Jesus, the heart of the Christian faith, is the wildest, most radical guy you’d ever come across. (Bear Grylls)
Thinking about the musings from Day 37: The Solemn Oath…
I would submit to you that after researching, writing, and reading Day 37: The Solemn Oath, there is a strong case to be made that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed a radical. Whether you read one, some, or all, of the 20 ideas I presented regarding the ideas that Jesus of Nazareth espoused during his ministry, a radical is the only conclusion that seems to make sense.
Think about it. After about 3 years after the Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth began, it ended. His ministry ended with the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth because of what he stood for and for what he believed in, as documented in several books of the New Testament. (In the interest of time and length, I selected 3 of 16 verses that can be found at this website:
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Crucifixion,-Of-Christ
Matthew 27:26 (KJV):
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Luke 23:23 (KJV):
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
John 19:18 (KJV):
18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
The idea that someone would be nailed to a cross for their teachings and what they believe in seems a bit…radical, doesn’t it?
Think about it. Is there anything in your life that you believe…that ultimately someone else would consider that belief…worthy of crucifying…
You?
Would you still believe it…teach it…fight for it…knowing that you could ultimately die for that belief?
Jesus of Nazareth did.
I want to go back and unpack the 5 ideas that I mentioned in Day 37: The Solemn Oath, that Jesus of Nazareth taught us, to give us a better perspective as to just how unique and counter to human nature these ideas really were.
Then and now.
1) Turn the other cheek.
Matthew 5:38-42 (KJV):
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
So Jesus of Nazareth is telling us that it would be in our best interest that when someone smacks us, literally, physically, figuratively, etc., that we are to just let it happen, to just let them, ‘smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.’
Seriously? Someone hauls off on us and we are just to let it happen? And as an added bonus, they get to take a second swipe at us?
Is that your first instinct when someone comes at you and hits you?
To turn the other cheek?
Sounds radical.
2) God or money, you must make the choice.
Matthew 6:24 (KJV):
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mammon? What the heck is mammon?
Dictionary.com defines it as “riches or material wealth.” In fact, there is a second definition that involves Mammon, with an initial, capital letter, “a personification of riches as an evil spirit or deity.”
Doesn’t money make the world go round?
Don’t we need money to buy groceries? To fill up the gas in our vehicle? To pay for our children’s education?
To pay the tax man during tax season?
Have you saved enough money to retire?
Seriously?
How can we not stop thinking about mammon…how can we stop thinking about money?
This is radical.
3) There is a place of ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’.
Matthew 13:41-43 (KJV):
41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
So Jesus of Nazareth is telling us that for “all who do evil”, they are going to a “blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth?”
I mean, my dentist tells me that he can tell by my biting pattern that I grind my teeth at night, but gnashing my teeth?
Seriously? I have enough to worry about my biting pattern, not only in this lifetime, but for eternity?
Is this blazing furnace a reference to hell?
Very radical.
4) Jesus is the only way to God.
John 14:6 (KJV):
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
So, Jesus of Nazareth is telling us that, “No one comes to the Father except through me?”
Seriously?
That is pretty bold of him to make that declaration, isn’t it? I mean, doesn’t his declaration run counter to the ‘Coexist’ bumper sticker that was discussed on Day 19: The Validity Of Polytheism/Animism?
What if Jesus of Nazareth is wrong?
Isn’t this the most radical teaching of all?
5) The world hated Jesus, so expect the world to hate Christians.
John 15:18-20 (KJV):
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Seriously? Does that sound like something to look forward to? Follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and you are pretty much guaranteed a lifetime of people potentially…hating you?
Just because of what you believe in?
I have enough people who have issues with me, like students…and parents…and family members…and friends.
And that is before I talk religion, (or politics for that matter), with them.
Why would I want to follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, already knowing ahead of time the potential consequences regarding my students, their parents, my family and my friends?
Radical indeed.
Do not feel discouraged if you are having a difficult time understanding the significance of being a follower of Jesus. Do not feel discouraged if you are hesitant with all of the pressure and expectations of being a follower of Jesus. Instead, embrace the idea that maybe with all of these expectations comes a greater return on your investment. Both now, and into the future.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 KJV
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 38: Jesus The Radical – Unpacking The Top Five.
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:
Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?