HOW
CAN ANYONE TAKE JESUS SERIOUSLY?
MIKE CUNNINGHAM
JULY 26, 2009
Last week I created a group of fictional characters
consisting of a dysfunctional family and an elderly bible teacher who were next door
neighbors. The mother was a Christian woman who had a rather
anxious and worrisome temperament, so much so that it has gotten to the point
where she had developed a full blown ulcer. The father was a controlling,
obnoxious, argumentative, judgmental, know-it-all who thought he was a Born-again
Christian because he walked the aisle several years previously, said the sinners
prayer and has been a regular churchgoer ever since. They had a teen age son
who was a prankster who viewed himself as being a real cool dude. On the other
hand, his father thought his son was a wise guy kid who’s been a walking mouth
ever since he learned to talk.
As we saw last Sunday the boy was at his second
Saturday morning bible study armed with notes he had previously made and a
couple of recently acquired study bibles. One he had purchased at the Salvation
Army Thrift Store for a quarter and after he used it a while claimed they
“ripped him off.” The other was a brand new one his father had given him as
a gift the previous week and which the boy said “stunk.” After the dust had
settled over his father’s uproar, the teacher gave the boy an opportunity
to explain himself which was exactly what the boy was obviously “chomping
at the bit” to do, It all had to do with the “Second Coming” of Christ and
what is known as the “Blessed Hope” or “The Rapture”. The boy attempted to
make his case by quoting various passages of Scripture and concluded his argument
by saying:
“You have to be an idiot not to see that the stuff I just read was
written to guys who lived back in those days about all the suffering they were going through and The
Apostle Paul told them to
hang in there because it was all going to come to an end soon. Those bad guys
who were persecuting the Christians were soon going to find out that what
goes around comes around. You can’t possibly believe these suffering Christians
would have understood the things the Apostle Paul wrote to them about any
other way. If they weren’t murdered first they expected to receive the Blessed
Hope and be snatched away to safety when Christ came back with a vengeance.
Do you see what I’m getting at, teacher? Everybody knows Christ didn’t come
back. Christians everywhere are still waiting for His Second Coming. And those
guys who wrote my study bibles just brushed it all aside and said the end
could happen in our day.”
I sometimes create fictional
characters to use in my messages because I want to present spiritual truth
in a down-to-earth easy to understand manner. Judging from the feedback I
receive most folks prefer them and get a lot out of this particular style
of preaching. Often they arrive at a particular conclusion I was hoping for
so that I could use it in my follow up message. A case in point is the following
quote from a friend named Ed down in
Now let’s imagine we’re back at the fictional
bible study. After welcoming everyone the teacher asks how their week went.
“Do you really want to know how my week went, teacher? I’ll tell you how it
went. It was lousy. That’s how it went. Do you want to know why? I’ll tell
you why. It was all because of that wise guy kid of mine that’s sitting next
to you with that smirk on his face. That’s why!” “Please calm down, Charlie.
And stop speaking about your son in that manner. I warned you numerous times
to control your anger and loud outbursts or else I will have to ask you to
leave.” “You did? I must have forgot. I have a hard time remembering things
these days. But I’ll take your word for it. Anyway, I’m sorry, teacher. It’s
just that this wise guy kid of mine makes my blood boil. He did it again last
week at this study when he said the bible I shelled out my hard earned money
for stunk. I even had to go to see my Doc. My blood pressure was going through
the roof. Now he’s got me on new pills which cost me twice as much as the
old ones, and all because of that kid. I’ve been reading my bible a lot ever
since and I came up with some things that will set the kid straight. I wrote
them down and put them in my Bible so I wouldn’t forget. “Thank
you for sharing, Charlie.”
“And how was your week Martha?” “My stomach was
bothering me again, but I was able to study my bible more than I ever have
in my life. I’ve been looking forward to today’s study, teacher.” What Martha
didn’t share was the fact she had been worrying herself sick thinking about
the things her boy had said the previous week about Jesus and His disciples
not knowing what they were talking about or else they were con artists. The
more she read her bible throughout the week though, the more sense her son’s
argument appeared to be. Compounding her problems, she had to listen to Charlie
ranting and raving about their son all week long. His doctor told Martha her
husband was a prime candidate to have a stroke. He also said Charlie’s increasing
forgetfulness, wandering thoughts and confusion at times may be the onset
of Alzheimer’s disease.
