Recently I have re-read through some of the Gospels (writings about Jesus). I have marveled at how the religious leaders “had no room” inside of them for Jesus’ words. Jesus would teach, and the religious leaders would get distracted by details that they could not reconcile with their theology. Their focus on these details would cause them to “miss” the point of what Jesus was saying.
I have marveled at how Jesus plainly told them who He was and yet they constantly asked Him, “who are you?” and “where do you come from?” They repeatedly missed the answers that Jesus gave to them because the answers He gave to them were not the answers they wanted to hear.
If we are honest, all too often we are just like the religious leaders. If we are not careful, our lives leave us with “no room” for Jesus’ words. We don’t “hear” what Jesus is saying because He is not saying what we want Him to say, so we keep asking Him questions that He has already answered! Yes, we can be just like the religious leaders!
Jesus said some harsh stuff - such harshness that quite honestly would cause most church goers to become offended and leave the church if their pastor spoke to them the way Jesus spoke to the people! I found myself thinking “wow Jesus that was pretty hard” and “of course they are not receiving what you said, look at how you said it.” Yikes! Me standing in judgment of how Jesus said things? Yep. That is the point. Sadly, we judge what is being said not by the content of what is said, but rather by the tone in which it was said. Jesus is a challenging leader whose words pierce through the layers of human pride. Has Jesus “shocked” you recently by what He said?
In fresh awe of Jesus,
Jeff Powell
