Responding to Jesus – Part 4: “Respond with Openness”

     It is becoming more clear to me what many mean by having an open mind. What many really mean, is that I must have an open mind accepting their way of viewing the world which is in fact closed to my way of seeing the world. They are asking me to open my mind to their close mindedness. I believe two possible reasons people close themselves off to new ways of thinking are past hurts and disappointments.

     We close off whole segments of society with one bad experience. With every disappointment and hurt, we close off more and more of the world. In fact, many Christians are part of the church because they believe that it is a way to be protected from the wider world. The opposite is also true. Many refuse to be a part of the church because they have been hurt or disappointed by the church. We can get away with this for a while but in time our lives become lonely and small. This loneliness keeps us from experiencing all that our Creator created us to be and experience.

     In Matthew chapter 11 we experience Jesus opening His life to others as an example ti His disciples and He ministers. They too have been called to minister as sheep among wolves and here Jesus teaching them and us how to do that without closing ourselves off to the very ones we are trying to serve. With the example, Jesus gives us we are challenged to respond to Jesus by further opening your life.  
     Beginning in verses 1-19 we see Jesus opening His life to the questions of John the Baptist.

What they heard and saw was the fulfillment of prophecy and Jesus uses this to answer Johns question. This is opposite of what many people do today when question. The typical response is to get defensive and close off who we really are. John the Baptist knew Jesus well, but his life experience was leading him to question his own faith. With that in mind, Jesus said blessed are those who are not offended at Him. The opposite of offended at Him, would be exhibiting trust under delay and disappointment. James 1:12 helps us understand that very point. “12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

     Continuing in the Matthew 11 we notice that Jesus opened his life up by speaking of accountability and His own grief in v.20-24. This is an often misunderstood passage. Jesus is not casting away those who have failed to repent, but He is holding them accountable for their response to seeing His miracles. To denounce literally means “to cast into one’s teeth”. Today one might say, placing truth right in their face. Jesus also expresses His grief. Woe is an expression of grief, not an expression of condemnation as so often thought. Here we can conclude that those who have seen and heard much are accountable for what they have seen and heard. When this does not take place Jesus expresses His grief over the coming judgment of those who refuse to repent. May we never forget that Jesus finds no joy in judgment.

     We also see Jesus opening Himself to the Father by expressing thanks in verses 25-26. I find it truly amazing that Jesus offers thanks to God in the midst of expressing grief concerning others. Those who think that they are wise in and of themselves, will not be given the truth of God until too humble themselves. Following Jesus example here does not come easy to me and I am very challenged with this in some key areas of my life. May I learn the importance of having a heart open to being thankful.

     Finishing up this pass through Matthew chapter 11 we see Jesus opened Himself after being rejected by His own people by inviting all who are tired and heavily burden to come to Him. V. 27-30. In the previous chapter, Jesus sent His disciple only to the lost Jews. He now has opened to all who are tired and burdened. The More Jesus is rejected, the more He opens Himself to others.  

     If Christian has mistreated us we tighten our circle and distrust the church and those who call themselves Christian. If a person from a specific geographic location harms us we reject all people of that region. Same thing goes with economic, political, or racial issues. With every disappointment, we shrink our circles. However, Jesus would have us widen our circle with every disappointment. We are to keep listening and watching even in the face of rejection, delayed fulfillment, and hardships of any kind. The challenge for us, both individually and corporately as a church is to draw a wider circle.  The following quote sums up this message well. “When the world looks upon a people called the church, who are experiencing various levels of uncertainty, fears, and dislocation and yet are able to release with joy all that has happened in the past to receive a new thing that God wants to do.” – Scott Daniels, Embracing Exile  

Questions for reflection:

1. What causes you to close off to others?

2. Is there an area of your life that you have closed off to God. 

3. How can you draw a wider circle? 

4. How can our church widen its circle?

5. Can our circle we too wide? 

6. In this text, what is most fascinating to you about Jesus? Why?

Responding to Jesus #3 - "Being Sent" Matthew Ch. 10

     It took me a few years of teaching junior and senior high school students to no longer be shocked or disappointed when they acted like teenagers. Some of things that shock parents and those that work with teenagers are just part of growing up. Working with teens became a whole lot more enjoyable when I began to expect them to act like teenagers. It’s the same thing working with those new to a relationship with Jesus. They are going to act in ways congruent with their maturity level. We can also expect those who do not believe in Jesus to act like it. They will act like it in their responses to our efforts to share the Gospel with them.

