The Puzzle of His Conduct . . . OR . . . He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear
Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope
May 17, 2008
Larry R Evans
The location of this blog is: http://ssclassnotes.blogspot.com
Class Notes:
Quiz for Reflection
1. Making God first can be confusing even to those who know us best. [Lk 2:47-50; Mt 12:46-50; Mt 27:1-4; Mt 27:1-4; Mk 14:1-6] True or False?
2. Jesus disregarded His own teachings by not visiting John the Baptist when he was put in prison. [Mt 25:35,36; Isa 40:1-3,11; Mt 3:1-3; 4:11-17; 11:4-6, 7-15, 14:1-13] True or False?
3. The mission of Jesus was distracted by the presence of those who were living a life of rebellion towards God, and when the lifestyle He desired them to live was adhered to. [Mt 9:10-13; Hosea 6:1,4-6 and 2:23; Micah 6:8; Mt 3:7-10; Lk 5:29-31] True or False?
4. Jesus won the hearts of men and women by living a sinless life. [Desire of Ages p. 151; Ministry of Healing p. 141; Jn 11:32-36; Mt 14:14; Mk 8:2] True or False?
Jesus introduced change. Change is threatening. Change is often resisted. However, before we are too harsh on those who resist change, keep in mind the truth behind the maxim: “Change is the thief of identity. We can never be sure of our place or value in a new order of things. . . . Those with the greatest power and wealth and the most prominent place in the old order of things have the most to lose.” (Dee Hock in Birth of the Chaordic Age, p.238, 239.) Is it any wonder that Jesus’ most vocal resistance came from those who thought they had it all together or who at least wanted others to think so? However, they weren’t the only resisters? So radical were the teachings of Jesus, so puzzling were His actions that His very presence caused those caught in His wake to stop, listen and reflect on what He was really teaching. Understandably, some principles were placed in time capsules called parables to be opened later under the guidance of the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit. Comprehension takes time. His actions contradicted accepted societal norms. His vision included the potential He saw in others but denied by many. His mission, so it seems, was to set the stage for a new order of spirituality not encumbered with the confines of the present religious experience. To realize ones possibilities would mean change and much of His puzzling behavior came about because His vision collided with the limiting values of others. “Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he did meet skeptics he could not convince and sinners he could not convert. Forgiveness of sins requires an act of will on the receiver’s part, and some who heard Jesus’ strongest words about grace and forgiveness turned away unrepentant.” (Philip Yancey in The Jesus I Never Knew, pp.174-175) We may find his conduct puzzling but before we become too alarmed, perhaps we need to ask ourselves if we really understand His mission and the obstacles He encountered—both seen and unseen.
1. Making God first can be confusing even to those who know us best. [Lk 2:47-50; Mt 12:46-50; Mt 27:1-4; Mt 27:1-4; Mk 14:1-6] True
43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Among the Jews the age of twelve was the dividing line between childhood and youth. When an individual completed the twelfth year they were called “son of the law, and also a son of God.” (See DA 75) In a unique sense these were fitting titles for Jesus. “From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others.” (DA 70). “He drew the sympathy of all hearts by showing Himself capable of sympathizing with all. The atmosphere of hope and courage that surround Him made Him a blessing in every home.” (DA 74) The question remains, however, “Was Jesus being disrespectful of his parents when he became separated from them?” Puzzling perhaps, but only if we narrow his “parents” to Mary and Joseph. As Jesus experienced the Passover, “Every act seemed to be bound up with His own life. New impulses were awakening within Him. Silent and absorbed, He seemed to be studying out a great problem. The mystery of His mission was opening to the Saviour.” (DA 78) While His mission became clear to Him, it was not always clear to others. In fact, this was a persistent challenge to Jesus throughout His ministry. Not only were His parents slow to comprehend the special role He was to play (Lk 2:49-50) but it was confusing to the religious leaders of His day who charged Him with blasphemy (Mk 3:1-6; Lk 5:21-24), His own disciples who failed to understand true “greatness” (Mk 10:36-41) with Judas in particular who sought to force Him into a “grander” political recognition (Mt 27:1-5).
Reflection Point: It is only natural for today’s disciple of Jesus to be misunderstood.
2. Jesus disregarded His own teachings by not visiting John the Baptist when he was put in prison. [Mt 25:35,36; Isa 40:1-3,11; Mt 3:1-3; 4:11-17; 11:4-6, 7-15, 14:1-13] False
Matt 25:31-36
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
We must ask ourselves the question: “Why visit someone in prison?” Is it not to bring hope, encouragement and even purpose for one’s life, or in the case of some, for one’s pending death? It is true that Jesus did not visit John the Baptist while he was on death row in prison. But I have a question for you: What did Jesus do and what was the biblical setting for what He did do? (If we are puzzled perhaps we shouldn’t be.)
