A Very Dangerous Person

A Very Dangerous Person	Next Chapter: Are You In Awe?
Jesus was a dangerous person. Or he was crazy. He actually believed he was the Son of God. But he didn't act like it. How ridiculous can you get? Suppose I believed that I was the son of a king (that would make me a prince) and acted like it. I would strut around in fine clothes, expecting everyone to bow down before me, expecting everyone to serve my every whim and throwing a royal tantrum when I didn't get it. That's what I would do. Wouldn't you? But Jesus didn't act like that. He made fun of the rich people and the rulers, ate many of his meals with prostitutes and tax collectors, associated with losers and low life of all kinds. Worse, he touched them -- with his own hands. He even washed the feet of his followers. How gross is that? It wouldn't be so bad if Jesus was the only one that acted that way, but stories have been told over the last 2,000 years of other people behaving almost the same way. These other people believed that Jesus really was the Son of God. I'm sure you've heard some of these stories. There is the story about a guy called Francis of Assisi, another one about a German named Martin Luther and another guy named Martin Luther King, some guy called Albert Schweitzer and one about a woman referred to simply as Mother Theresa. Then there is that guy John Newton who wrote that song that is sung so doggone much. The list seems to go on and on forever throughout history. What was with these people? They seemed totally fearless. They acted like they were on a mission to save the world, or at least a small part of it. Many of them gave up the comforts of a good job, warm home and loving family. Didn't they get it? That's not how real people are suppose to act. Or are they? It's interesting that of the six people listed above, three received the Nobel Peace Prize, one has an entire denomination of Christians named after him, one also has a U.S. holiday named in his honor, one wrote a song everyone knows how to sing and one is considered, of all things, a Saint. What's with these people? What did they know that you and I don't know? I know that many of these fine people had some shady doings in their life. Many of them fought off deep depression. Many of them had continuing questions about what they were doing. But history doesn't dwell much on their human failings. Instead we hear about their devotion to Jesus and their love of mankind. Dangerous people. What would happen if everyone acted like they did? It might just turn the world upside down. It could be the end of the world as we know it today. Hmmmm! Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:34 NLT) I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. (John 15:12-13 NLT) I command you to love each other. When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you. The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don't. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? "A servant is not greater than the master." Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you! The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don't know God who sent me. (John 15:17-21 NLT)
Lord God, Father of my Lord, Jesus Christ, here I am. Break me, mold me, fill me, use me. Not my will, but yours, O God. Amen.
Questions for consideration... Why was Jesus so dangerous? Why were the people listed above so dangerous? Who do I know that is dangerous in the same kind of way? Is one of them my Pastor? Am I dangerous in the same way? Could I be? Should I be?