their temptation may have been to “keep their moving boxes” rather than unpack and settle down.

Build houses. Live in them.

Plant gardens. Eat the produce.

Take wives. Have a family.

Expand the family.

Multiply.

We are tempted to turn Christian discipleship into a perpetual retreat from life. Instead we are to engage in the activities of a good life as people under the graceful rule of Jesus the King. Our life together as the church includes engagement in the productive aspects of city and community life. Building, planting, forming relationships and creating family.

Are you living well?

Living well for a Christian is to somehow engage in the economy of Great Commission disciple-making. I really can’t read Jeremiah’s letter to exiles  through the lens of Jesus’ commands without taking hold of His call for the church to multiply disciples. Following a Mark 4 view of the Kingdom, we are to be a people who plant our lives in community, plant the Gospel in the lives of people, make disciples of those whom Jesus calls, and gather them into the church He is building. Exiles have longings. We are longing for Him to be fully revealed and in doing so we are becoming the people who reveal His Kingship… no matter where we live.