October 22, 2005

• - JESUS MEANT IT LITERALLY -

  
  

  [June 17, 2002]
  “The other day it occurred to me that “perhaps Jesus meant all the things He said LITERALLY.” I never really considered that before; I have been too blinded by the American Christian culture interpretations of passages which allow us to live comfortably for all our days and quietly dismiss the completely radical exhortations Jesus preached. But no more dismissals.  How do the Scriptures look if Jesus meant it all literally?  

  
  

  I was first struck with the thought that Jesus really meant what He said “literally” and not figuratively, when I read the passage about the rich young ruler with whom Jesus told to go sell all his possessions (Mark 10). Every preacher I’ve ever heard has said, “No, Jesus did not mean for you to sell your stuff, literally…” and softened the blow of this alarming, uncomfortable command. It’s okay to have your Lexus and your three tvs, I have been assured. But I stopped for a second the other day (a second which will forever change my life) and thought, “What if Jesus really meant for this man to sell all his stuff?” And the more I thought of it, the more I knew it was true. But not just true for this man, but true FOR ME too. Going along in this passage in Mark, I found Jesus saying that if anyone would leave their family, friends and fields, they will receive a hundredfold in this age and eternal life in the age to come. So in pondering the idea of Jesus being literal, I thought, “Jesus really means this!” Those who leave all that is familiar and GO FAR AWAY, will receive a 100-fold in return. The water-downed interpretation of this passage says, “You’ve just gotta love God more than these things — not be so attached to your stuff, not idolize them, etc.” But NO! I don’t think that’s right anymore!  Jesus really means for us to leave all that’s dear to us for the sake of Him and the gospel.

  
  

  This brought me to the “take up your cross daily” & “deny yourself” and “lose your life” passage (Mark 8). Amer Christian culture-norm interpret this as just denying yourself of “stuff,” little things – just things. They also interpret the “losing your life” as making Jesus Lord of your life, obeying Him, following Him, etc. But NOT physically dying. But it struck me – it struck me! – that when Jesus said it, he really meant to die physically. He really meant it. To live so fully for Him, to forget about self so fully, to live on the edge, to not live for yourself so much that whether you are dead or alive, it is just the same… and that physical death is just a matter of course. I think that is what Jesus meant.

  
  

  Yesterday I thought about 1 Kings 19:19-21. When Elisha was called by Elijah, he left everything to follow him. But it was not JUST that. Before he left for good, Elisha went back and burned all his things. He burned the plowing equipment and cooked up the oxen to serve up to his family & friends — it was like he threw a “going away party”.  He “burned all his bridges” and there would never be the option to turn back – because the oxen & plowing equipment were the instruments by which he had been making a living. That’s where his income came from. And he completely destroyed them. There was no back-up plan. He was following God; God would provide. Period, end of sentence.

  
  

  Luke 14:25-35 – if you do not give up everything you have, you cannot be Jesus’ disciple. Jesus does not mince words. He means business. The two examples he gives here make it soo clear. The first one (v. 28-30) says that you must sit down and consider the cost of following Jesus and then you must decide whether or not you can render that payment. Well, how much does it cost? EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT. So the question – am I willing to give that to Him? The second example (v. 31-32) helps you with the decision. (hehe.) Basically, there is no option but to surrender to Him. He overrules. He reigns. I must surrender my life and everything I have on HIS terms. If I don’t surrender now, I will have to surrender later, and that will cost me MORE. I MUST give everything I have!”

  
  

  To contemplate that Jesus actually meant these things literally is totally ALARMING…

  • 5:13 pm
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