January 2006

A Dangerous Man

            H.G. Wells published his two volume work Outline of History in 1920, and later condensed it in his work A Short History of the World, where he wrote this about Jesus: “Whatever else the deafness and blindness of his hearers may have missed in his utterances, it is plain they did not miss his resolve to revolutionize the world. The whole tenor of the opposition to him and the circumstances of his trial and execution show clearly that to his contemporaries he seemed to propose plainly, and did propose plainly, to change and fuse and enlarge all human life.  In view of what he plainly said, is it any wonder that all who were rich and prosperous felt a horror of strange things, a swimming of their world at his teaching? .. .He was like some terrible moral huntsman digging mankind out of the snug burrows in which they had lived hitherto. In the white blaze of this kingdom of his there was to be no property, no privilege, no pride and precedence; no motive indeed and no reward but love. Is it any wonder that men were dazzled and blinded and cried out against him? Even his disciples cried out when he would not spare them the light. Is it any wonder that the priests realized that between this man and themselves there was no choice but that he or priestcraft should perish? Is it any wonder that the Roman soldiers, confronted and amazed by something soaring over their comprehension and threatening all their disciplines, should take refuge in wild laughter, and crown him with thorns and robe him in purple and make a mock Cæsar of him? For to take him seriously was to enter upon a strange and alarming life, to abandon habits, to control instincts and impulses, to essay an incredible happiness.”

            It has been a wonderful year for me as I have immersed myself in the teachings of Jesus and decided to preach on nothing else this past year.  One thing that emerges is the fact of the radical nature of Christ’s words.  Even a skeptic like H. G. Wells could not escape the turn-the-world-upside-down manner of Christ’s teaching and ministry.  Jesus Christ is a man like no other.  Great claims were made about him, and he made great claims regarding himself.  And so, a choice looms before us.  In the words of C. S. Lewis, we must decide whether Jesus Christ is a lunatic, liar or Lord.  The choices are radical because he was so radical.  One is forced to either reject him or worship him.  This new year would be a great time to renew your commitment to him as the true Lord of the universe — the Lord of you. 

            Coming to terms with Him,

                        Rod