Accomplishing the Impossible

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

A conversation between an ancient Hebrew prophet and a Hebrew seeker

Scene: A cave at the top of a Himalayan peak.  Fog drifts across part of the snow-covered mountain behind it.  Before the cave is a ledge which drops down to unknown depths.  A SWAMI , who looks remarkably like Jesus, is sitting, cross-legged at the opening of the cave, his eyes closed.  A few of his disciples—PETER and JOHN sit behind him, trying to be cross-legged as well, but having difficulty mastering the position.  As they scuffle and fight with each other, the SWAMI sits in perfect peace, ignoring their difficulties.

            A young YUPPIE appears, climbing up the ledge.  He is dressed in a three-piece stylish business suit, clearly very expensive, black shoes shined and the owner of a three-hundred dollar haircut.  He is carrying a cell phone and a briefcase.  He struggles up the ledge, throwing his briefcase up first, then finally climbing up the ledge.  Exhausted, he crawls over to the SWAMI and collapses.  The SWAMI doesn’t move a muscle, but PETER and JOHN stare at the man, shocked.

YUPPIE:  (Breathing hard)  Oh Great… and Knowledgeable… Good… and Holy Swami!  I have traveled over many days and suffered many travails…

SWAMI:  (Not yet opening his eyes.  Speaking in a bored voice.) Who are you trying to impress?

YUPPIE: But Good Swami, I have traveled thousands of miles….

SWAMI: In your private jet plane, flying into Kathmandu.

YUPPIE:  And I climbed this mountain…

SWAMI: The rented helicopter dropped you off on the ledge over there.

YUPPIE: Look, Good Swami, I came all the way from the United States to talk to you, and the least you could do is listen!

SWAMI:  (Opens one eye) There is no one good but God.  If you want to address me, “hey you” will do.  (Closes his eye)

YUPPIE: (Taken aback)  But Swa…  But I have come this way to ask you a question.

SWAMI: Just one?

YUPPIE: Yes, just one.

SWAMI:  I’ll try to fit it into my schedule.

(Silence for a moment)

YUPPIE: Can I ask?

SWAMI: (Sighs and opens his eyes.) Shoot.  Try your best.

YUPPIE: Great Swami…

SWAMI: Get to the point, okay?

YUPPIE: (Wind taken out of his sails.) Um, okay.  How can I obtain eternal life?

SWAMI: Eternal life?

YUPPIE: Yes.

SWAMI: Life with God?

YUPPIE: Yes.

SWAMI: Resurrection from the dead?

YUPPIE: Yes…

SWAMI: Inheritance in God’s kingdom?

YUPPIE: Yes!

SWAMI:   Peace, security and every good thing?

YUPPIE: Yes, yes, YES!

SWAMI:  Have you gone to others to ask them this question?

YUPPIE: Yes, I have gone to a thousand teachers, a hundred professors, a dozen philosophers and a faith healer.

SWAMI: And what did they tell you?

YUPPIE: They told me to obey the commandments.

SWAMI: The commandments of God, eh?  What commandments did they mention?

YUPPIE: The usual.  Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.  You know, the normal list everyone gives.

SWAMI: Sounds good.  Go for it.  (Closes his eyes again.)

YUPPIE: (Exasperated) But… but.  (Explodes) IS THAT IT?!  (SWAMI doesn’t respond.)  That can’t be it!  I’ve been doing that all my life!  It’s just too easy.  I know there must be something more.  Swami, isn’t there?  (SWAMI opens his eyes.)  Please, Swami, isn’t there something you haven’t been telling me? I just feel that something is missing.  In obeying the commands, I still seem so distant from God.  Isn't there something else?

SWAMI: (Has new respect for YUPPIE, and looks at him intently.)  If you want to be sure of your salvation, then listen carefully: (YUPPIE leans in to listen) Take your cell phone, and your computers and your plane and your house—sorry, houses— and your stocks and sell it all.  Turn it into hard, cold cash.  Then, give it away to all the beggars in your home town.  Then come back and follow me.  (Closes his eyes.)

YUPPIE: (Eyes downcast) Um, Swami?

SWAMI: (Calmly) Yes?

YUPPIE: How can I follow you?

SWAMI: (An eyebrow goes up.)  What do you mean?

YUPPIE: I mean… well… you aren’t, uh, going anywhere.

SWAMI: Oh, that.  Well, I’ll be travelling down to Kathmandu.

YUPPIE: Ah.

SWAMI: And my disciples will follow me.

YUPPIE: I see.

SWAMI: And I’ll be killed there, you see. (PETER and JOHN jump up, eyes wide.)

