Being the Bad Guys: The City Within the City

"I love the line from The Chosen that we started with. “Get used to different.” Jesus’ disciples had the same expectations that everyone else had. They thought the Messiah would be this great leader, a spiritually intelligent man who would be a conquering king and lead the Jews out of their oppression. But he was different. He broke expectations all the time and rarely fit in anyone’s mold. And even better, he embraced it. Most leaders of rebellions and wanna-be messiahs would hide in the mountains until they felt like they had enough momentum and power to stand a chance. Not Jesus. Jesus lived right next to regular people. He interacted with anyone interested in giving their time to him. He frequented the places of worship and the places of commerce. He existed out in the open. So when we think about being followers of Jesus, it requires us to get used to different. We have to embrace it." Reference: "Invitations." The Chosen, created by Dallas Jenkins, Season 1, Episode 7, Loaves and Fishes Productions, 2017. Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn't. McAlpine, Stephen. The Good Book Company, February 1, 2021.