What would Jesus be like in our time? Imagine, you hear, that a famous preacher is coming to your church. You have heard, and read much about this famous preacher, and about all the signs and wonders, that follow him. You are so excited, that you decide to arrange a dinner party. You not only invite this famous preacher, but also the pastor, a few elders, leaders, and other members of the church. You have made all the necessary dinner preparations, and you are all set! Then the time has come. All the guests arrive, and take their seats.
An awkward silence
They are all excited, and there is a good ambiance. You begin serving the first course, and after you’re done, you take your seat and prepare for prayer. But then an awkward thing happens: the preacher already starts eating. You are amazed at his behaviour and a bit confused. You are looking at the others, who are sitting with folded hands, waiting to pray. They all look at the preacher, who is enjoying his food. You don’t know how to handle this situation, and there is an awkward silence.
Then suddenly the famous preacher arises, and says very calmly: “You are amazed about the fact, that I don’t pray out loud, together with you, and you don’t approve this behaviour? But let’s talk about you and your actions. You smile and act friendly and pious in front of everyone, and you speak those things, which people want to hear. But as soon as everyone leaves, a whole other person will come forth.
Yes, you act friendly and speak nice to other people, but as soon as they leave, you speak evil behind their backs and gossip. Your actions don’t line up with the words you speak, and the advice you give to others. You say one thing, but you do the opposite, and you make a lot of promises, which you don’t keep; you are a liar. You give your money to the congregation so that you will receive more back. You live after your own will, and you only help people, so that you will be noticed by others. Yes, you put yourself on a pedestal and are selfish. You judge others, for the things, you do in secret”.
Actors of life
The pastor tries to interrupt the famous preacher. But then the preacher starts confronting everyone at the table and says: “you are all no better, you are just the same. You are all actors of life; you act differently in front of people. You pretend, that you are all so pious, but your heart and your thinking don’t line up with your words. You all want to be seen by others, and be put on a pedestal. You are all so fond and attached to your titles, positions, and your seats in front of the church, You judge and treat people, according to their appearance, or according to their wealth. You are more focused on prosperity and wealth than the Kingdom of God, because money has become the center of your life…….
A fellowship gathering in the church
Or imagine, you have a fellowship gathering in the church. You are having a good time with your fellow believers. While you are eating and drinking, you are discussing daily matters and sharing all the ins and outs. You are having a good time, until this famous preacher comes in, and starts saying: “You are only focused on yourself. You make time available, to please yourself and to have a good time. You are selfish. You don’t understand the Kingdom of God. How can you have a good time, while in the meantime, so many souls are lost ….……… “
The famous preacher speaks hard words
Then the time has arrived, that this famous preacher, will preach in the congregation (church). Many people have come, to hear the words of this man.
But instead of an encouraging ‘feel good’ sermon, he preaches a confrontational sermon, which a lot of people don’t like to hear. He tells them about his life, how he became born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. And how he had to lay down his own life so that he could walk as a new creation; a son of God. He tells them, that he is a son of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in him.
He continues and tells the congregation, that it is impossible to keep walking in sin if you have become a new creation. Because if you walk in sin, then you are a slave of sin, and therefore a slave of the devil, who sinned against God. The preacher goes on and on…
Most people are not amused. They don’t like hearing these unpleasant and hard words. They don’t like this preacher at all. They like the wonders, and miracles he performs, but they don’t like his words.
They find him pious, too religious, too legalistic, old-fashioned, etc.. Because isn’t it all grace?
The whole congregation is confronted with their lifestyle, which they don’t appreciate. Most believers become irritated and angry at his words. They stand up and leave the church.
Only a handful of people stay and listen to the words of this famous preacher. Instead of feeling irritated and ‘attacked’, they feel sad and ashamed for the sins they walk in. On the basis of his words, they ask for forgiveness and repent.
What shall the church do with this preacher?
What do you think? Would this congregation, this church, invite this famous preacher again? Or would the church ask him to leave, as soon as he steps down the pulpit, because of his hard words? Was this man indeed unloving, harsh, rude, merciless, and relentless?
What do you think about this famous preacher, after these incidents? Would you still admire him? Would you still see him, the same way as you did before; as a man of God? Do you still want to fellowship with him, follow him or listen to his messages?
Havoc at church
Two weeks later, you open the local newspaper and read the following headline: ‘Havoc at the church’. You are curious and you start reading: a well-known preacher has caused havoc in the bookstore of the church………
Could this preacher be Jesus?
Could this preacher be Jesus? This famous preacher could indeed have been Jesus in our time (Read also ‘Who is Jesus?‘).
Many preachers often create a wrong image of the true Jesus Christ. They describe Jesus, as some kind of ‘new age god’, who accepts everything and tolerates everything, instead of a loving righteous, and holy God, who hates sin and would never approve of it (Read also: ‘New age in the church‘ and ‘What does Jesus hate?‘).
Because of the fact, that most believers don’t study and investigate the Bible by themselves, the truth is being lost in the multitude of the words of man.
Unfortunately, censorship is a common phenomenon in many churches. Many times a one-sided image is created that doesn’t correspond with the truth.
Now, let’s have a look at the passages in the Bible, from which these examples are inspired.
Jesus was invited, by a Pharisee, for dinner
And as He spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with Him: and He went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that He had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
“You also insult us”
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto Him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
And He said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Woe unto you, lawyers! For ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. And as He said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge Him vehemently, and to provoke Him to speak of many things: Laying wait for Him, and seeking to catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him (Luke 11:37-53)
Many disciples left Jesus, due to His hard words
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever.
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.
And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father. From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him (John 6:53-66)
The words of Jesus were not believed,
because they didn’t belong to His sheep
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.
But you believe not, because you are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are One.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone me (John 10:23-32)
The cleansing of the Temple
And the Jews ‘Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise. And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up (John 2:13-17)
Jesus spoke righteous words
Jesus didn’t only speak friendly words, and He didn’t approve of all lifestyles, and sins of man. Jesus spoke righteous words, that were often very confrontational and harsh to hear. Jesus didn’t walk by sight, but He walked and spoke about what was in the hearts of men.
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:2-4)
Jesus revealed sin
Jesus didn’t accept sin, but He revealed all the (hidden) sins, that were in the life of men. He confronted them and commanded them to sin no more. For example, when Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus confronted her, with her way of living, and commanded her to sin no more.
The truth is often harsh, and most people are not willing to hear the truth. This used to be the case and still is the case. Nothing has changed throughout the ages.
But if we really want to live after His will, then we must also accept these hard words into our lives, instead of rejecting these hard words. When we reject these hard words, we reject Jesus also.
Only when we hear the complete truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, then we can renew our minds with the truth, adjust our lives to the truth, and walk in the truth. When we apply the whole truth to our lives, then we shall walk in spiritual freedom, as sons of God.
Jesus spoke hard words, not because He wanted to punish people or lay ‘heavy’ laws upon the people. But He spoke these words of truth; of life so that the people could experience real spiritual freedom in Him; in His words.
The freedom of this world will lead the people in spiritual bondage of the devil. Only the Truth; Jesus Christ, will open your spiritual eyes so that you will find out the truth and walk in it.
Read also: ‘Jesus thrown out of the church‘
‘Be the salt of the earth’