YUPPIE: Yes, yes, that’s fine.  Just wondering.  I do have just a couple more questions.

SWAMI: (Opening both eyes, slightly irritated.)  You know, you said that you would just ask me one question and I have been so gracious as to answer three.  And now you are demanding more?  You are becoming annoying.

YUPPIE: I just need a couple things clarified.

SWAMI:  I don’t see how much more clear I can make it.  Here, try this for size:  Sell your possessions and give to the poor, then come and follow me.

YUPPIE: I think I got the gist of that, but I was just wondering… just to clarify…

SWAMI: Yes, what is it?

YUPPIE: Well, perhaps I could just keep the physical things, but not be overly attached to them.  You know, like share them with others—my friends perhaps.  And I won’t worry so much if I lose them.

SWAMI:  (Irritated) Which part of “Sell your possessions” did you not understand?  That should be clear, I think.  If you really want to not be “overly attached” to your possessions, there’s only one solution—get rid of them.  That should do it, I think.

YUPPIE: But I worked hard for these possessions!  I made the right decisions, I struggled to get where I am.  Why should I give my own stuff to anyone?

SWAMI: You worked, yes.  But the wealth you received came from God.  Others work just as hard as you, and harder, but do not have as much as you do.  Your wealth is a gift.  A loan, actually, and God is seeing what you will do with what you have received.  And God’s command is this: “Stop spending your excess wealth on yourself and those who love you.  Give it to the poor, and I will take that wealth and give it back to you a hundredfold in the final day.” 

YUPPIE: But the poor!  They don’t deserve that money!  They’ll just waste it all on drugs and alcohol…

SWAMI: While you waste it on real estate and stock speculations.  No difference, really.  Besides, how many poor do you really know? 

YUPPIE: Well, I see the guys holding signs on the streets…

SWAMI: How many of them have you met?  Even talked to?

YUPPIE: I talked to some of them…

SWAMI: And how many of them did you listen to?  How many of them did you take the time to hear their stories, to find out who they really are?  How many of them did you spend a day with to see their normal activities?  How do you know what they would do with the money if they had it?

YUPPIE:  Well, statistically…

SWAMI: Statistically!  Means and averages are the idols of the modern age—that which we hide behind to avoid doing what is right.  If you want to know who someone is, plug them into a category, and suddenly you know their whole life story, thanks to the modern miracle of Probability!  No one exists until they are a blip on the National Per Capita Production chart!  No one has a need until their needs are polled, assumed, measured and churned out on the meat grinder of reality!  What does any of that have to do with real life?  What does it have to do with real people? The next time you walk your street, look at the man collapsed in the alley north of you.  He does drink, but his dream is to own a truck and tools in order to have a landscaping business.  He already has a couple customers to prove his ability, but he just needs a hand up and he will have a whole new life.  You know that filthy girl who you ran into downtown last year, whom you assumed was drunk or high?  Actually, she has a medication which she cannot afford, which makes her well, if not completely independent.  She has never had more than a beer her whole life, and has never taken illegal drugs.  Everyone just assumes she had because she hangs out silently in AA meetings for the warmth and coffee in the morning.  If you worship statistics so much, here is one—no more than 50 percent of the homeless people in your town are regular users of alcohol or illegal drugs.  And yet you want to reject the whole lot of them, to ignore God’s commands, to throw away your salvation—why?  Because of your assumption.  Because of your judgment.

YUPPIE: (Shamefaced)  I don’t know what to say…

SWAMI: (Outraged.)  Say nothing!  You came all this way to find out the truth.  And in finding the truth, you throw it back in my face.  Accept simply this: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Then come and follow me.”  That’s your answer.  Take it or leave it.

YUPPIE: (Silently, reluctantly, picks up briefcase and carries it and himself over the ledge again.)

(There is a brief silence as PETER and JOHN get over their shock at the statements of their teacher.  This also allows us to pause before the conclusion of our short play. It’s good to take a break from the action for a moment, isn’t it?)

PETER: Master, weren’t you hard on him?

SWAMI: It may seem so, but I was doing him a favor.  He is a good kid.

JOHN: You didn’t make him sound so good.

PETER: Yeah, you told him off.

SWAMI:  (Smiles) I was treating him as a disciple.  Didn’t you recognize my tone?  If he was going to break with the wealth that was choking away his life, he would have to have a wake-up call. 

PETER: You certainly treated him a lot harsher than you did us.

SWAMI: Do you realize how difficult it is for a wealthy person to have eternal life?  It is impossible.

