Seems I keep circling around this topic...and coming back to it. Got a feeling this is a lifelong thing - you think?
I've been talking a lot lately about love, and the church, and what it means to be the church, and more love, and more what it means to be the church and in all that, have even ventured into daring to describe how Jesus loved....like, as if we could truly know....and have made some judgements on who Jesus loved the most and who He chastised the harshest, and here I am again.
You may even have read it...a blog I've posted or a comment I've left....something along the lines of "the only people Jesus did not show love to were the ones who thought they were already worthy, the Sadduccees and Pharisees" and I've suggested that self righteous, judgemental believers today continue to fall into that category.....
Forgive me...I stand corrected, and humbly chastised.....real love, authentic love, geniune love, accepting love, unconditional love, no expectations love, non demanding love, gentle love, kind love, supportive love, understanding love, shoring up love, bearing up love, corrective love, inspiring love, influencing love.....I really could go on and on...was demonstrated by Jesus totally and completely, towards the Pharisees and the Sadduccees, and we who fancy ourselves somewhat enlightened, need to understand He still demonstrates it towards today's "equivalents".....(though, we are all equivalent at some time or another).....here's how I know....correct that....here's how I think I know....
Matthew 23 is the chapter on which many base their assumption (me included) that Jesus detests religion. And yes, He did/does detest religion, but that does not automatically translate to how He feels about religious people...the self righteous who live by the law. Even in light of the seven WOES....read them....go ahead...right now....go get your bible and read verses 1 - 36....His love breaks through.....I'm being serious now....
GO GET YOUR BIBLE!! Now read with me.....as you read each WOE...think of something that really ticks you off...and read it with that feeling churning inside....let it crescendo to "YOU SNAKES, YOU BROOD OF VIPERS!......and now stop reading. Get quiet, and be still, and let the indignation you may have felt as you read that wash out of you.....
Now, think of something that makes you feel complete and heart wrenching compassion....that makes you want to wrap your arms of love around someone....and from that place, read on....
How will you escape being condemned to hell?..... Wait a minute? Didn't He just call down woes on these snakes and vipers, and now He's asking "how will you escape being condemned to hell?" I believe that when people first read this question, after coming out of the "woes and name calling", they read it like it's a mocking question, as in "now what are you going to do, you losers?". But God does not mock. He is not disdainful and nor is He bent on revenge. There was no joy in this confrontation, and the question was sincere and heart felt..."how indeed will you escape?" and then....."oh, I know!".... the answer....... therefore, I AM SENDING YOU prophets, and wise men, and teachers..... to the very snakes and vipers
"I AM SENDING"..... future tense..... Jesus was talking to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, and He did not say "I sent...and you killed them all".... He said "I am sending", and "some of them you WILL kill and crucify...... ( meaning Himself, whom they crucified)...... and others you will flog in your synagogues ...... (Peter? John? weren't they flogged in the synagogue?) ...... and others you will pursue from town to town ..... (didn't Paul pursue those from town to town until he himself became the one being pursued from town to town?)
Even after all the "woes" and the "snakes and vipers" personafication, Jesus is still determined to break through the hearts of these men and give the way out of their own misery.....why? .... because He LOVES them!
Read on...remember...continue to read from a place of compassion....
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you.... ok, stop here....who killed the prophets and stoned those sent?? The City, Jerusalem? The common folk? NO!! The only people who could, would and did kill prophets and stone those who were sent were the Pharisees, Sadduccees and teachers of the law...the very people Jesus "woe'd" and called "snakes and vipers".....ok, you can read on now......
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have LONGED to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord". Did I read that right? Jesus LONGED to gather the children of the Pharisees and teacher's of law together under His wings, like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings to rescue and protect them?? But aren't these the men who were going to have Him crucified? What about revenge? What about the "sins of the fathers shall be visited to the 3rd and 4th generations?" In keeping with that law, should not their children pay for what they did to Jesus? Does this mean that if He wants to gather their children, He wants to gather them too? Huh?.... What kind of God loves like this?
Even in chastisement and correction, when Jesus confronted the Pharisees and teachers of the law, He was doing it from a place of love...He essentially was saying..."you behave self righteously, like you don't need Me; O, how I wish you would see how much I love you and how much you need me....I continuously show you but you are not willing to see it".
When He hung on the cross that these same men orchestrated for Him, He loved them no less. When we get to Heaven, we shall see if these men, who were crucified with Christ just as much as you and I were, finally received the gift He brought, and allowed themselves to be gathered under His wings.
