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| Misunderstood Messiah |
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Article by Tom Gilbert — January 2007
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Christians profess a faith
in One God. This is foundational, but we also believe that
God sent His only begotten son to us to redeem us from
our sin and to show how us both His great love and what
it means to be human.
The Incarnation – the Word made flesh – is
a great mystery. God becoming human and yet remaining God,
a divine man, is not something we can reason out with any
logic. It is mind blowing. Yet, we as believers have faith
that this is a great Truth for us.
Despite this wonderful and good news it seems that Jesus
is misunderstood. He is the Messiah; he is the King of
Kings. But his whole message for how to live (see Matthew
5, the Beatitudes) is counter-cultural and counter-intuitive.
The very circumstances of Jesus’ birth should clue
us in to the importance of real humility. Scripture tells
us that Mary gave birth under very difficult conditions.
She and Joseph had to deal with a premarital pregnancy,
travel a great distance while in the final stages of her
pregnancy, and then give birth in a cave or stable.
Through the years Christianity has often been packaged
to be more acceptable to the culture or the ruling powers.
While this has helped spread the Gospel it has also painted
a distorted picture of the Christ. The Savior is not exclusive
to a particular country or people. He is not meek and soft.
He is not a constantly condemning and critical Lord that
keeps score over sin. And he is certainly not a militaristic “might
makes right” kind of king.
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This
is Not New
Misconceptions and misunderstandings about
Jesus Christ are nothing new. According to the New Testament
Gospel of Luke even members of Jesus’ own family didn’t
understand what he was about. Do you recall the story in
Luke 2 of Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem and Mary and
Joseph were frantic when they discovered he wasn’t
with them on the way home. They returned only to find him
in the Temple speaking with great knowledge to the religious
teachers (Luke 2:46-48). There is also the intriguing account
in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus is told his mother and
brothers are outside wanting to talk to him (Matthew
12:46-50).
Jesus replies that anyone who does “the will of my
Father in heaven” is a brother, sister and mother.
It’s another way to say Jesus came for everyone. God
is the God of everyone.
In this New Year we have an opportunity to recommit our hearts
and minds to God and to Jesus Christ. This means letting go of our self-control
over people, places and things. It means taking responsibility to find out
more about who Jesus is and asking Him to guide us, teach us and live in
us.
It means keeping an open mind about what God through
Jesus is teaching us. Remember, Christ said he would send
a helper – the Holy Spirit – to teach us all things.
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| Tom
Gilbert is a writer and spiritual seeker who edits and
maintains the Living the Solution web site. You may reprint
this article as long as you give credit and a link back
to www.livingthesolution.com |
Scripture
taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering
of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International
Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights
reserved. |
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