It must have been fairly awkward knocking around with Jesus.
He was a magnet for contention and controversy especially when it came to engaging with the religious status quo of the day. Reading through the gospel according to John, His interactions with the religious rulers were at best antagonistic. It was evidently serious enough for the men of power of influence to decide that the only thing that could be done with the brother is to kill Him.
It was clear that He was not playing to the beat of the drum of the environment around Him. He was only focussed on doing what the Father told Him to do. He was far more caught up in being conformed to the will of His Father in demonstrating and declaring the works of His Father as the sign that the rule of heaven had truly come to earth. It’s appearance was radical because it wasn’t in actions, or in doctrinal statements or in jumping through hoops. No this rule was about belief in Him – and solely faith in Him.
Over 2000 years later, I sit writing whilst contemplating some serious decisions to take and commitments to make. Some of these commitments may very well take me away from everything that was comfortable to me. It could bring me into conflict with the status quo that has been the inevitable and acceptable all my life. Not that I seek the conflict or seek to be antagonistic, yet I know that such steps will be perceied as contentious decisions.
Yet it is turning to Jesus that I find that His life was not about accepting and embracing the traditional and the conventional as the sole factor that determines what is true. That made Him popular with the crowds, but even they would turn from Him when He started teaching things that were hard for them to take on board – like the importance of eating His flesh as He is the Bread of Life.
When our eyes are fixed on the Father and the Kingdom He unfolds through His Son, it will lead to a life that does not conform to the world around us. It is not about conforming to what the world says is the nor,. It is not about being rude or malevolent. On the contrary, pursuing the way of peace and joy and loe, flies into the interests of the status quo. Expressing glorious freedom in Christ goes against a mantra that suggests you’re already free and you can do what you want.
Following the Father and being conformed to the image of His Son is about leaing the ruling thoughts and ideals of this world behind and aspiring for the truth of God in Christ.
That same gospel of John pointed out that despite the light coming into the world, men rejected it because they preferred the deeds of their darkness. Some institutions and groups are likewise preferring to stay in their darkened state. They prefer to be in futile control of what they do in the dark, than truly see freedom for what it is in the light of Christ.
What was true then is no less true now, hence all the more reason to diligently pursue Him. Diligently pursue being conformed into the image of Christ. By the indwelling of His Holy Spirit we are being chisselled away into something that resembles the Son. That refining process will help us to endure the misunderstanding and persecution that comes with it.
It still must be awkaward knocking about with Jesus. Far better, though to be conformed to the way of life, light and love in Christ than the fatal alternatives.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 