My hippy loving heart loves the fact
that Jesus, (‘the Big J’ as I like to call Him), was an incredible rebel for
His time.
I like to think of Him with dreadlocks,
a guy who confidentially pulled off the socks-with-sandals look (because let’s
face it, it doesn’t get much more out there).
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| yep. |
During His ministry He didn’t
really have a home, and I’m sure most of the time He wasn’t too sure where His
next meal was coming from. I love the fact He rolled His eyes at religious
leaders, and chose instead to spend His time with lepers, taxmen, prostitutes
and His best mates.
(Sidenote: do not tell your Year 6 scripture class that Jesus “spent time with prostitutes”. Chaos ensues, and you
become a heretic in a matter of seconds. I learnt this one the hard way.)
I love the fact that He stood in the
face of the world, and didn’t just rave on about another alternative lifestyle,
wearing red bands around His wrists and waving out of context placards – but He
came with an opposite alternative, an
opposite existence. A few earth-shattering, mind-blowing, life-flipping ideas
that broke the code of the day, and continue to do so today.
Like for example.
Sex? Not necessary to have a baby!
Food? It’s not what man most needs.
Persecution? What a great thing!
Rejoice in it!
The pursuit of money? The root of all
sorts of trouble.
Are you poor in spirit? Mourning? Meek?
You are blessed.
Did someone hit you in the face? Turn
the other cheek.
You know your enemies? Love them.
Hurt? Forgive.
Earthly possessions? They rust and fade
and don’t satisfy. Don’t bother.
Worry? Who needs it!
Don’t know what to do? Love.
Want to be first? Be last.
Want to be exalted? Be humbled.
Want to be strong? Be broken.
Jesus astounds me. His life was more
then a little controversial. One of my favourite parts of the Bible, that
hardly ever rates a mention is in Luke 4. Jesus is doing some teaching in the
synagogue and He basically claims that He fulfils a certain part of scripture,
and then puts words in other peoples mouths (to paraphrase it completely superficially).
Annoyed at this, this is what happens:
Luke 4: 28 – 30
“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on
which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But He walked
right through the crowd and went on his way.”
They
tried to throw Him off a cliff. No big deal. He walked right through the crowd. Um, what? I find this incredible
and also a little bit hilarious (is that wrong?). They try to stone Him too, at
another point.
Jesus
wasn’t the white-robe wearing, perfectly trimmed beard sporting, pope-mobile
driving, super-clean smiling man that He’s often portrayed to be in popular
media today.
He
was a major public nuisance, who disturbed the social order wherever He went.
He pissed people off to the point where they tried to throw Him off a cliff,
and stone Him, and eventually they murdered Him – for a crime He didn’t commit.
The
life of Jesus therefore so clearly emphasises to me the need to not just be a
little different from the world, but to be completely opposite, as His follower
and fan.
Jesus
didn’t come just to save us from death, He came to show us how to live, and
following Him is all about walking in the opposite direction. Not just
different, but opposite.
God
personally has been teaching me the truth of this statement in the last couple
of weeks, and it’s been profound – especially when it comes to brokenness.
Sin
filled world says: outer strength is good. Pride is good. Independence is good.
Perfect example being me, who is an incredible attention seeker who refuses to
open up, show any weakness, delegate responsibilities, take criticism or ask
for any help. And the result of this is lonely isolation, separation from God
and community and having an island mentality, which leads to judgement and in
my case; self loathing.
Walking in the opposite spirit is
letting people in, living in community, finding strength in the body of Christ,
allowing others to make up for your weaknesses and you, making up for theirs.
It’s about asking for forgiveness, forgiving others, taking on criticism,
humbling yourself, being openly loving and encouraging, being broken by the
state of yourself and the world, walking away from judgement and into
affirmation, being vulnerable and accountable. Like life and purpose in general
it’s about loving God whole-heartedly and letting action and all things come
from that love. The rest of life is just details.
The Christian walk (which I imagine to
have a little swagger in it) is not about strength and comfort, but about
brokenness, persecution and being unsettled and outraged by this hurting,
broken, beautiful world.
I see beauty and strength in that.
I’m incredibly excited to discover the
truth in the fact that this world is more wretched and more astoundingly
beautiful then I dare to imagine.
I’m ready to be broken by this reality.
I have opinions, who knew!
Over&out&blessings a plenty.
{Iamlisteningto:}
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| todays joy is in a good nights sleep & tea & journal & Bible & AIDs research & sweet tunes. |
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