The Real Message of Christ
Jesus never hid the fact that he came to die. He made it clear to his disciples that he would be handed over to the powers that be. Remember that after Peter confessed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:22) After this, he told his followers to “take up (their) cross daily”. Suffering was always part of Jesus’ plan. Still, his disciples were blind to the meaning of his repeated warnings. They still hung tightly onto the hope of an earthly kingdom where Rome would be run from Israel and Jesus would share the glory with the group of men who had helped make it happen.
Unfortunately, this lead to fighting among the disciples… proof once again that these were ordinary men who struggled with pride and self-importance. They had not quite grasped the point that Jesus’ ministry was to be something the world had never imagined. Instead of a powerful king who wielded a sword, we received a powerful king who stooped to wash his disciples’ feet. There was recently an ad created and circulated all over social media and even mainstream television. This ad depicted Jesus washing various people’s feet. These people were surrounded by symbols of their sin – rainbow flags, drug paraphernalia, etc. The media presented these various sins as being accepted by the Messiah. The message, Christ came to wash feet and not to judge. Unfortunately, that message does not line up with scripture. Jesus came to build an eternal kingdom founded on service, sacrifice, and love. He did NOT come to accept sin and incorporate the depravity into his kingdom. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet – not the Pharisees. Those who lived in rebellion to God were warned of the dangers of hell far more than those who walked in righteousness were reminded of heaven. Jesus called (and still calls) for people to leave their life of sin. He invites us to join him in a righteous walk paved with sacrifice and often suffering.
The Message of the Gospel doesn’t make sense to those whose minds are grounded in the world. This is why we have instances of the disciples getting the message wrong, the Pharisees ignoring the truth to fain offense at the supposed crime, and the world promoting a message that makes them feel better without touching on their need for a savior and a cessation of their life of sin. Jesus never over-complicated his message, but we so often do. His message was simple, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:48) It may not be a popular message. It may not be easy to understand when our mind wants to over-think and complicate the truth. It may not be the message the world wants to hear, but it the only message they truly need.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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