David Anguish
In Your God Is Too Small, J. B. Phillips warns of distorted views of Jesus, especially the one which sees him as "gentle Jesus, meek and mild." It's a valuable warning, for it is all too easy to see Jesus as we want him to be, to focus on a facet of his character which most appeals to us. So, some political liberals like to focus on Jesus as a humanitarian, more concerned with societal reform than organized religion. Some mental health theorists seize on his teachings in the sermon on the mount to validate their views on what it means to be well adjusted. Some church critics use Jesus' denunciations of Pharisees to justify criticism of form and doctrine, while others look to his spiritual mission as justification for criticizing churches who minister to social ills.
We mention these things in the hope that in so doing we will provoke some soul searching which leads to a fuller realization of the abundant life Jesus offers. Think back to the beginnings of his ministry. After the birth narratives and John's work of preparation. After his baptism, wilderness temptations, and initial contacts with a few who would be hist closest followers. He is now ready to embark on his mission. Ready to turn the stagnant religion od his day on its ear. Ready to offer teaching so fresh in its insight and authority that the people are amazed. But first - before he does or says anything else - he tells people to change and surrender. Matthew records the opening of his public ministry with these words: "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'...Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people" (Matthew 4:17,23, NASB).
Did you get that? According to Matthew, the first preached word out of Jesus' mouth was "repent." And the theme of his message was the kingdom - or better, reign - of God. A rule which Matthew tells us is "good news" (cf. the NIV on v 23). Because the words "repent" and "rule" are equated by some with "negative preaching", it is easy to bypass them to get to images of the Master we find more palatable. If they were unique sayings, or appeared only in the early stages of his ministry, ti might be easier to ignore them and move on. But they are demands woven into the fabric of his work. "Deny yourself." "Take up your cross - daily." "When you put your hand to the plow don't look back." "Don't love your family more than me." "Count the cost." "Sell all you have and give it to the poor." And on and on it goes. Remove the demands, and you have a different Jesus. Even in the parable of the prodigal son, a story better entitled the parable of the loving father, the wayward boy must first repent before he receives the blessings of the father's love.
And that is precisely the point. Because of sin's nature and power, repentance and surrender must precede abundant life. At its most fundamental level, my sin is about me - my pride, my willfulness, my insistence to do things my way, my refusal to admit that he knows best, my selfishness. Behavior modification is not what I need. It's a new master, a new will, a new heart. Only when I have admitted that only God can direct my steps (Jeremiah 10:23), renouncing my way and unconditionally surrendering to his, can my life be all I hope and all it should be. And that's good news indeed!