PETER: What do you mean?  Impossible?  But the wealthy have the leisure to study righteousness.  The wealthy have the leisure to pray when they want.  The wealthy can give huge amounts to the needy.

SWAMI:  You do not understand them, do you?  Yes, they have the opportunity, but they don’t take them.  The wealthy allow their wealth to take over their whole lives.  They could pray, but they look to the caring of their riches, instead, for in that they find their salvation.  They could study righteousness, but they study the texts that assist them in increasing their wealth.  They could give to the poor, but they have become so attached to their wealth, that they dare not part from it.  Their wealth becomes their god.  Wealth is their security, the source of their pleasure, the basis of their health and well-being, the means of living in their society.  The only way for them to truly be obedient to God is to get rid of it and give it to God’s program of assisting the poor.

JOHN: But, if it is so difficult for the wealthy, what about us?  What about anyone?

SWAMI: Yes, God’s eternal life is impossible for just about anyone—especially the wealthy.  But God is in the business of accomplishing the impossible.  Come, let us pray for this young man.

The Utopia Man

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand

If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

Sayings of Yeshua

Jesus was well aware of all the promises of God and their lack of fulfillment.  He knew about the promise to give the Spirit to God’s people so that they would live rightly.  Jesus knew about the promise of health and peace.  Jesus knew about the promise of a king who would rule justly.  Jesus knew about the promise to the poor that they would receive the wealth of the unrighteous. 

Jesus lived these promises and breathed them and fully believed them.  Jesus’ whole ministry was based on these promises.  Every time Jesus spoke of the “kingdom of God” coming, he was speaking about these promises, the coming utopia of God.  Jesus healed because of God’s promises to heal his people. Jesus cast out demons because of the promise to release people from imprisonment.  Jesus prayed for the Spirit to come on his disciples because God promised the Spirit when his kingdom came.  Jesus fed the poor, because God promised that the poor would be fed in the coming kingdom.  To see the promises fulfilled meant the kingdom was coming.³⁴  To see the promises fulfilled is to see God glorified above all.

For this reason, Jesus spoke of the utopia of God as being both now and in the future.  It is still to come, for oppressors still exist, sickness still reigns, famine still ravages.  But the utopia has come already wherever Jesus has worked.³⁵  Every sickness healed, every poor person fed, every prisoner released is a touchstone with God’s utopia.  It seems small compared to the large promise to come, but it is an indication that God hasn’t forgotten His promise.  And that Jesus is the center of fulfillment.³⁶

34. Jesus’ focus on God’s promises being fulfilled is a major theme in his work, and especially seeing himself as the focus of that fulfillment:  Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 22:15-16, 36-37; Matthew 26:52-56; Mark 14:49; Luke 24:44; John 5:45-46.

35. Matthew 12:28; Luke 7:20-22.

36. See note 34.

The Beatitudes for Cynics

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

-A poetic introduction to an ancient sermon, Matthew 5:3-12

You know Pastor Jesus, I thought your sermon was great—really poetic.  I really appreciated the chaism and the repetition.  It was great.  Just brilliant.  I did have a few questions about the content, though.  Jesus, let me see if I heard you right—the poor in spirit are fortunate?  Sure, in Proverbs it says that the poor in spirit are better than the proud,⁵¹ but really, does it help people to be associated with the lowly?  I mean, they are so… lowly.  So below par.  It’d be okay to give the lowly a buck now and them, but who would actually want to be socially connected with them? 

And those who grieve?  Happy?⁵²  I don’t think so.  I mean, the fact that they are mourning means that they’ve got a reason to mourn.  To grieve actually means that you are the opposite of happy.  Somebody dying, terrible circumstances, being beat up, that kinda thing.  It just doesn’t make any sense.  I mean, sure Isaiah 61 says that God’s good news is for the mourning, but who really WANTS to mourn?⁵³  There's nothing inherently joyful in that.

What about the meek?  A lot of the congregation here thinks this sounds okay—humble people ruling the earth.  Yeah, but they don’t really know who the meek are, do they?  Not like you and I. The meek aren’t just people who aren’t proud, even if they are CEOs or something.  These are the people who have no power, no opportunities—they have proven themselves unlucky.   Sure it says in Scripture that the meek would inherit the earth.⁵⁴  But I hate to break this to you Jesus, but… the meek?  They don’t have anything except a bunch a trouble.  The meek are called meek because they don’t have much. 

And the hungry and thirsty for justice?  I’ve known a bunch of those people.  And there isn’t any money in seeking justice.  The ones who really are desperate for justice, it’s because they didn’t get any. Ever. And those who get injustice and can’t do anything about it, well, they’re just stuck.  I mean, if they sought justice, only to find that they can’t get any, well, it’s just too late for them, isn’t it?

