Ok, so prior to reading this chapter I probably would have vehemently argued with anyone who told me I had made assumptions about Jesus. I'm pretty sure I would have said that everything I had ever been taught about Jesus was "the gospel truth" even if I had never taken the time to examine it for myself. But, the more I reflect on a lot of this stuff, the more I realize I may have been wrong.
I'm pretty sure Jesus would not isolate himself from people because they had a different background or different life experience or different set of values--in fact, he CHOSE to hang out with the downtrodden, the vile, the angry, the defeated. He loved the tax collectors, the adultresses, the Roman soldiers who eventually crucified him--he even continued to hang out with Judas when he knew about his ultimate betrayal.
Not to beat the old political horse to death, but I'm pretty sure Jesus would not agree wholeheartedly with either political party or with any candidate we have had an opportunity to elect, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't bash whoever we had to choose from. He even instructed the Pharisees and Herodians to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's"--an emperor who claimed to be the son of God!
I love the story Donald Miller uses about the Navy SEAL rescuing the hostages. It REALLY captured what I'm pretty sure Jesus was all about--about snuggling up to the dirty and the broken to show them He is trustworthy. What about you? Was this image of the Navy SEAL a more appealing hero than what you know and believe about Jesus? Why or Why not?
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I believe Jesus is just like the navy seal. i think Jesus can relate to our problems and when we are struggling i think he is right there next to us. i think Jesus can relate to us better than anyone else can and he will always be there for us in our time of need
ReplyDeleteI think that the Navy SEAL is a fitting example of who Jesus is, helping the scared and the scarred. I don't know if it's just me, but I've had the idea, the thought of Jesus loving the "evilest" of people, for quite a time. I wonder if I have the same idea of Jesus as other people.
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