A strange title today - but that’s what Jesus’ opponents were beginning to think.
Jesus condemns wickedness
Matthew 11:16-19, Luke 7:31-35
The unbelieving towns
Matthew 11:20-24
Invitation to rest
Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus at Simon’s home
Luke 7:36-50
The women who accompanied Jesus
Luke 8:1-3
Jesus accused of madness
Mark 3:20-21
Jesus and Beelzebub
Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:22-27
The unpardonable sin
Matthew 12:31-37, Mark 3:28-30
The folly of seeking a sign
Matthew 12:38-45
After a day or two of Jesus’ teaching, we might be thinking, “what’s not to like?” What he says makes such sense and would be so wonderful if it could be lived out. But there were plenty of people who didn’t like Jesus. Either because they couldn’t accept his words, or because his deeds tested their belief systems to destruction.
Jesus was fully capable of being harsh and uncompromising. Indeed, to people who would not listen, or who flatly rejected him, he had words of judgement and condemnation.
Next we read a long scene where Jesus is a guest at the home of a prominent pharisee. We know that the pharisees are finding it hard to accept Jesus, even though they can’t really disagree with his teaching, but because there is a more fundamental difference between them. It’s something like a contagion view of good and evil. The pharisees believe that sin and evil are contagious, and that to stay righteous, they need to live in hygienic surroundings, and keep themselves apart from wicked people. The Old Testament law has helped them on their way to this thinking, with its definition of cleanness and uncleanness. To touch something unclean would render you unclean for a certain amount of time. Therefore to come too close to someone whose lifestyle was dubious could contaminate you. But for all that, Simon is a generous kind of guy. He doesn’t have an unknown woman thrown out as soon as she shows her face - he is practising hospitality by allowing her to remain, what troubles him is that Jesus is showing every sign of enjoying her extravagant attention. Jesus is not passing judgement on her.
Jesus is working on the opposite principle, that goodness can contaminate evil. This woman, by coming into contact with him, has been cleansed of her wicked life, her sins are forgiven, and she is free to go and peace and start living differently.
In fact Jesus attracted quite a group of women, who provided for his needs as they travelled around with him. You can see why the “righteous” people bridled: an ex-prostitute using her ill-gotten gains to support a travelling preacher!
So, the religious leaders have a dilemma. They can’t deny Jesus’ spiritual power. But they can’t accept his behaviour. So they conclude that he’s mad, or possessed by an evil spirit. Jesus points out that this is laughable, that logically it doesn’t stand up, but the leaders will be in no mood to listen. Jesus’ way of doing things, for them, simply does not compute.
Jesus condemns wickedness
Matthew 11:16-19, Luke 7:31-35
The unbelieving towns
Matthew 11:20-24
Invitation to rest
Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus at Simon’s home
Luke 7:36-50
The women who accompanied Jesus
Luke 8:1-3
Jesus accused of madness
Mark 3:20-21
Jesus and Beelzebub
Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:22-27
The unpardonable sin
Matthew 12:31-37, Mark 3:28-30
The folly of seeking a sign
Matthew 12:38-45
After a day or two of Jesus’ teaching, we might be thinking, “what’s not to like?” What he says makes such sense and would be so wonderful if it could be lived out. But there were plenty of people who didn’t like Jesus. Either because they couldn’t accept his words, or because his deeds tested their belief systems to destruction.
Jesus was fully capable of being harsh and uncompromising. Indeed, to people who would not listen, or who flatly rejected him, he had words of judgement and condemnation.
Next we read a long scene where Jesus is a guest at the home of a prominent pharisee. We know that the pharisees are finding it hard to accept Jesus, even though they can’t really disagree with his teaching, but because there is a more fundamental difference between them. It’s something like a contagion view of good and evil. The pharisees believe that sin and evil are contagious, and that to stay righteous, they need to live in hygienic surroundings, and keep themselves apart from wicked people. The Old Testament law has helped them on their way to this thinking, with its definition of cleanness and uncleanness. To touch something unclean would render you unclean for a certain amount of time. Therefore to come too close to someone whose lifestyle was dubious could contaminate you. But for all that, Simon is a generous kind of guy. He doesn’t have an unknown woman thrown out as soon as she shows her face - he is practising hospitality by allowing her to remain, what troubles him is that Jesus is showing every sign of enjoying her extravagant attention. Jesus is not passing judgement on her.
Jesus is working on the opposite principle, that goodness can contaminate evil. This woman, by coming into contact with him, has been cleansed of her wicked life, her sins are forgiven, and she is free to go and peace and start living differently.
In fact Jesus attracted quite a group of women, who provided for his needs as they travelled around with him. You can see why the “righteous” people bridled: an ex-prostitute using her ill-gotten gains to support a travelling preacher!
So, the religious leaders have a dilemma. They can’t deny Jesus’ spiritual power. But they can’t accept his behaviour. So they conclude that he’s mad, or possessed by an evil spirit. Jesus points out that this is laughable, that logically it doesn’t stand up, but the leaders will be in no mood to listen. Jesus’ way of doing things, for them, simply does not compute.
No comments:
Post a Comment