the gate

Jesus again returns to the valley after a night of prayer in the hills of Galilee. This story continues following Christ choosing twelve of the disciples from the many that followed him. As he joins his disciples others come up the hillside from the surrounding towns. (I suspect they came not only to hear his words but to see what he would do as a healer.) As the crowd gathers around him, his words ring with a truth unlike any other Rabbi.

"Such a thing this is, Rabbi Jesus spent his time talking to people about attitudes of action rather than the doing and obeying of the law. His words had the authority of purpose and direction yet the obedience was from the heart -- not the ‘do this -- do that’ stuff. He talked about blessing in the hard times and things that just didn’t make sense about dealing with other people. "Bless those who intend to control you". What language is this? I would sooner have God send a bolt of lighting down on these bullies. Yet, there was something about what he said that made sense, making me look to the heavens rather than sending them to hell.

The Romans are usurpers over the land of God and his chosen people. But this Jesus said that love would overpower these arrogant enemies. If you had been there, you would have seen some real questioning, sarcastic and bitter looks by our religious leaders. If I didn’t know better I would say that this Rabbi cared more for these heathen that for me. That’s when something touched my heart. He said I needed to stop being so worried about these guys’ behavior and look to my own attitudes".

Jesus gave two stories about this attitude challenge. One was about fruit trees and the other about building foundations. Each of these stories could easily be understood by those who listened, for the farmer knew his trees and the town folk understood their buildings. When a tree is healthy the farmer knows he will get a good crop of fruit. The builder knew that the most important part of the building was the foundation in which he must build the rest of his house.

"I laughed when Jesus said that figs don’t grow on thorn bushes. Who in their right mind would graft a fig branch to thorns? Then I realized, why should I expect to do fruitful things if what’s inside of me is ‘thorny’? (Ouch, that really hurt!) The building story was pretty good too. I have watched people working on a building and they spent a lot of time getting the foundation made. I could just imagine a building without any foundation when the winds and rains come. It would fall and melt away to nothing. How could someone live in a place like that and feel safe?"

Luke 6:12-49

"Whatever is in your heart determines what you say"
Anyone willing to walk with Jesus must surely be touched by the depth of his call to understand what real obedience is. In understanding that it is not a matter of obeying rules, it is a decision to let the Spirit work inside each of us and then responding to the direction given. Anyone can be a legalist and do the ‘right thing’ without letting it change what is inside the heart. This is a part of what I would call a ‘false prophet’. This is a person who gives the impression that he speaks what Christ might say and then acts differently because he has not allowed the Spirit to direct and influence his heart. The first start is for us (me too) to ask repeatedly that change be made on the inside of me, my character, my heart and then I can graft my attitude to the action and see real fruit, an action that will stand the test of adversity.

Daniel Forman
© 2005