Isa 40:1-3
Comfort, comfort my people,says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,that her sin has been paid for,that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:"In the desert prepare the way for the LORD;make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Isa 40:6-9
6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
The very context of John’s crying out in the wilderness was taken from Isaiah. Indeed Jesus brought comfort to him by reassuring him that his ministry, his life and even his death, were not in vain. John’s imprisonment signaled to both John and Jesus that it was transition time: Matt 4:17
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
What may be puzzling to us was not to John. The greatest reassurance he could receive was that his ministry was being fulfilled and it was.
Matt 11:4-6
4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Reflection Point: One of the greatest “temptations” that Satan can hurl at any of us is that our life, our mission on earth, was in vain and accomplished no good. Such was the temptation of John the Baptist. The words of encouragement to John can also be ours though we may not live to see the fruit of our endeavors.
3. The mission of Jesus was distracted by the presence of those who were living a life of rebellion towards God, and when the lifestyle He desired them to live was adhered to. [Mt 9:10-13; Hosea 6:1,4-6 and 2:23; Micah 6:8; Mt 3:7-10; Lk 5:29-31] True and False
Who was distracting? What was Christ’s mission?
Matt 9:10-13
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
The words of Jesus were taken from the book of Hosea. Notice the context:
Hos 6:1
"Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
4 "What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth;
my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hos 2:23
23 I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.'
I will say to those called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people';
and they will say, 'You are my God.'"
Jesus was not to be detoured from His mission. The story of Hosea is the story of God’s efforts to restore His fallen people. He heals their wounds caused by their own backsliding. So as He sees the “tax collectors and sinners” He recognizes the purpose of His mission. They were not the distracters. Those who interfered with His mission to them were the distracters!
Reflection Point: Nothing is more important to God than reclaiming His children. We are the ones being reclaimed. Are we also the ones interfering?
4. Jesus won the hearts of men and women by living a sinless life. [Desire of Ages p. 151; Ministry of Healing p. 141; Jn 11:32-36; Mt 14:14; Mk 8:2] True and False
The answer to this question could be answered “True” or “False” depending on one’s starting point. Ministry doesn’t happen simply by avoiding sin. The ministry of Jesus speaks of the deepest kind of caring for others.
Jesus saw in every soul one to whom must be given the call to His kingdom. He reached the hearts of the people by going among them as one who desired their good. He sought them in the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue, by the shores of the lake, and at the marriage feast. He met them at their daily vocations, and manifested an interest in their secular affairs. He carried His instruction into the household, bringing families in their own homes under the influence of His divine presence. His strong personal sympathy helped to win hearts. He often repaired to the mountains for solitary prayer, but this was a preparation for His labor among men in active life. From these seasons He came forth to relieve the sick, to instruct the ignorant, and to break the chains from the captives of Satan. Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p. 151
Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me." Ellen White in The Ministry of Healing, p.143
Reflection Point: Was Jesus’ ministry successful because of what He did or because of what He was and was it His title or the time spent with His Father that made the difference? How could our life, our ministry, become more fulfilling to us and to others?
Reflective Review
It has been said that “A saint is one who exaggerates what the world neglects.” (G.K. Chesterton) So was the case of Jesus and in so doing He puzzled the most astute scholars of His day, angered the religious authorities, troubled His own disciples while at the same time He warmed the hearts of society’s outcasts. On the other hand, those who impressed Jesus were not typically those we’d expect to make the roster for those “most likely to succeed.” For example, there was the widow with the “generous” offering of two cents, a dishonest tax collector who climbed a tree to get a better view of Him, an adulteress, a blind beggar, a woman who had a line-up of five former husbands and living with one to whom she was not married, a boy with a meager lunch which fed a huge crowd. These were only a few who Jesus acknowledged in a special way. Even those whom He chose to be His closest companions would not have passed today’s executive interviews. He seemed to have a unique value system by which He discerned the possibilities of others. A system not widely practiced in His time . . . or in ours. He thought differently about such events as birth, life, marriage, death, the Passover and even the Sabbath. There was something about His worldview that drew conclusions from a radically different perspective. However, there was something, despite all His “strangeness,” that attracted scholars, fishermen, the openly sinful, politicians and even some among the groups of religious authorities who were rebuked by Him. Something should tell us: stop and listen to what the recorded words and actions of Christ are saying. They may puzzle us. They may confound our perceived insights but as painful as that might be, we must stop and listen. The popular adage would certainly apply to us: “Challenge your assumptions!” What really motivated Jesus? What was His purpose? What does He want for and from us? Are His actions to be seen in isolation from the Old Testament? It would appear, if we are to understand Him, that we must have a better grasp of what His mission really was and is.
During my study for this week’s lesson I found a statement which indeed challenged my own assumptions
“They [the priests and rabbis of His time] felt sufficient in themselves for all things, and realized no need of a higher wisdom to direct their acts. But the Son of God was surrendered to the Father's will, and dependent upon His power. So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will.” (Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p. 208)
Perhaps the reason His conduct was so puzzling was because He knew how to listen to the plans His Father had for Him. He seemed to know how to live in the Presence of the Father as He carried out the mission given to him. That too is our calling.
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