     We can’t be shocked when people dislike or discriminate against Christians because Jesus told us to expect it. We in America don’t suffer from persecution, but it is becoming difficult to find our voice in sharing our faith because we are often seen in a negative light. So instead of being shocked by this reality, we can learn from Matthew chapter 10 that it is not shocking at all. A look into this passage will help us respond to the challenges of being sent into people’s lives

     Beginning in verses 1-4 we see that we as sent people are to stop being apologetic of your faith. This is true because of the authority that Jesus has given to those He sends. Notice that this authority is to do the same things that He has been doing throughout Matthew chapters 8-9. It is a tremendous truth that Jesus expects us to do the things that He does. If you are like me, you would agree that this sounds crazy and impossible. However, when we accept this idea we enter a world of bringing newness and restoration.

     Moving forward into verse 5-15, we discover that we are to serve as people who have been sent by another.  Here, Jesus sends the twelve to the lost proclaiming that “the kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. Jesus sends the twelve out telling them that those who receive their message will provide necessary housing and food yet many others will reject them. Therefore, we too should expect that as we are sent, we don’t choose where or for what purposes. This naturally causes us to experience a good amount of fear, however Jesus tells us of how we are valued by the One who is sending us. When we understand that, we become strong enough to bare the challenges of being sent.

     Jesus never states that rejection and persecution is enjoyable but He does tell us to expect it knowing that it will result in good. This is the point that I wish to draw your attention to in verses 16-39. Here, the twelve are warned that there will be legal and personal persecution and that we are to handle this persecution with wisdom, innocence. As they did, and we do today, God uses the persecution as a platform for witness. Think of all the greatness that you have seen in the lives of people who have overcome seemingly impossible situations. Further motivation to faithfully handle rejection is the love shared between us and God. We can find comfort knowing that Jesus was rejected and it was to our benefit. We can join Him in His suffering, because He has joined us in ours.  

     Finally, in responding to being sent, understand that God will reward those who receive you (V. 40-42). In receiving the twelve they were receiving Jesus and the Father. I find it strange but true that as people accept us as those being sent to them from God they are in some way accepting God Himself.

Reflection Questions

1. To whom is God sending you?

2. What is God sending you to do?

3. What motivates you to behave as one that has been sent?

4. Share your thoughts on handling rejection with wisdom and innocence.

5. How are we to behave as sent people in a culture that believes religious beliefs are to be kept private?

Responding to Jesus Part 2 "Responding to His Heart"

I recently watched a discussion between Pastor Timothy Keller and Professor Jonathan Haidt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFD5odFv36k) concerning the source of human morality. They were coming to the discussion from opposite view points, but their respect for each other was evident and the way that they responded to each other was an example to us all. Each one had the goal of searching for truth and their responses were toward that goal. It is somewhat easy to respond to the actions of others, but quite another thing to respond to their heart. I am not one that believes that our actions and heart are two different things, but that our actions and words reveal our heart. To respond to one’s heart I have to closely consider their actions and the possible reasons for them. I must also seek understanding through careful discussion without jumping to a self-centered response. I want to grow in my responding to the heart of Jesus. 

We all are responding to Jesus everyday by how we live our lives and treat others. It takes patient reflection upon Jesus’ words and actions to enable ourselves to rightly respond to Him. Without this careful reflection, we will most-likely turn away from Him. He often works in ways that are very trying and difficult to understand. We don’t always respond in worship and obedience, but in rejection and rebellion. If we are going to be honest with ourselves, we have a tough time following Jesus when He does not act according to our presuppositions.    

The main focus of this post is to discuss how we can rightly respond to the work of Jesus by know the heart of Jesus.  The text under consideration is Matthew chapter 9. As Jesus ministered to those in need there were reactions and responses. The religious leaders reacted to Jesus’ ministry by telling Him that He was wrong because He was exercising authority that only God possessed and disregarding their traditions. The crowds and those who received help from Jesus responded on the basis of their needs being meet. There is much that can be observed in this text, but for this post we will focus on just a small part.  

