Jesus gives a guarantee
Jesus was buying time. He knew that the leaders of the nation wanted him silenced, it is even possible one of them was sending him secret information about the intentions of the leaders. He wasn't ready; still had important things to teach and it was especially important that he prepare his followers for something they weren't expecting; his death. He was acting circumspectly and avoiding the capital city, however he did decide to go up to Jerusalem for part of the eight day celebration called, Booths. A happy feast, remembering the travells of their founding fathers. In the months that would be our August or September, the people made temporary shelters out of branches and slept in them in places around their homes.
Jesus began to teach the crowds of pilgrims who gathered daily in the temple grounds. The leaders of the temple sent guards to arrest him. The guards came back without him. "Why?" asked the leaders, "Because," said the guards. "no other person speaks like he does." Frustrated the leaders waited and plotted some more. In the meantime they couldn't help but be amazed by the way Jesus knew the scriptures and the way he interpreted them.
People were wondering who was right, Jesus or the revered leaders. Jesus explained the scriptures more fully than the leaders explained them. The leaders had taught Holy Law to the exclusion of almost everything else. Jesus made the law subservient to God. When he did teach the holy law, Jesus said that the purpose of the law is to show people that they need help to keep it. Jesus said that the holy law would not pass into oblivion but that he would fulfill it on behalf of everyone else.
The leaders didn't interpret the scripture this way, who was right? Jesus claimed that when he studied the scriptures God taught him profound truths. The people were cautious, who knew whether God had really explained the Jewish scriptures to Jesus? While they are still puzzling about this, Jesus offers a guarantee. Do what is pleasing to God, as Jesus teaches, and you will know whether Jesus is teaching his own ideas or bringing a message from God.
The guarantee is simpe, conclusive, reassuring. It is still valid today.
There is a problem. If a person has not, in the past, been concerned about doing what pleases God, is this a strong enough reason to start now? If a person has, for a long time, had a conviction that what he is doing is displeasing to God but has carried on doing it anyway, what will make him/her change now? Such a change is called repentance - not necessary involving grief, but consisting of a firm decision to change one's behavior, to go in the opposite direction. For instance if a person who believes in God has been living with his back to God it involves turning round to face God. If a person has been insisting there is no God the change would involve speaking to God and promising to be led by him.
Who can do this? Jesus gave the answer, God draws people to himself through the teaching of Jesus. When God draws and people yield to his attraction then they are changed.
The guarantee still holds. Do what is pleasing to God and you will know whether what Jesus taught is from God. How? God will change you, as you change your orientation towards him. Suddenly or slowly the day comes when you know that Jesus was giving the message God sent him to speak. Two of the many ways this might happen are; 1. doing what pleases God becomes easy and pleasant. 2, The new life-style of doing what pleases God changes you so that you are aware that you have been made new. Your spirit (inner reality) that had felt damaged and disabled before becomes alive and strong, you feel yourself re-charging with the energy that God sends to his people. Let me emphasise it, I and most of the Church understand it this way; first change your orientation towards God, then comes the power to do the things that please God. Without knowing this a person could struggle for a long time.
The guarantee still holds. Turn from the shady side to face God. Turn from expressing doubts to expressing loyalty. You will know that Jesus taught the truth and you will never be the same again.
Jesus began to teach the crowds of pilgrims who gathered daily in the temple grounds. The leaders of the temple sent guards to arrest him. The guards came back without him. "Why?" asked the leaders, "Because," said the guards. "no other person speaks like he does." Frustrated the leaders waited and plotted some more. In the meantime they couldn't help but be amazed by the way Jesus knew the scriptures and the way he interpreted them.
People were wondering who was right, Jesus or the revered leaders. Jesus explained the scriptures more fully than the leaders explained them. The leaders had taught Holy Law to the exclusion of almost everything else. Jesus made the law subservient to God. When he did teach the holy law, Jesus said that the purpose of the law is to show people that they need help to keep it. Jesus said that the holy law would not pass into oblivion but that he would fulfill it on behalf of everyone else.
The leaders didn't interpret the scripture this way, who was right? Jesus claimed that when he studied the scriptures God taught him profound truths. The people were cautious, who knew whether God had really explained the Jewish scriptures to Jesus? While they are still puzzling about this, Jesus offers a guarantee. Do what is pleasing to God, as Jesus teaches, and you will know whether Jesus is teaching his own ideas or bringing a message from God.
The guarantee is simpe, conclusive, reassuring. It is still valid today.
There is a problem. If a person has not, in the past, been concerned about doing what pleases God, is this a strong enough reason to start now? If a person has, for a long time, had a conviction that what he is doing is displeasing to God but has carried on doing it anyway, what will make him/her change now? Such a change is called repentance - not necessary involving grief, but consisting of a firm decision to change one's behavior, to go in the opposite direction. For instance if a person who believes in God has been living with his back to God it involves turning round to face God. If a person has been insisting there is no God the change would involve speaking to God and promising to be led by him.
Who can do this? Jesus gave the answer, God draws people to himself through the teaching of Jesus. When God draws and people yield to his attraction then they are changed.
The guarantee still holds. Do what is pleasing to God and you will know whether what Jesus taught is from God. How? God will change you, as you change your orientation towards him. Suddenly or slowly the day comes when you know that Jesus was giving the message God sent him to speak. Two of the many ways this might happen are; 1. doing what pleases God becomes easy and pleasant. 2, The new life-style of doing what pleases God changes you so that you are aware that you have been made new. Your spirit (inner reality) that had felt damaged and disabled before becomes alive and strong, you feel yourself re-charging with the energy that God sends to his people. Let me emphasise it, I and most of the Church understand it this way; first change your orientation towards God, then comes the power to do the things that please God. Without knowing this a person could struggle for a long time.
The guarantee still holds. Turn from the shady side to face God. Turn from expressing doubts to expressing loyalty. You will know that Jesus taught the truth and you will never be the same again.
Labels: Divine guarantee, Holy law, Jesus
posted by Jessie Coates at 10:54 PM
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