Our Lives Should Provoke Inquiry

Can you imagine Jesus with short hair, no beard and blue jeans? Or must he wear a robe and carry a lamb? We have filters that preclude revelation and understanding from God. Our wrong expectations create disappointment and hinder our understanding.  Are you angry with God for a false pulpit promise? Jesus delineated a life of persecution and difficulty for His followers – not popularity and prosperity.  He spoke of suffering and life beyond this life, not unending healing for the elderly.  When you experience the gospel through a daily walk with Jesus you will encounter things that are contrary to modern ideas of evangelism, marketing and Christianity. A striking example in this chapter is when Jesus understands that “all men seek after him”; he responds by saying “let’s go to another town;” (not get a bigger stadium).  His work was complete.  Jesus is not an ATM machine to serve us. It is our job to work out our salvation in fear and trembling, in so doing we will show the world the hope that is in us. The book referenced in this episode is“The Art of Clear Thinking” by Rudolf Flesch.  ***Chapter 10: Jesus Heals an Insane Man (Part 2)ON A SABBATH Jesus went into the synagogue at Capernaum and taught the congregation. His listeners were surprised because he taught as one with authority of others.One of the men present had an unclean spirit. He cried out saying:"Let us alone. What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come todestroy us? I know these who thou art, 'the Holy One of God.'"Jesus rebuked the devil in the man, saying:"Hold thy peace, and come out of him."The unclean spirit thereupon cried out with a loud voice. It tormented the man, causing himto writhe greatly; but it came out of him. All who were present were astonishedand said among themselves:"What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he eventhe unclean spirits, and they do obey him."And the fame of Jesus spread abroad, all about the region of Galilee.Later Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. Great numbers came seeking him. When hisdisciples found him, they said:"All men seek for thee."Jesus replied: "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for therefore came Iforth."And Jesus preached in the synagogues throughout Galilee and cast out devils. ***