All week long the poor woman tossed and turned
in her bed at night worrying about her husband and the things her son had
said at the study. What if Charlie had a stroke or lost his mind? And if Jesus
and His disciples were wrong and didn’t know what they were talking about;
she would lose her faith. Then she would have no more hope to cling to; hope
which held her together during those difficult times in her life. Her faith
in Jesus had been her life and now she would have nothing to live for.
But Martha didn’t share her fears with the folks at the study. Instead, she
kept them all bottled up inside herself.
The teacher thanked Martha and turned to the
boy. “Well young man; how was your week?” “I had a really crummy week, teacher.
My best friend Rick got the news that he’s never goanna walk again. There’s
nothing the doctors can do. He’ll be paralyzed from the waist down for the
rest of his life. And my favorite teacher got the test results; his cancers’
spread. It looks like it’s only a matter of time.” “I’m sorry to hear that,
young man. Is there anything I can do?” “Yeah! A couple of things! You can
show me how I can take Jesus seriously.” “I beg your pardon.” “I mean like;
I want to believe in Him. I really do. If the Bible is true in what it says
about Him loving people so much and that He is God and suffered so much agony
on His cross so that my sins can be forgiven, and how I get to live happily
forever in Heaven with Him after I check out of this world, and so can Rick
and my teacher, all I can say is that’s what I want, teacher. All we got to
do is believe in Him and tell Him we’re sorry. Right?” “That’s correct, young
man.” But how can I believe in Him if I can’t believe Him? I’ve been
studying my two bibles a lot all week long. And I read my pocket New Testament
from cover to cover lots of times during the past year. Please help me to
take Jesus seriously, teacher. He’s the only hope a messed up kid like me
has. I want to believe in Him so much, but I’m having a real hard time. I
can see why some kids do drugs. I really can.” What did you read this past
week that you find so troubling, young man? Please tell us.” “OK!”
31
When he had
gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified
in him. 32 If
God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify
him at once. 33 Little
children, yet a little while I am with you.
You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so
now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one
another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people
will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 36 Simon Peter said
to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where
I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward." 37 Peter said to him,
"Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38 Jesus
answered, "Will you lay down your life
for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster
will not crow till you have denied me three
times. John 13:31-38 (ESV)
1
"Let
not your hearts be troubled. Believe in
God; believe also in me. 2
In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would
I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you
know the way to where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him,
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. 7
If you had known me, you
would have known my Father also. From now on you
do know him and have seen him." John
14:1-7 (ESV)
12
"Truly,
truly, I say to you, whoever believes in
me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he
do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my
name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you
will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 "I
will not leave you as orphans; I will come
to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will
see me no more, but you will see me. Because
I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 Whoever
has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves
me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to
him." John 14:12-21 (ESV)
“What is the point you are trying to make, young
man? Please explain yourself.” “OK I’ll try, teacher. Here goes. Jesus was
speaking to those men a long time ago about some things He promised
to do for them. There’s no way they would of thought He was speaking
to them about stuff He would do for people living a couple of thousand
years later. Then there was the time Jesus locked horns with those big shot
Jews who were living back then and not guys living today. He sure was ticked
off by them. Look at what Jesus said here:”
42
Jesus said
to them, "Have you never read in the
Scriptures: " 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell
you, the
37
"O
“Jesus sure ain’t expecting the city to say ‘Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ He has to mean those bad guys, teacher.
Do you want to know something else? Listen to this:”
27
For the Son
of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then
he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to
you, there are some standing here who will not
taste death until they see the Son of Man
coming in his kingdom." Matthew
16:27-28 (ESV) also Mark 9:1
“Do you see what I’m getting at, teacher? Jesus
is really ticked off by those guys and He tells them about the
punishment that’s in store for them. If they don’t kick the
bucket first; those guys will still be around when He comes back. Now
look at the stuff Jesus told His disciples they were going to see,
and what He was going to do for them.”
