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Wednesday, Dec 23 - <strong>Jesus</strong> Didn’t Follow the Rules<br />
As I’ve been studying different passages of Scripture in preparation for Advent, the following<br />
thought keeps running through my head. <strong>Jesus</strong> wasn’t what anyone EXPECTED!<br />
Sometimes, yes, He was ALL they hoped for, other times, not so much! Not at all.<br />
A few summer’s back, one of our small grand-treasures had been out horseback riding with his<br />
Papa. At one point, Bay gave him a little instruction on how to hold the reins properly so he<br />
could better direct his horse. As they returned to the corral, we asked Ethan how the ride went.<br />
His dejected response: “I didn’t do the rules…” We still get a chuckle out of the inflection of<br />
disappointment in his voice as he told us that news. I thought of that story the other day, as I<br />
was thinking about <strong>Jesus</strong>-come-to-earth-in-flesh. He definitely didn’t do the rules!<br />
Remember the teaching of <strong>Jesus</strong> at Matthew’s<br />
house about the wineskins? He was answering<br />
the questions of the religious leaders as to why<br />
He did things so differently… Why did <strong>Jesus</strong> eat<br />
with sinners & tax-collectors? Why didn’t He fast<br />
like the rest of them? <strong>Jesus</strong> answer was that He<br />
wanted them to consider a whole new way of<br />
thinking…He was letting them know that with His<br />
coming, He would initiate a NEW Covenant<br />
relationship…<br />
So, I had to go back and look at <strong>Jesus</strong>’ teaching<br />
to that point in Matthew 9. <strong>Jesus</strong> taught as one<br />
with authority, but <strong>Jesus</strong> teachings are quite<br />
paradoxical to typical thought of the day.<br />
Example: His first sermon on the hillside.<br />
Consistently, we read <strong>Jesus</strong> say these words,<br />
“You have heard…” He then follows those words<br />
with a new thought, “…but I tell you…” As a<br />
result, He confused His Jewish brethren. While it<br />
appeared as if He could be the Messiah, He was<br />
unlike anything they had hoped or expected.<br />
Not only were His teachings different, His actions<br />
were unexplainable. He reaches out (&<br />
TOUCHES, heaven-forbid!) the untouchables<br />
and the unlovables. He befriends tax-collectors<br />
and Roman soldiers. He honors a despicable<br />
Samaritan, a woman, no less, with words of<br />
encouragement, a hope for tomorrow, and presents her with salvation. He heals lepers,<br />
welcomes prostitutes, and casts out demons. He talks about not judging others, then appears to<br />
judge those who are the righteous, while welcoming the unrighteous. He parties instead of<br />
fasting. <strong>Jesus</strong> was confusing, because <strong>Jesus</strong> didn’t fit a safe, explainable package. As a<br />
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