This Thursday instead of "studying" the bible, we took time to listen to the story of Luke 8, and to ask the question, "Who is Jesus?" We took time to imagine what it would have been like to be one of the 12.
I had a friend that once said to a small group of people, " We need to not read the bible as a self-help book, or as a book for sin management. But we need to read the bible to Know who God is."
That was one of the most profound things said to me. It was a radicle concept to me.
We need to read the bible to discover the person of Jesus, because Jesus, IS the Gospel.
As we listened to the story of Luke 8, there were a few themes that grabbed my attention, and echoed inside of me.
The first was, "Who is this Jesus."
The second was, The Revolution will not be Televised!
Throughout this story people are asking, "Who is this person". Jesus is bringing peace, wholeness wellness to people, and people are filled with Terror. Why is that? Jesus did things so upside down compared to the way that we do things these days. He wasn't trying to get big numbers to join his crew, he wasn't looking for people who would have the best stories to convince people to follow him, he wasn't even trying have people know what he did. But, what he was trying to do was love people in such a way that their dignity would be restored to them. Love them to introduce them to the Resurrection of all things. Love them in such a way that they would not become a spectacle, or used for his purposed.
But Jesus wanted to be used for their good, not them for his good.
While Jesus was bringing the kingdom to those around him, he was throwing off and breaking down people's social class structures. In one story, he even caused a ripple of fear in a people groups economic situation.
But through all that Jesus did, he kept it quite. He didn't have a bull horn, or large speakers. He didn't write any books, or building a building. He didn't start a club, and have sign up lists. He didn't have numbers in mind that he was trying to attain. He didn't make banners, bumper stickers, or even billboard adds. He didn't put his name in the paper telling people to follow him. He didn't have clever designed adds on the side of busses, taxis, or rickshaws(or what ever they used back then).
The Revolution will not be televised!
What he did do was live life and invite a few people to live with him. What he did was have people in mind that he was trying to love and serve. He knew that His way, although backwards to even the way we often times do church these days, was the best way to do things. He knew that in the quietness and stillness of loving people, that his name would be spread far and wide, even to the ends of the earth. He knew that the best way to enact change was to love so radically people wouldn't be able to keep quiet, despite him saying, "Tell no one".
The Revolution will not be televised!
He knew that living counter cultural, not subcultural, would turn cities upside down. He knew that loving people who you weren't supposed to love, would bring the kingdom of God. He knew that living drastically different from those around him would begin to crumple the holds that the enemy has on lives. Living this way would break addictions, personal insecurities, greed, lust, hatred, and bring about a new way of doing life, a new way of living.
The Revolution will not be Televised!
Jesus knows that that kingdom does not come about by crafty slogans, or slick design, nor does it come by eloquent words or miraculous signs, nor does it come with knowledge that can fathom all the mysterious of life or prophetic giftings that can end all strife, nor does it come with a hip band and music that is above the rest. But this Kingdom, The kingdom of the Most High God, comes by feeding the poor, clothing the naked, freeing the captive, and loving our enemy.
The Revolution will not be Televised!
What Jesus did leave behind was people, and relationships. People he believed in despite their not so fantastic stories and backgrounds. People he believed in, even though they were still broken and working out their salvation, even unto death.
Jesus knows the kingdom does not come by force, but by submission to our God, and by breaking ourselves open and pouring ourselves out for those around us, like Jesus did for us.
Jesus knows, taking the models of the world around us and putting "christian" labels on them does not make them Kingdom. But, taking the models of the world upside down and shaking them out brings the kingdom.
Jesus is inviting us to live life with him and teaching us to invite others to live life with us.
Who is this Jesus?
...
I believe we need to ask this question, and be Ok with not answering it right away, but sitting in the stillness.
There were some great things said on Thursday night, I would encourage us to not let the conversation drop just because the night ended. Let's continue to ponder, and wrestle with this. Let's start this conversation with people who don't come on Thursday nights. If you need to, reread Luke 8, and feel free to voice your thoughts on this blog as well.
Let's wrestle with the idea of, "where are we looking for this revolution"? Are we looking to wisdom, media, the cool kids, church, people, school, pastors, the government, ourselves, or Jesus Christ?
as I can't say it enough, I love you guys/gals tons, and am glad to be on this journey with everyone. I am excited for where God is taking us as individuals as well as a group. I am excited for ways that we are starting to discover more of this Jesus, and his message. I am stoke for ways that we are starting to enter into his revolution, and His way of life. I am glad we are going at it together.
Grace and peace,
Chris
