Discovering Christ as a person and relationship God has given us with Himself is entirely different from understanding Him as a proposition, program or system. Most programs, systems and propositions are very easily understood and clearly explained. Perhaps we will, on some level, disagree with them, but we will at least get them - we will understand them. For some reason this need to understand things is central to human nature. Now don't go hearing what I am not saying. It is good to understand things and people. In fact, it is a moment of true celebration in my home when I finally 'get it' and 'understand' something my patient and loving wife has spent 15 years trying to teach me.
But, sometimes we say we want to understand God and Christ but we really mean that we feel a need to control Him and fit Him into our life in a way that makes sense to us. For us, all to often, understanding Christ is dangerous and unhealthy because we make Him comfortable and easy - we make Him fit into our life and circumstances. By doing this we effectively change nothing, make no real commitments, do the minimum, smile a little and still 'feel okay' that we and Jesus are 'good.' As I read the New Testament I am quickly realizing that there is a great and discouraging difference between us and the follower we find there. In fact, sometimes I think we look a little too much like the religious leaders who opposed Jesus, rather than those who truly 'discovered' Him and spent the rest of their lives living into that discovery.
For instance, Jesus the carpenter takes a boat out and tells the professional guys how to fish - they doubt he is right, but already they sense in Him One who might know a bit more about their own profession and life than they do. So, despite what the text book tells them and the super conference on 'why you can't catch fish in the middle of the day,' they listen to Him. Yes, they are reluctant, but they listen to Him - they take time to 'get' Him! They take time, even if it is just a second and put Him before them and their knowledge.
This identifies difference #1 between them and us - we spend all of our time - yes all of it - reminding Jesus of why things cannot be done rather than submitting to His power in our life and trusting Him to do that which we cannot do for ourselves.
Okay back to the story - yep, you guessed it - the catch of the day nearly sank the boat - they even had to go get help. Here is the telling part of all of it - just when they were on the brink of making fishing history -building a long and successful career off of this one catch - they drop everything - all of it, nets, boats, lures, chum, you name it - and they FOLLOW HIM!
This identifies difference #2 between them and us - when Jesus blesses us we attempt to 'trade' on it for our glory and gain - to build our kingdom and give a cursory and typically unconvincing acknowledgement - that the Lord is 'on our side.' The early guys didn't even give this type of foolishness a thought - they knew the only response to the power of Christ was to give up their hold on their life and follow Him.
Next we see Jesus go to a 'leper' and heal the lame. The leper was considered an outcast. In fact, when a leper showed up on the scene he or she was greeted with the following chant: 'Unclean, Unclean.' How about that for an introduction. Imaging showing up at church or at school or at the community center, grocery store, ball field and hearing the words - 'you are disgusting - get away from us and don't ever come back.' That was the life of a leper. The religious guys did the same type of junk and often times they were the worst! Not Jesus, he reaches out to him and makes Him whole.
The message about Him spreads so much that we now see people actually bringing their friends to Christ. One particular set of men is so committed that they get through the crowds, climb to the top of some poor guys house and tear (ye, tear) through the thatch roof - just to get their friend to Him.
Difference #3 is, to me, the most disheartening - the early folks did anything they could to get their friends to Christ. You and I aren't even committed enough to invite our friends to church - and we have even provided two big doors for you to enter through so you don't have to bust apart the building. Think about that, please. Yes, we who are in Christ will be with Him in heaven, but there is a judgement of our deeds and works on this earth - how in the world are you going to handle that charge when you are standing before the throne of the most high? When we see Him face to face can we really expect Him to confess us before His father in heaven if we are unwilling to confess Him before our friends on earth?
Then Jesus goes and reaches out to a tax collector - a despised and hated position and person in those days. The religious leaders have a field day with this one and Jesus informs them, through a not so subtle rebuke, that he came to this earth to heal the seek and save those who are lost - this, in a nutshell - is a clear mission statement for Christ AND His church and it comes right from the lips of this Jesus whom we say we understand but refuse to discover.
Two responses to this one. First, Levi, the tax collector (whom we also know as Matthew) reverses the direction of His entire life and begins to use his time and resources for Kingdom work - he holds a banquet - huge party - probably costing much money - and invites all of his friends to come and meet this Jesus.
Second, the religious leaders stay entrenched, unwilling to 'dive into' this new reality God is crafting in Christ. They end up getting rebuked by Christ - yep - he tells them like it is and they refuse to hear and respond.
To Discover (read submit and trust) Christ today means to hear and respond. On the other hand to merely understand (read control) him means to tell him that we know better and then go our own way.
Yes, the first is difficult, but come on - is the second really even an option at all? Let's journey together toward Christ this year! Join us this Sunday - and yes, invite your friends!
From His Grace, For his Glory!
Biz
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