            As far as the other folks you’re talking about, Pastor—the merciful, the clean in heart, the peacemakers—that’s all nice.  But let’s be practical.  If you are so merciful that you give your resources to those who need it, then you have no resources to really help the world, do you?  If you are so focused on being right before God, then how can you get ahead?  We want to live before God, but a little bit of compromise is necessary, right?  If you focus on creating peace between people, then you aren’t really the kind of person to really make positive changes in the world.  Reconciliation doesn’t get anything done.

            And the persecuted?  Well, that is the most ridiculous statement of all.  Can you imagine a bunch of rag-tag farmers in Congo running from an army suddenly turning around and ruling the world?  What about a teacher fired from her job in the U.S. because she was praying with students in charge of the education system?  A prisoner in Vietnam teaching the gospel, running some underground churches suddenly becoming the head of the Communist Party there?  How about a dead martyr in Bangladesh suddenly being at the head of parliament?  That’s hilarious!  You know, Jesus, that’s the one thing I really like about your sermons—you always make me laugh! 

            But really, Jesus, do you think that you should encourage these folks this way?  Despite the beauty of your poetry, I think that you are really leading people for a fall.  What happens after they don’t received what was promised—the weak and hopeless getting to rule the world and all?  What happens when they realize that it’s all pie-in-the-sky and no practical basis, no reality at all?  They’ll stop listening, is what.  They’ll realize that there’s no real hope in what you are saying.  And a people without hope are a people in despair. 

            My suggestion is, give them hope, but make it a little bit more graspable.  Tell them that if they vote a certain way that changes will happen. Or if they sign this petition. No, I KNOW that real change won’t happen through a single vote, but that’s the kind of thing that real hope is founded on.  Small goals that offer big changes.  Think of it as a white lie to keep people satisfied with their less than satisfactory lives.  At least you don’t drive them into despair that way.

I know, you're thinking, "If a sermon is so easy, why don't YOU write one?"  Well, it just so happens I have some notes I took down while you were preaching.  This is what I'd put:

Blessed are the responsible, for they will take care of their own.
Blessed are those who fit it, for they have all the world has to give.
Blessed are the rich, for they have proven they can make good decisions.
Blessed are the hard working, for they deserve what they get.
Blessed are the self-confident, because they can stand on their own strength.
Blessed are the hopeless, for they shall never be disappointed.
Blessed are those holy in the sight of others, for they will be loved.
Blessed are those who desire nothing, because they already have all they need.

Not exactly poetic, I know.  Just needs some brushing up. Anyway, it’s just a suggestion. Have a good day, Pastor.  See you next week.

51.                Proverbs 16:19—one of only four places in Scripture that mention “the poor in spirit”, including Matthew 5, Isaiah 66:2 and Psalm 34:18.  In Proverbs and Psalms it is used as another way of speaking of the oppressed, even if not actually in poverty.  Since Matthew 5 has the parallel in Luke 6:20, we would rightly think that the meaning would be similar in both, but Luke doesn’t have the “in spirit” phrase.  Most of the people who interpret the beatitudes in Matt 5 interpret them to be something completely differently than in Luke.  But both can be interpreted to have the same meaning: the disciple who is oppressed is the one who is blessed by God.  In my mind, this is the better way of understanding both sets.

52. The Greek word for “blessed” literally means “happy.”  Thus, the Greek of Matthew 5:4 would read, “Happy are the mournful.”  While “happy are the poor in spirit” might be interpreted as possibly fitting together, in the second line Jesus is highlighting the contradiction to absurdity. 

53. The good news for the mourning—another term for the oppressed in both Isaiah 61 and the beatitudes—is not an internal help now, but the knowledge that because of their oppression they will get a greater release from oppression.  The basic message of the beatitudes is the joy of faith—knowing that the greatness of what is to come is the result of the suffering one has now.

54. Psalm 37:11.

"Daddy, You Promised!"

The prayer traditionally called “The Lord’s Prayer” is frankly a simple request: “Daddy, you promised!”  And the ones who pray this child-like prayer are those who are so helpless that they are in need.

Our Father in heaven

“Father” in the ancient world meant not only one’s dad, but also one’s ruler.  One of Caesar’s many titles in ancient Rome was “Father” because, ultimately, he was the one who provided for and judged every citizen of Rome throughout the world.  God, for Jesus, is the one that encompassed every aspect of positive fatherhood.  His heart yearned for his children and set himself aside to meet their needs.³⁷  He is both unbelievably powerful and lovingly intimate with his helpless children. 

