Life Goes South In A Blink

“God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)

That’s a nice sentiment but you’d never know it from Jesus’ last public sermon.

The people were finally convinced that the long awaited Messiah had arrived. A Saviour had come who would set up a Kingdom so powerful that it would toss off the shackles of Rome. Who better to do this than a miracle worker; someone with power over nature and demons and someone who could heal all their diseases and give them free food and good grief! someone who could bring people back from the dead?

No leader is perfect of course and this Messiah had some kinks to His delivery. For example, He seemed to say some decidedly unkind things to the people; just as though He didn't care what they thought of Him. He seemed more interested in tearing down their religious traditions than in confronting Rome. Jesus showed utter disdain for money, and He was down right rude, even aggressive toward the religious elite. In fact, Jesus treated the religious leaders like they were unsaved gentiles. Come to think about it, this Messiah spent a lot of time telling people they weren’t even close to being on the right track spiritually.

This Messiah seemed to come from a Kingdom that was completely counter-cultural to the one the people had created. This Messiah, if He was one, did all the right things with those society considers to be the wrong people, and He did all the wrong things with those society considers to be the right people.

He refused to keep the rules and in the end it got Him killed.

Jesus road into town as a soon to be King. By the end of the week, after hearing His last sermon, He was hanging from a Roman cross.

And wonder of wonders, that was exactly the plan.