29
"Immediately
after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon
will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and
then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of
Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send
out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31 (ESV)
34
Truly, I say
to you, this generation will not pass
away until all these things take place. Matthew 24:34 (ESV)
“I can’t believe that back then Jesus wasn’t
talking to those people about a lot of bad things that would happen
to them, but don’t give up because He’s coming back to settle the score
before all of them died?” The others at the study were intently following
along in their own Bibles and listening to the boy make his case when they
were suddenly startled by a loud “got ya!” Charlie had just swatted a mosquito
that was on his arm. A piece of paper fell out of his bible and both items
landed on the ground. Charlie picked them up and looked at the paper. “I got
the answer for you, kid. I forget I wrote this down when I was studying my
bible last week. It’s going to tell you how you can believe Jesus. It has
to do with the word “generation.” You want me to read it, teacher?” “Please
do, Charlie.” “You got it. Here goes!”
“-Generation:
No one living when Jesus spoke these words lived to see "all these things"
come to pass. However, the Greek word can mean "race" or "family,"
which makes good sense here; i.e., the Jewish race will be preserved, in spite
of terrible persecution, until the Lord comes.”—Ryrie
Study Notes.” “I read the exact same thing in the bible you gave me. Plus
I read it in the used one I got at the Thrift Store. Listen to this:”
“Gr.
genea, the primary definition of which is, "race, kind, family, stock,
breed." (So all lexicons.) That the word is used in this sense because
none of "these things," i.e. the world-wide preaching of the kingdom,
the great tribulation, the return of the Lord in visible glory, and the regathering
of the elect, occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 70.
The promise is, therefore, that the generation--nation, or family of
Matthew 11:16 (ESV) 16 "But to what shall I compare this generation?
Matthew 12:41 (ESV) 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it,
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater
than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:42 (ESV)
42 The queen of the South will rise
up at the judgment with this generation
and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom
of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 23:36 (ESV)
36 Truly, I say to you, all these
things will come upon this generation.
Matthew 24:34 (ESV)
34 Truly, I say to you, this generation
will not pass away until all
these things take place.
Mark 8:12 (ESV) 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does
this generation seek a sign? Truly,
I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Mark 13:30 (ESV)
30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things take place.
Luke 7:31 (ESV) 31 "To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they
like?
Luke 11:29 (ESV)
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a
sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
Luke 11:30 (ESV)
30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will
the Son of Man be to this
generation.
Luke 11:31 (ESV)
31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the
men of this generation and
condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of
Solomon, and behold, something greater
than Solomon is here.
Luke 11:32 (ESV)
32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it,
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:49-51 (ESV)
49 Therefore also the Wisdom of
God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will
kill and persecute,' 50
so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation
of the world, may be charged against this
generation, 51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished
between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you,
it will be required of this generation.
Luke 17:25 (ESV)
25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 21:32 (ESV)
32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all has taken place.
“I think there was about 37 different times Jesus
said the word generation. Those study bible guys changed the obvious meaning
of the word generation just this one time so they could make their case. But
they didn’t fool me. We would have to throw all the other times Jesus said
the word generation out the window. I can show you a lot more stuff they changed.”
“I’m sorry but we’ve run out of time, young man.” “Is it ok if I come back
next week, teacher?” “Of course you may. You’re always welcome.” “Great! I
told you before that I read my pocket New Testament from cover to cover lots
of times during the past year. I like what Jesus said about messed up guys
like me, and how if I believe in Him and tell Him I’m sorry the slate will
be wiped clean and I’ll have a fresh start in life. I want to believe
in Him teacher. I really do, but these study bibles got me all mixed up.
I don’t know who to trust. I can’t get Rick and my teacher off my mind. I
really want to believe in Jesus and all the promises He made. He’s my only
hope! But everybody knows He didn’t come back like He promised. How can anyone
take Jesus seriously, teacher?” “Lord willing we’ll revisit this issue
next week.” And, as the family was walking across the teacher’s yard headed
towards their home the teacher silently prayed: “Thank you Lord for strongly
inclining each of them to take my suggestion to search the Bible for themselves
to see if what was being taught by me or anyone else was actually Your Word.”
As I mentioned last week; you and I have an obligation
to do our utmost to search the Bible for all spiritual truth so that we will
be able to convincingly offer straight-forward answers to people who are sincerely
searching for it. The Bibles’ divine Author has put it in there. In total
dependence upon Him for His help, we must diligently seek it and then we will
find it (Matt.7:7).
Lord willing, soon…
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