He sees his toddler across the room and says, “Give me a hug!” 

She paddles across the floor and is wrapped in her Daddy’s secure arms.  He tickles her and then whispers in her ear, “Hungry?”  She nods and, almost magically, a plate of eggs and toast appears.  She sits down to eat and he looks at her with eyes of joy.  

May your name be sanctified ³⁸

God’s reputation has been, and continues to be, defiled.³⁹  People who call God by his name have been hypocrites, and the enemies of God has used this as an excuse to defile God, to say that the Father of power and love does not exist.  This is the prayer of the faithful in God who cannot accept that God’s reputation is sullied.  But, at the same time, they know that only He can cleanse his own reputation.

In his eyes there is a sadness.  She cannot accept her daddy being sad, so she will take care of it. “Daddy, are you okay?” 

“Oh, some bad people have been saying things about your daddy.” 

She stamps her foot.  “Don’t let them!” 

He smiles with a tear in his eye, “I’ll take care of it, little girl.”

 “Good,” she murmurs.

May your kingdom come

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s promises are all toward the fulfillment of the utopia of God.  A land where God’s people will be secure, provided for and God would rule.⁴⁰  The earth, as it stands, is far from that ideal, but the people of God continually hope and expect God to take over the world and make all things right.

“I’m tired of being stuck in this place.  I want to play!”

“We can go to a park.”

“But I can’t go out by myself!”

“It’s pretty dangerous out there.” 

“Daddy, we will live in a big house, right?”

 “With a backyard for you to play in.” ⁴¹

“And a pony.  You know I want a pony!” 

“We’ll see,” he smiles.

Give us today our daily bread.

In our society of full refrigerators and overstuffed cupboards, it seems hard to imagine that more than a billion people go to bed hungry every night.    Yet God promised them plenty and generous food.⁴²  If God provides for his anawim daily—even as he did the children of Israel in the wilderness—it would be seen that God’s power is greater than any god or government or wealthy patron.  For who feeds all of their people, every day?  Who has that kind of resources?  Only God.⁴³

She and her daddy play with a ball on the wood floor.  Suddenly she jumps up, “Daddy, guess what?” 

“What?”

 “I’m hungry again!”

 “Imagine that! How often do you get hungry, anyway?  Don’t you ever quit?” 

She throws her hands on her hips, making a defiant stance. “Nope.  I’m always hungry.” 

“So what do you want?  A rock?” 

“Nooooo!  I want food.” 

“Ah, let’s see what we can do for you, then.”⁴⁴

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

God promised to forgive his people.⁴⁵  But forgiveness is never unconditional.  According to Jesus, forgiveness is conditional on two things:  forgiving others and repenting of what one needs to be forgiven of.⁴⁶  Thus, God must send his Spirit—a promise of God—so his people would be able to fulfill the conditions and thus gain the promised forgiveness.

She walks up to him with her hands behind her back and her eyes fixed on the floor.  “I broke something.”             

His face is serious, “What?” 

“Your calculator.” 

“Didn’t I tell you not to play with it?”  She says nothing, but her cheeks burn red.  “Give it to me.”  She takes it from behind her back and shows it to him.  He gently takes it from her hand, looking at it closely. 

“Are you going to punish me?” 

“Do you want me to?” 

“No!” 

“Well, it was good you told me.  If you had tried to hide it, then I might punish you.”  He pushes the corner of the object back into place.  “See, it just came out of the casing.  It’s okay now.”

 She stares at it with eyes wide, “You can fix it?”

 “I already did, see?”  She does, and jumps in joy.  “Now listen, little girl.  Remember when your brother broke your doll?”

She glowers, “Yeah.  He was mean.” 

“Were you mean when you broke my calculator?” 

“No.  I didn’t mean to.” 

“Uh, huh.  But you disobeyed me when you played with it, right?”

 She looks down, “Yeah.” 

“And he shouldn’t have played with your doll, right?” 

“Yeah!”  “What did you want to do to him?” 

“I hit him!” 

His face registers its disappointment. “Did you?” 

Her stare doesn’t waver. “He broke my doll!”

 “Do you want me to hit you for breaking my calculator?” 

She stares at him soulfully in his face.  “Are you going to do that, daddy?” 

“Do you want me to?” 

“No!” 

“Do you think your brother wants you to hit him for breaking your toy?” 

“I don’t know.”

“Remember this—your brother is like you.  If you want me to not hit, then you need to not hit, too.  I won’t hit you, so don’t hit your brother.” 

Reluctantly she says, “Okay….”

Lead us not into testing

            But deliver us from the evil.

