December 11th, 2020
Text: Acts 25:15
I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. (NRSV)
If Jesus was the perfect image of God the Father as our Scriptures teach, then how could one of the most educated religious leaders of his day, not know who Jesus was? Perhaps it was because Saul (later Paul) knew the letter of the word of God as written in his Bible but, did not know the Spirit of the Word as later revealed in Jesus’ incarnation.
There is danger in knowing the words that are printed in our Bibles but not knowing the Word that walked this earth to reveal the Spirit of God. When we only know the words, we run the risk of using them in such a way that they cause death and not the life they were intended to bring. Jesus complained about this very thing when he accused the religious leaders of his day of causing hardship to others by the way they used the law of God; “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.'” (Matthew 23:1-4 NRSV)
Do we really know who Jesus is? Are we still using the words we find in our Bibles in ways that cause harm to others? Are we so focused on being right according to the letter of the word, that we don’t love according to the Spirit of the Word? Or do we know Jesus on such an intimate level that when we hear his words of correction, we never have to ask as Saul asked, “Who are you Lord?”.
Pray with me:
Jesus, forgive me when I use the Bible in ways that break your heart. Forgive me when I am so caught up in judgement, that I forget Your focus on love. Lord, may I learn to know you so well that I never have to hear you say to me, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” AMEN.
I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. (NRSV)
If Jesus was the perfect image of God the Father as our Scriptures teach, then how could one of the most educated religious leaders of his day, not know who Jesus was? Perhaps it was because Saul (later Paul) knew the letter of the word of God as written in his Bible but, did not know the Spirit of the Word as later revealed in Jesus’ incarnation.
There is danger in knowing the words that are printed in our Bibles but not knowing the Word that walked this earth to reveal the Spirit of God. When we only know the words, we run the risk of using them in such a way that they cause death and not the life they were intended to bring. Jesus complained about this very thing when he accused the religious leaders of his day of causing hardship to others by the way they used the law of God; “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.'” (Matthew 23:1-4 NRSV)
Do we really know who Jesus is? Are we still using the words we find in our Bibles in ways that cause harm to others? Are we so focused on being right according to the letter of the word, that we don’t love according to the Spirit of the Word? Or do we know Jesus on such an intimate level that when we hear his words of correction, we never have to ask as Saul asked, “Who are you Lord?”.
Pray with me:
Jesus, forgive me when I use the Bible in ways that break your heart. Forgive me when I am so caught up in judgement, that I forget Your focus on love. Lord, may I learn to know you so well that I never have to hear you say to me, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” AMEN.
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