The heart of Jesus is revealed as he addresses both those who reject and accept His work. As you read the text please take note that the miracle, though important to Jesus and the individual that received, was not the main point. For us the main point is what each miracle taught about the nature of Jesus and His ministry to which we are to be a part of. In each one, His heart is revealed in five ways.  His heart is to exercise His authority to forgive sin (V. 1-8). His heart is like a physician coming to make the sick well through mercy, not sacrifice (V. 9-13) His heart of ministry does not fit into cold mechanical traditions (V.14-17). His heart responds to those who turn to Him as a last resort (V. 18-31). His heart is to use His authority to remove the demonic power (V.32-34).  

With these truths about the heart of Jesus may we respond to Him rightly. We need to admit that His work is difficult to understand at times but may we learn to respond to His heart by join Jesus in ministering to others from a heart of compassion (V. 35-36). May we do so as laborers for the harvest (V. 37-38).

Responding to Jesus Part 1 - "The Human Response"

 

     As Jesus continues to be active in and through His church, the reactions and responses seem to increase the disunity and harmful beliefs concerning Jesus and His church. I also think that disunity is present in my own heart. As one following Jesus, I am constantly responding to where He is going and what He is doing. My responses are at times pleasant and adoring. However, at others times my responses are confusing and painful.
     We must be honest in our responses to Jesus even if we do not particularly like them or have them on purpose. We as humans have a nature that wants to push back against how Jesus operates in the world and in our individual lives. True as well is our desire to please Jesus because we love Him and appreciate the grace that He continually pours into our lives. Within this struggle, we can be thankful that God helps us past our human response to Jesus. 

     Matthew chapters 8-10 help us understand this vital truth. Prior to this section in Matthew, we read what is referred to as Jesus sermon mount. As the gospel writers often do, Matthew takes his readers from a teaching of Jesus, to a correlating action of Jesus. This present action in chapters 8-10 is a series of healings that exemplify the sermon on the mount and display the nature of Jesus and His ministry. As this takes place we notice various responses to the actions of Jesus. As you notice these responses, you may find how you are currently responding to Jesus in our own life. The positive reactions are fine and well, but what do we do with the negative? What follows in this post is a look within chapter 8 that causes us see how God helps us past our human responses to Jesus. 

God helps us by telling us the truth about following Him. Matthew 8:1-22. Three healings in Galilee that prompted some to say that they would follow. The first was the healing of the leper in verses 1-4. Her we notice the question of willingness and the truth that Jesus ministers to the outcast. The lepers of Jesus day were some of the most rejected people of the time due to their illness. The second was Jesus healing of the Centurions servant through which we see that Jesus operates from a position of authority. The third healing was of Peter's mother in law and many others around her that displayed the reality that Jesus' ministry the taking on of our illnesses and diseases. The human response to these miracles was to follow Jesus in order to gain healing. However, Jesus quickly disposes that motivation by revealing that following Jesus would not be a venture into a life of comfort.  

     Secondly God helps us passed our ham response to Jesus by working in our lives when we think all hope is gone (8:23-27) Here Jesus calms the storm when his disciples accuse Him of not being aware of their situation. Have you ever felt like your life was falling apart and Jesus was asleep? This is a common human response and God helps us through it by His presence and authority. As He does so we live in amazement and wonder concerning the nature of Jesus. 

     Finally, God helps us through our human responses to Jesus by ruling over evil. As we see in the passage, not everyone is thrilled with how Jesus response to evil. Some will tell Jesus to leave. Do you ever feel this way? As Jesus deals with evil in your live do you find yourself displeased. Some times Jesus deals with evil by allowing it to exist. This is very painful for us as we follow Him, and we need the God's help to keep going, while our human response is to reject Him. 

     How are you responding to Jesus at this point in your life? Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever He may go? Are you responding with wonder and amazement concerning His nature? Are you asking Him to go away? God must move us past our natural inclination because our natural response to Jesus is often with a sense of self preservation. This is why, Jesus reminds us that "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16: 24 (ESV)