Monthly Archives: August 2014

The Proof in the Doing

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Jesus didn’t behave.  The religious people couldn’t get Him to act the way a Savior was supposed to act – that is, how they thought a Savior should act!  They wanted to call the tune and make Him dance,  They wanted to be in control.  In His defense, Jesus said;

“… wisdom is proved right by her actions.” (Matthew 11:19b)

Translation: i know you don’t think I’m doing the right things, but you will discover the wisdom that guides Me when you see the results of what I do.  Doesn’t look right to you now, but you don’t know what I know.  Simply put, “Oh yeah? Watch this!”

Is your mechanic good?  Does your plumber know what he’s doing?  Has your doctor read the test results correctly?  All these questions are ultimately answered by the results of what they do.  Wisdom is proved right by her actions.  The proof is in the doing.  And in how well it works.

Jesus’ actions didn’t make sense to the hyper-religious, because He didn’t follow their rules.  He had an occasional drink. He wasn’t afraid to touch the lepers.  He was compassionate with broken sinners.  He hung out with the boys.    But those religious critics hadn’t seen anything yet.  He allowed them to crucify Him.  He called out for their forgiveness from the cross.  He died.  What kind of a Savior does that?  But wisdom is proved right by her actions:  He came back to life after being buried.

Most people have the same trouble with Jesus today.  He doesn’t behave.  They want Him to stay up on the crucifix, silent and safe.  They want to approach Him through religious ritual.  They want to polish their shoes, sit in a pew, hear about Jesus and sing about Jesus, say the prayers about Jesus and then go on about their life.  But Jesus doesn’t behave.  He isn’t on the wall and He isn’t in the grave.  He comes to us personally.  

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

That may seem like the wrong way for a Savior to act.  But if you open the door and let Him in, if you allow Him to sit at your table, eat with Him and talk Him in all transparency and honesty, if you trust Him and do what He tells you to do, you will discover something astonishing:

“Wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

Jesus and Popeye

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Nobody has had more trouble with identity theft than Jesus.  It’s not that His passport and Social Security number have been swiped.  Instead, people have hijacked His personality.   They’ve redefined Him so He fits with their own ideas about Who He should be and how He should act.  It’s easier to deal with Jesus if you simply consider Him to be a loving friend and not much more.  Jesus isn’t a threat if He only does what you think it is proper for Him to do.  Trouble is, Jesus never did fit the mold for most folks.  He was constantly confusing people and making others angry.  He didn’t act like a proper Savior.

Exasperated, Jesus said:

“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” (Matthew 11:16-19)

People back then wanted Jesus to dance to their own tune.  They wanted Him to act all solemn and religious.  They didn’t think a Savior should eat with the regular folks or have a drink.  People still try to make Jesus behave today!  Why is that?  When we imagine Jesus is like we want Him to be, we can control Him and keep Him at arms length. He’s less of a threat.  But Jesus won’t dance to my tune or yours.

Popeye the Sailor Man says:  “I yam what I yam and tha’s all what I yam.”  Jesus is Who He is, not who you, or I, or anyone else think He should be.  When Moses asked God what His Name was,

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14a)

Jesus boldly asserted that He had the same Name:

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)

Okay, but so what?  What difference does it make if Jesus won’t conform to our ideas and desires?  The difference is simple but profound.  We must adapt to Who Jesus really is, because we cannot adapt Him to Who we think He should be. We must let Jesus change us, not the other way around.  He becomes more threatening to the way we approach life.  Instead of serving as our imaginary friend and cheerleader, Jesus comes to us as God, as Lord.  You cannot keep a Jesus like that at arm’s length.  If you deal with Him at all, it will be on His terms, not your own.

And Here are Jesus’ terms:  

“Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)