When John the Baptist first saw Jesus approaching, he immediately recognized who he was. He said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John knew who Jesus was. John saw in Jesus, God’s plan of salvation wearing a robe and sandals walking toward Him like an old friend that he was eager to welcome and embrace.
Does Jesus seem distant to you?
Are you eager to welcome Jesus and embrace His goodness into your life?
Sometimes when people think about Jesus that think He is old fashioned and removed from their current situation. To them Jesus is past tense, somebody their grandparents used to talk about.
Still other people think that Jesus is somewhere else. He’s up there, or out there, or anywhere but in here. I recently heard somebody say, “I believe in Jesus, but I still sin, get confused, discouraged and heart broken. I thought when you believed in Jesus things were supposed to get better.” That person speaks for a lot of people who believe that Jesus is AWOL. He is absentee when it comes to things that really matter.
Listen to what the popular Christian singing “Casting Crowns” group says about Jesus, “People aren’t confused by the Gospel. They’re confused by us. Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus. The world does not need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination or my interpretation of the Bible. They just need Jesus. We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can’t strap ourselves to the gospel, because we are slowing it down. Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do is just get out of the way.”
I agree that people are confused about who Jesus is and what He is all about. I agree that sometimes we miss the mark and slow the gospel down to a snail’s pace. But, to detach and disengage and “get out of the way” is just contrary to what I believe about Jesus.
Jesus was anything but detached, He “…became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14)
Jesus used His robe to teach a lesson about God’s love when the father told his servants to put the family robe on the prodigal son. (Luke 15:22)
He walked everywhere he went in his sandals and great multitudes followed Him. (Matthew 4:25)
He identified Himself as a Jew and taught the scriptures in the Synagogues. (Luke 4:16)
Jesus was well known for His interpretation and teaching of the scripture. (Matthew 7:29)
Jesus, in fact, commanded that His people do anything but withdraw to get out of the way, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves…But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.” (Matthew 10:16,19)
Casting Crowns sell millions of recordings and produce great contemporary Christian music. I love what they do, but when it comes to “…getting out of the way,” no thank you. Jesus got in the way so that I might get in the way too.
Does Jesus seem distant to you?
Are you eager to welcome Jesus and embrace His goodness into your life?
Sometimes when people think about Jesus that think He is old fashioned and removed from their current situation. To them Jesus is past tense, somebody their grandparents used to talk about.
Still other people think that Jesus is somewhere else. He’s up there, or out there, or anywhere but in here. I recently heard somebody say, “I believe in Jesus, but I still sin, get confused, discouraged and heart broken. I thought when you believed in Jesus things were supposed to get better.” That person speaks for a lot of people who believe that Jesus is AWOL. He is absentee when it comes to things that really matter.
Listen to what the popular Christian singing “Casting Crowns” group says about Jesus, “People aren’t confused by the Gospel. They’re confused by us. Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus. The world does not need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination or my interpretation of the Bible. They just need Jesus. We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can’t strap ourselves to the gospel, because we are slowing it down. Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do is just get out of the way.”
I agree that people are confused about who Jesus is and what He is all about. I agree that sometimes we miss the mark and slow the gospel down to a snail’s pace. But, to detach and disengage and “get out of the way” is just contrary to what I believe about Jesus.
Jesus was anything but detached, He “…became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14)
Jesus used His robe to teach a lesson about God’s love when the father told his servants to put the family robe on the prodigal son. (Luke 15:22)
He walked everywhere he went in his sandals and great multitudes followed Him. (Matthew 4:25)
He identified Himself as a Jew and taught the scriptures in the Synagogues. (Luke 4:16)
Jesus was well known for His interpretation and teaching of the scripture. (Matthew 7:29)
Jesus, in fact, commanded that His people do anything but withdraw to get out of the way, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves…But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.” (Matthew 10:16,19)
Casting Crowns sell millions of recordings and produce great contemporary Christian music. I love what they do, but when it comes to “…getting out of the way,” no thank you. Jesus got in the way so that I might get in the way too.
GET IN THE WAY!
BE THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT!
THROW A MONKEY WRENCH IN THE SOUP!
When you do that, you are doing the gospel the Jesus way. Like John the Baptist, others will see Jesus in you.
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