The Truth About Controversial Christ

1) His perfection made others uncomfortable. When Jesus spoke and taught, the people were amazed. They said that no one ever spoke like He did and that He had authority in His words. Jesus not only taught the truth, He lived it. Luke starts the book of Acts with the words “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven.” The scribes and Pharisees claimed to be the religious examples. They wanted the praise of men and the power of being in charge, but Jesus said of them: Matthew 23:2-3 “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

The arrogant claims of the temple leaders, the Saducees were put aside with the clear teaching and logic of Jesus and with the words: Matt 22:29 “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” They were uncomfortable being made to look foolish by the words of God, and so they hated Christ and wanted to get rid of him.

2) He taught spiritual salvation, not temporal. The Jews were seeking a Messiah who would come to reestablish the glory days of Israel and drive out the hated Roman army. But Jesus taught that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36) - 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." and that He had come not to drive out Rome, but to save sinners from Satan. (Luke 19:10) - 10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Those whose hearts were set on physical things were distraught by the ‘suffering savior’ presented by Jesus.

3) He embarrassed the upper crust of society. The leaders of the Jewish community were constantly upset by Jesus’ habit of eating with and associating with the ‘common’ people and the outcasts of society. The lawyers and chief priests were upset by the crowds that came to hear Him because He had not come from one of their schools. And the wisdom and logic with which He spoke was continually embarrassing them by pointing out their inconsistencies and where their human traditions had violated the intent of God’s law. The parables Jesus told would embarrass the leaders for they and the crowds could see their failures when Jesus spoke of the ‘older brother’ in the prodigal son, or the Priest and Levite who passed by in the Good Samaritan parable.

What kind of Jesus are we seeking? Are we able to humble ourselves and admit sin so that we can access His forgiveness? Will we change our lives to fit His words, not try to change His teaching to suit ourselves? Just as many in Jesus’ day rejected Him, so many today do the same because their ideas do not match with His - Luke 13:23-24 “Some asked Him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, Itell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Will you come to Him in obedience today ?

Sometimes there are people that come in and disrupt and even destroy our lives. At first, we want to curse them and wish bad things would happen to them. This may be hard to do, but we should pray for them, that they may change their ways and repent of their sins. Praying to the Lord will start your healing and hope the healing of the one who hurt you.