Most of all, God’s people must remain faithful to their God.⁴⁷ It is God’s promise in Ezekiel 36 that if God’s people received of God’s Spirit, they would have hearts that would be faithful.⁴⁸

 But how could God’s people remain faithful, day by day, unless they are released from the daily testing of their faith?  The suffering we face causes us to doubt.  The difficulties we face make it hard to live according to God’s law.  Our own weaknesses make it difficult some mornings to get up and live in God.  How can we rest in God’s kingdom until the constant persecution, the constant attack, the consistent pounding against our faith is finished?  God’s people must finally be delivered from the evil attacking them each day—they are only human.  To fulfill the complete promise, not only must the power be there, but the obstacles to fulfillment must be removed.⁴⁹

She comes running to her daddy, crying in his arms, “You told me to go next door, daddy!” 

He is surprised to find a shivering child with a damp face on his lap, “Yes.  You’re being babysat by Ellen tonight.” 

“But I can’t!” 

He sees her sorrow and holds her, soothing her.  “Why can’t you?” 

“There’s a boy on the sidewalk, and he says it’s his and I can’t walk on it and if I do then he’ll hit me and I don’t want to be hit because it will hurt!” 

“Oh really?”  He stands up, steel in his eye.  “Well, I’ll tell you what.  I’ll walk out the front door with you and go with you to Ellen’s” 

“But what if he’s still there?” 

“He might be there still.  But not for long.”

The promise of God can only be fulfilled through the power of God.  The power of God can only be found through intimacy with God.  “Don’t be afraid little sheep, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”⁵⁰

37. Luke 11:10-13; Luke 12:22-32.

38. “Hallowed” is an often misunderstood term.  It is not a term of praise, nor does it strictly mean “holy”.  Rather, the request is demanding that God’s name be made holy, as if His name is not currently holy.  This is not about God’s nature—which is always holy—but about His reputation.  Thus, the request is that God’s reputation be straightened out.

39. As we saw in Ezekiel 36:20-23-- in the section "I Refuse to be a 90 lb. Weakling!"

40. Ezekiel 36:24.

41. With regards to Audio Adrenaline.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omoOLhDdTPA

42. Ezekiel 36:29-30; Matthew 6:25-34.

43. See the first chapter on Psalm 146.

44. Matthew 7:9

45. Ezekiel 36:25

 46. Luke 17:3-4; Mark 11:25-26; Matthew 18:21-35.

47. Faithfulness and obedience is the condition of receiving God’s promises.  Not perfect obedience, but an obedient walk, a faithful approach to life.  This allows for mistakes that can be forgiven, but an obedient heart. John 3:36; Matthew 12:50; Matthew 7:24-27; Matthew 18:15.

48. Ezekiel 36:26-27.

49. Matthew 18:6-7.

50. Luke 12:32.

Jesus Politics: Death and Resurrection

The glorious one, the resurrected finishes his discussion of confession and forgiveness with the child who denied his Father.  

Peter: Well, that was uncomfortable.

Jesus: Wasn’t too comfortable on my side, either.

Peter: Yeah, I’m sure.  (A silence hangs in the air for a moment, as a decision to change the subject is made.)  So what is with all the elaborate setup?

Jesus: (Raises his eyebrows) Sorry?

Peter:  I’ve had some time to think and I realized—You set all this up.  The arrest, the conviction, the crucifixion.  Not only did you know it was going to take place, but you created the circumstances through which it would happen.  Okay, so why?  Why do all this?  I mean, resurrection is great and all, but why bother?  There were other ways to accomplish your goals.

Jesus: (Sits back) Really?  So what is the goal?

Peter: Well, to be Messiah, right?  To be king of Jerusalem?

Jesus: Well, kind of.  Remember my first message?  What I repeated again and again to all synagogues?

Peter: (Thinking…) Well, um.  Yeah.  “The kingdom of God is near.”  Sure.  And that’s how you establish God’s kingdom, by being Messiah, right?

Jesus: Well, that’s how I establish MY kingdom. 

Peter: (Speaking quicker, with more assurance) Same thing.  So why didn’t you establish your kingdom through armies?  Killing off your enemies?  Or why didn’t you do politics, infiltrate the Council and take power bit at a time?  Or just ask God to wipe them all out?  Or tell your followers to take over Jerusalem.

Jesus: Yes, those are all good ways to establish my kingdom.  But I never was interested in doing that.  I want to set up God’s kingdom.

Peter: I just don’t understand the difference.

Jesus: When Moses established God’s kingdom, who did the work?

Peter: Moses.  Of course.

