Show and Tell 8: I’m Disruptive
Key Texts: Matthew 10: 34 – 39; John 16: 33; Matthew 5: 9
Additional Texts: Matthew 10; Luke 14: 25 – 33; Luke 9: 57 – 62; John 17: 9 -19; John 20: 19
As usual, reading the Scriptures attached to this entry is always helpful and will enhance your understanding, but it is also possible to read ahead and understand the key messages if there are time constraints.
As mentioned in the first part of the ‘Show and Tell’ series, Jesus’ candidness during His earthly ministry reveals God’s ways, support and standards, yet it was often a stark contrast to stereotypical views of Him. When I was younger and attending Sunday School, the stories about Jesus were all helpful, but predominantly exposed me to instances when He was gentle – not necessary frank. As I grew, I realised that Jesus, God’s Son, is an unchanging, loving Saviour, yet, in His deity He also shared some harsh truths with both His followers and His opponents.
In this week’s key text (Matthew 10), Jesus had been preparing his disciples for persecution – He explicitly told them to expect suffering as they preached the gospel. They, and others who showed allegiance to Him would face opposition, in the form of abuse – whether physical or emotional. Indeed, some would lose their lives as martyrs. That’s no small feat. Instead of telling them pleasantries to get their support, Jesus did the opposite; He made it clear that He did not come to bring peace to the earth (including to their lives). That’s contrary to misleading, erroneous teaching which promises a life free from pain, financial difficulties or any form of lack when one comes to Christ.
In the text we don’t perceive a Jesus who sugar coats the truth; we see one who makes it very clear that He disrupts. He disrupted the thoughts of anyone who felt the deliverer who was prophesied about would have been a political leader. In several instances, He disrupted the religious order, emphasising a sincere walk with God above their meaningless rituals. Whether it was when He drove out traders from the temple (Matthew 21: 12 – 17), challenged the disciples and His opponents to think differently about God (Matthew 23: 27; Matthew 13: 1 – 11), socialised with sinners, showed them kindness and saved them without allowing them to influence Him (Luke 7: 37 -50; Luke 19:1- 19), or when He ultimately died on the cross and resurrected Himself, sending the disciples into fear and hiding (John 20: 19), Jesus’ life, message of repentance and mission were disruptive.
When we think of disruptions, we perhaps automatically consider circumstances which are unprofitable and negative; we generally try to minimise disruptions. However, Jesus’ promise that He did not come to bring peace, but to bring a ‘sword’ was different. The fact that He is God’s Son who had come to earth to redeem mankind is good news, unlike news of common disruptions; as He taught, accepting Him is accepting God, the rewards of which are unmatchable, including peace with Him and His continued presence (John 14). Jesus promised peace with God, and on numerous occasions either spoke peace to situations (Mark 4: 35 – 41), or to weary and anxious hearts (John 4; 43 – 54; Mark 5: 21 – 43). He is indeed the Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9: 6). How could He then candidly declare that He did not come to bring peace on earth, but rather a sword?
This frank statement from Jesus does not mean He came with malicious intentions: He did not come to bring harm to anyone. However, He was acutely aware (as the omniscient God) that whereas some would accept Him, others wouldn’t. This should not create conflict, but unfortunately it does – sometimes a decision to follow Jesus will disrupt patterns, systems and relationships. It may cause tension in otherwise stable relationships. You may wonder whether others could simply disagree with us without being hostile, but Jesus did say that if the world hated Him, guess who is next? Yep. We are not greater than He is, and the disruptions He said He would bring are due to the inescapable tension between those who follow Him and those who resort to any means perceivable to oppose His message (John 15: 18 – 25).
When Jesus speaks of the disruptive divisions He would create, He also adds that following Him is subsequently a challenge, but one that should not be avoided by compromising. In the key text, when Jesus told the disciples they could not love immediate/close family more than they loved Him, this perhaps disrupted their views of loyalty and family. Most people are very loyal to family, so it seems ironic that He would say He had come to set family members against each other – the world is vile enough as it stands! Instead, He communicated a very high standard – nothing should be prioritised above Him – even our relationships with loved ones which He gives us and encourages us to cherish (Matthew 27: 37 – 39; James 1: 17). Jesus candidly promised that walking with Him involves a ‘cross’, without which we are not worthy of being His children. This cross represents a public declaration of faith, but also the trials and tests of the way of the cross. Ouch! No trials – no Jesus? No freedom from stress and hate because of our faith? Double ouch. Jesus’ frankness presents a clear choice – following Him – the God who brings salvation along with disruptions is a challenge, but it should not be compromised. The form of the disruptions may vary – all our experiences are different, but disruptions involved in walking with God are common to all.
There are some who lose close relationships due to their faith, and I sympathise wholeheartedly with them. Others are rejected or ostracised when their faith and values attached to it lead to irreconcilable differences. Some of us will never experience or be able to relate to that, but our faith may bring other disruptions or unpleasant experiences (too many to list!) which we naturally want to avoid. Following Jesus will involve new paradigms or mindsets, and the transformation we gradually experience as we walk with Him will also disrupt our lives; we previously thought or behaved differently – adopting a new mind will require some changes. We were on one trajectory but gradually shift during the lifelong sanctification process attached to walking with God. Indeed, as we grow in faith, even good things sometimes have to be foregone to be obedient to God. Abraham, for example, had faith in God but was pushed out of His comfort zone for a promise to be fulfilled (Genesis 12: 1 – 5). His life was disrupted because of His faith. (See the articles about Transitions for more about this).
Making a choice to follow Jesus is somewhat frightening if all we read is the key text in isolation. It does raise a lot of ‘What if?’ questions. Jesus did not hide the fact that following Him would mean accepting a disruptive God, whose ultimate aim is not to make us comfortable, but to make us like Him and spend eternity with us. Because He knew in advance that it would be a challenge to walk with Him, and He also anticipated our anxiety, He carefully prayed for us in advance. When life feels overwhelming, I try to remember that Jesus prayed for His disciples and His followers in general before He left earth in His physical form (John 17) and still intercedes for us (1 John 2: 1; Hebrews 7: 25). Following Him will include low seasons and disruptions, but Jesus’ prayers in John 17 were very specific with a request for God to keep us in the world, as well as a promise to continue to reveal Himself to us and be in us. We are never forsaken.
Regardless of whether you have a relationship with Jesus, you may wonder whether you have what it takes to follow such a candid Jesus who essentially says you sign up for the bumpy ride of a lifetime with a disruptive God if you accept Him! Rest assured – you don’t! As He said, when we abide in Him, we have His support to be productive in our faith and relationship with Him (John 15: 1 – 8).
You may be facing disruptions in your life due to your faith, choices or even other peoples’ flaws. Disruptions are inevitable whether we walk with Jesus or not. Perhaps the last thing you want to hear amidst the severe disruptions you face, or the reality that you may face others in the future, is another invitation to pray. I wholeheartedly understand what it feels like to be in that place, and can empathise with you. Sometimes people can help us to handle disruptions, and at other times,thy are simply incapable, even with the best efforts. In contrast, I’m a living witness that God is always available to listen, understand and respond in a way that aligns with His plans for you, (even when His answers and timing seem illogical). Thankfully, we have access to Him through His Son Jesus. Why not try telling Him how you feel for a few moments, a minute, or five today – He hears.
Heartfelt Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us access to You through your Son – Jesus. Disruptions can be quite unsettling, causing me much anxiety. Help me to face and triumphs over them through Your grace and presence. I ask these mercies in Your Son’s – Jesus’ name. Amen.
