BIBLE LESSON Index

THE TROUBLE WITH JESUS

The mere mention of the name of Jesus evokes various responses from those who hear the name. Some will honor his name and the fact that he is the son of God; others will stare blankly; a few will mutter and move on; and still others will launch into tirades going to the extreme of forbidding his name to be uttered in any manner, including the ending of a prayer in the name of Jesus. All of those behaviors were common in the first century. When Stephen preached Jesus the reaction was violent. He was stoned to death. (Acts 7:58-60) and such similar behaviors have endured in the world to this day.

When Paul was taken before Felix, Tertullus said (Acts 24:5), For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: The Jews didn’t like to hear the name of Jesus because such teaching pointed out their unrighteousness and the futility of trying to be saved by the law. As Jesus saith unto him [Phillip], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Those people whose religions have a god are offended by the words of Jesus and by those who preach in his name because the message in that verse excludes all other belief systems. No amount of protesting will change the truth contained in that verse

That exclusion is one of the troubles they see with Jesus. Those who preach Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection are often persecuted and also are accused of being bigoted, narrow minded, against diversity, and dangerous to freedom. Those are the reasons Jesus was hung on a cross, so believers are in excellent company when the accusations and persecutions are directed at them. Paul spoke of such conduct from unbelievers in I Thessalonians 2:14-16: For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. It isn’t any different today as people attempt to stop the preaching of the gospel because people are offended by such utterances. Some acquiesce to the demands and hide their light under the bushel in the name of getting along.

Men of sincere conscience serving God as chaplains are told not to pray in the name of Jesus, and have been fired from their positions for doing so because there are some who don’t believe in Jesus and it offensive for them to hear such prayers. Yes, one of the troubles with Jesus is that the mention of his name bothers their consciences. Paul faced brutal treatment for preaching Jesus, Acts 14:19: And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Various groups which claim to follow God speak with forked tongues. The APC (Association of Professional Chaplains) have said “that chaplains should only pray universalist prayers” lest someone be offended. These so called politically correct ones should heed the words of Jesus: 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew10:33-34) The edict of the APC is nothing more than an attempt to appease unbelievers who don’t want their consciences disturbed by the sword of the God’s word. But if God’s servants follow that edict, their salvation is imperiled because in those verses Jesus set forth one of the requirements that must be met in order to be saved. And not to confess him will be eternally fatal.

Stephen was stoned; Paul was stoned and beaten; other believers were persecuted and killed; and such actions against those who believe in Jesus are taking place in various parts of the world today. The reason is simple and Acts 6:10 gives the answer for Stephen’s treatment and all the other subsequent ungodly acts toward Christians: And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. No matter how much the hearers resist and try to deny the truth, they will always be faced with the words of Jesus: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He told the truth and it stands solidly irrefutable. That is the trouble with Jesus. His words are the truth and they do exclude all other doctrines.

09-24-2007 DEC

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