Jesus: Um, really?  Moses freed the slaves?  Broke open the Red Sea?  Feed the masses?  Established the ten commandments?

Peter: Well, yeah… I mean, kind of.   (He slowly realizes Jesus’ point.) Well, I guess not really.  God did all the heavy lifting.

Jesus: Right.  This is the difficulty: God’s kingdom must be led by humans, because that is God’s promise to Adam and Abraham and David.  But it cannot be God’s kingdom unless it is established by God’s power and principles.

Peter: That still doesn’t explain why God didn’t just do a major miracle—like wiping out all the Roman armies—and just put you in charge.  That would be God doing the work and you stepping in.

Jesus: Yes, but that’s not how God’s justice works.

Peter: I think it’s quite just.

Jesus: (Rolling his eyes) Yes, you would.  Do you think God just wipes people off the way a child destroys ants? Don’t you yet understand God’s love for people?

Peter: I don’t think he much loves the elders and priests who killed you.  I can’t wait to see their comeuppance.

Jesus: All this time with me, and you still don’t understand the ways of God.  Haven’t you heard that God is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and forgiving to many generations?  Don’t you think that the elders and the priests and the Pharisees fall under God’s grace as much as you do, denier?

Peter: (Winces at the hard truth) Ouch.

Jesus: (Softening) I’m not trying to rebuke you, Peter, I’m trying to explain.  God isn’t interest in condemning anyone.  His mercy falls on all people.   Remember, I asked for God’s forgiveness on all those who crucified me.

Peter: (Quickly responding) I heard about that.  You said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Surely that applies to the Roman soldiers who tortured you, but not the elders or high priest.  They knew exactly what they were doing.

Jesus: (Firmly) Stop judging quickly, Peter, and start thinking with compassion!  The Council didn’t understand, either.  They thought they were protecting their temple and nation.  God’s plans were so deep, they didn’t have a clue what was going on.

Peter: (Confused, as usual) So why did you allow yourself to be killed?  Why did God resurrect you?  I understand less than before.

Jesus: (Giving that condescending smile that professors have given since time began) Good, now you are ready to hear.  Who are God’s appointed authorities?

Peter: Well, the priests, of course.

Jesus: Right.  And with them the High Priest, right?

Peter: Of course.

Jesus: What about the Council of elders?

Peter: Well, they are given authority in the Scriptures…

Jesus: Yes.  Who else?   

Peter:  Um… maybe the Emperor?

Jesus:  That’s right.  Who else?

Peter: I’m not sure.

Jesus: Under the Emperor is the Roman army.  And Pilate, who condemned me to death.

Peter:  Pilate was established by God?

Jesus: Absolutely.  I told him so myself.

Peter: (Smiling slyly) I bet he loved that.

Jesus: He avoided almost everything about me.  You know who else is established by God?  The Pharisees, who plotted my death.  And the Sadducees who hated me.  And Herod who condemned me.  But you see?  Since God established all of them, do I have the right to take them down, to destroy them, to take their place.

Peter: Well, if you were appointed by God, as you were, then you had that right…

Jesus: (Slightly exasperated)  Do you really think so?  Look, David was appointed by God while Saul was still ruling God’s kingdom. Did David have the right to take out God’s appointed Messiah and put himself in Saul’s place, even though he had God’s anointing?

Peter:  Actually, no.  It’s strange, but he made a point of stepping back and never even touching Saul, because he was God’s appointed king.

Jesus: That’s right. David didn’t step toward ruling the kingdom until God had dealt with Saul himself. Until Saul had proven that he was unworthy and had been judged by heaven.  David never raised a pinky against Saul, even though he had the promise.

Peter: So he waited for God to act?

Jesus: Yes, because God has to establish His kingdom.  We humans can’t do it ourselves.  Our place is to wait for God to act.

Peter: So why didn’t you hide out in the desert, like David, and wait for God to act against the evil authorities?

Jesus: Well, first, it would take forever.  There’s always a new High Priest, always new Pharisees, always another Herod, another governor appointed by the Emperor.  Also, there needed to be decisive proof that these authorities were evil.  They needed to all be complicit in the worst deed a God-appointed authority can do.

Peter: (Guessing) Sexual immorality?

Jesus: Worse than that.

Peter: Umm… (Thinking for a minute). Taking a bribe?

Jesus: Do you want me to tell you?

Peter: Sure.

Jesus: Killing an innocent citizen.

Peter: (Incredulous) Really?  These guys have done that for years!   Blood drips from their hands!

