I don’t know, but I suspect
That as his ministry progressed and he displayed
that strange compassionate power that feed the hungry,
healed the sick and repaired broken hearts
that a lot of people tried to co-opt Jesus
there were the Zealots who wanted violent revolution
the Essenes who wanted to hide in the desert and “be
pure”
the Pharisees who wanted to double down on piety and the
Law
and the Herodians who wanted to play along with those in
political power to stay safe
(and influential, and rich)
But Jesus, who was clearly interested in changing the
world
was not interested in any of those approaches
Yes, he came to usher in the Kingdom
a new way of doing life
but his way was far too radical
to fit into any of those existing strategies
the temptations was there, as he meditated those 40 days
and 40 nights
to go down the path of dominance, and power
to buy into the political systems of the world
the pull was there, from the religious community
to be drawn into radical piety
(we don’t drink or smoke or chew, and we don’t go with
girls that do)
and align with the religious “elite”
but he refused to be “used”
not by the religious system
not by the political system
not by the economic system
and he refused to run and hide
hoping the mess would go away
instead we stayed in the midst
doing his ministry of love and reconciliation
teaching things that seemed naïve and foolish
speaking on behalf of the poor and forgotten
accepting the unacceptable ones
instead he loved, and forgave, and healed
he exposed hypocrisy and evil
he stood, he spoke, and yes, he died
showing us that the way to stage a holy revolution is not
by engaging in violence
since violent revolutions are not revolutionary (Thanks
Brian McLaren for that insight)
but by feeding the poor
selling what we have and giving to the poor
walking the second mile
being humble
and willing to mourn
and working for peace
How sad it is that much of the church wants to turn Jesus
into
a super-Pharisee, super-Herodian, super-Zealot,
super-Essene
too bad people try to align Jesus with legalism,
politics, and violence
or alternatively walk away from the mess and remain
uninvolved (in Jesus’ name)
these are mess times
and if we want the holy revolution
we have to stay in the mix
but we have to stay in the mix the Jesus way
with love and compassion
with eyes that “see” the other
with kindness
and love
and, often, with sacrifice
it is hard
the way of Jesus has always been challenging
some would say it has rarely been tried
we have to stay in the mix
and be revolutionary
and change things
it’s possible!
Jesus said the Kingdom is near
Jesus said the Kingdom is inside us
Jesus said the Kingdom comes
It comes
when the last are first
and the greatest of all shall be the servants
when service trumps dominance
and generosity overwhelms greed
it comes through changed hearts
and changed minds
and advances through reconciliation and peace
it expands through faith love and love
and its agenda is to level things out
as John the Baptist (and Isaiah) said it
“Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill
made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways
smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.”
Its agenda to bring down the mighty
and raise up the poorest, the weakest, the meekest, and
the least
its time for a new way of living
are we in, or not?
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