Jesus: That’s true.  But now they have gone that extra step—they have killed God’s chosen one.  They have killed the Messiah, the Son of God.  Every life is worth a world.  But the stirring of God’s ire against them is rising into a flood of wrath.  They prove themselves to be the anti-David, more than willing to destroy God’s chosen if it is politically convenient.  They have proven, decisively, that they are unworthy to lead God’s people.  That they need to step aside.

Peter: Is that why you are resurrected? 

Jesus: Among other reasons.  It is true.  I was sent to dark Sheol, where those who have been declared guilty go.  But my case was given before the final Judge of heaven and earth, and he decided to overturn the verdict of the Pharisees, of the Council, of Herod and of Pilate.  They declared the very innocent one to be guilty, and so their sentence was reversed.  And I was brought back.

Peter: So now, now is the time? Now God will take them out, and destroy them?

Jesus: No.  Our political campaign isn’t over.

Peter: What do you mean?  We’ve done the work.  You paid the ultimate price.  It’s time to end this and establish your kingdom.

Jesus: You are right.  It is time for God’s reign through me to begin.  And I will go and take this kingdom up very quickly.

Peter: (Standing up in excitement)  Well great!  I’ll call the others over and we’ll gather all the followers back and we will take over Jerusalem…

Jesus: (Laughing out loud)  Peter, you know I love you, right?

Peter: (Eyes like slits)  I hate it when you do that.  You make me look like an idiot.

Jesus: (Slyly) I’ve never had to do that, Peter.  Why do you think I named you “rock”?  No, this dirty, unholy Jerusalem is not where I will receive God’s kingdom.  You think the Father will come down here and hand me this mess?  My kingdom is not of this world.  I must receive it elsewhere.

Peter: (Eyes tearing up, delving into the waters of mourning he had just released. ) You go to the Father?  You will leave us again?  Can’t you take us with you?

Jesus: No, Peter, I can’t.  I will go to heaven and try to repair the world from up there.  But the work you will do is just as difficult.

Peter:  (Tears dripping down his face.) Great.

Jesus:  Peter, it’s okay.  I’ll make sure you are ready.  You’ll have enough time to mourn and to be prepared, I promise. 

Peter: What is this work?

Jesus: You know that I forgave all the authorities that killed me.  I want you and your fellows to go to them all and give them an opportunity to repent and to be a part of my kingdom.

Peter:  How does one become a part of your kingdom, Lord?

Jesus: Same as always, Peter.  Turning away from the nations of this world, even Judea and the priesthood, and taking on the rite of immigration to my kingdom-- being baptized in my name.

Peter: The authorities would never do that. 

Jesus: Probably not.  But some will surprise you.  Even Gentiles, even oppressors of our people, will come into my kingdom. 

Peter: Yeah, sure.  We won’t even get an audience with the Council or Pilate or Herod, let alone the emperor.  No one will listen to us.

Jesus: You’ll see.  Tell them of my resurrection.

Peter: Couldn’t you do this yourself, Lord?  We’ll talk with them, but it would be much more convincing if you show yourself, alive and glorious, ready to rule God’s kingdom.

Jesus: Then they might hesitate to show who they really are.

Peter: What do you mean?  How do they do that?

Jesus: They are killers of the innocent.  And even if I have forgiven them, many of them will refuse to repent and continue to kill the innocent.  Once they have made their final refusal, then God will step in and take them out.

Peter: Wait… you are talking about us, aren’t you?

Jesus: Yes.  I will send to them apostles and prophets and they will kill you.  You will go to kings and judges and priests and emperors and they will show you who they really are.  And God will then judge them according to their actions.

Peter:  So when you said to take up your cross…

Jesus: I meant it literally.  It is the only way to establish my kingdom on earth.  And when I come, you, in full resurrected splendor, will reign with me as well as all your companions who were rejected by this world by enacting the mercy and grace and compassion of God.

Peter: Well, that’s a tall order.

Jesus: Yes, it is.  Few will be able to accept it.  But I have confidence in you.

Peter: But I’m not worthy.  How do you know that I won’t deny you again?  I’m already broken, fallen.

Jesus: Yes.  I know.  But I have confidence in you, Peter.  In all of you.  As broken as you are, that’s just how strong God will make you for this work.

Peter: So when you establish the kingdom in heaven…

Jesus: So you will establish my kingdom on earth.  Bring people to me, Peter.  I’ll  take care of the rest.

Peter: (Breathes deeply the breath of decisiveness.) Okay.  I’ll do it.

Jesus: I knew you would. 

What Jesus says about Sacrifice

This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.

 John 15:12-13

If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

Mark 8:34-35

If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

 Luke 14:26-33

Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."

 Mark 10:29-31

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:44-46

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

 John 12:24-26