Elijah, John, Jesus -- Lives of Protest!

In the past few weeks I have just been slain by the life of John the Baptist, who lived in "spirit" of Elijah.  John lived a life modelled after Elijah, who modelled a spirit of protest against mediocrity and paganism.  In Elijah's day it was political servitude, Israelite kings serving foreign kings, and Baal worship.  In John's day it was also political servitude, the pharisees aligning with the Herod's, and Jewish/pagan syncretism.  Jesus, the greatest prophet, then came with the greatest attitude of protest, the Kingdom of Heaven against the Great City of Babylon, which was the greatest symbol of sexy sophisticated rebellion).

So I have been convicted to protest more. I am compelled to find injustice and unrighteousness and protest against them.  But I am scared.

I think we have muddied our image of Jesus.  We have put a hot wet clay of "weakness" on him and made his image melt a little.  But Jesus protested, just like John, just like Elijah.  In fact, the first two demonstrated Jesus' heart in their protest because He exists before them, not they before Him.

Do you protest?  Do you ever do anything to wake up yourself and others from mediocrity?  

Do you do anything to stand out as Christ follower, as one who believes in Messiah? 

Do you make yourself ugly, or make unpopular choices, to protest against the selfishness and rebellion of this generation?  Does your faith cost you money?  Does your faith cost you popularity?  

Ladies do you protest with modest clothing even though others will say you are outdated?  Do you guard your tongues from spreading gossip?  Do you ever protest self-indulgence? 

Men do you protest by working to provide enough or are you enslaved to the dollar?  Do you choose a few toys rather than going for all of them?  Do you protest by keeping your mouth clean from vulgarity and slander?  

Parents do you protest by choosing good habits for your children, like Sunday morning church attendance and family Bible study, or do you let them do every sport, at anytime?  Parents do you protest by removing your children from the classroom when evolution is taught?  Do you stop watching television programs because of subtle language or lessons that attack your child's faith.  

Kids do you protest when another child is cruel on the school yard?  Do you help the one who just got beat up?  Do you protest getting too many toys from your family?

Teens do you protest against sex before marriage and getting drunk?

We have believed the idea that people will come to Jesus if we are attractive enough, but we spend so much time looking in the mirror and comparing ourselves to magazine covers that we have become vain and insecure in our identity.  We always look for validation from the world -- our peers.  We try to look good all the time; instead of being homely.  

This is a significant error.  First of all, none of us is that good looking.  Second, Jesus was a protestor.  From the day He was born, people wanted to kill Him because He undermined their personal ambitions.  Even, if you humbly, gently, and correctly protest, people will still oppose you because you stand against their personal ambitions, but do it for the sake of being like Jesus.

Let us regain a spirit of "protest" with humble and devoted hearts before Jesus the Messiah.  And count the cost.  And let the chips fall where they may.  And let our blood be spilt if necessary.

What divides the failures of last year from the success of this year?

At the beginning of each new year.  Everyone wants to start fresh.  Everyone wants new habits and new muscles.   However, in order to have these better attributes and to keep up the actions that make them possible, we must first have new thoughts, because it is better thinking that leads to better living.

So, what divides the failures of last year's thoughts from the success of this year's living?  

I think you need a sword.

Luke 2 says, ²²When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord...²³ ...³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Did you catch what Jesus would do?  He would cause some to rise and others to fall (depending on whether they accepted or rejected Him).  He would be spoken against so that thoughts of many who rejected him would be revealed, and He (His teachings, life, and death), would force His mother to painfully choose to believe until the end or give up.

There is an old commentary series called the Pulpit Commentaries.  It says this about Mary, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also.”  The childhood in the Nazareth home, and the early manhood in the Nazareth carpentry, were no doubt her happiest days, though, in those quiet years, expectation, fears, dread, curiously interwoven, must have ever torn that mother’s heart. The days of the public ministry for Mary must have been sad, and her heart full of anxious forebodings, as she watched the growing jealousies, the hatred, and the unbelief on the part of the leading men of her people. Then came the cross. We know she stood by it all the while. And, after the cross and the Resurrection, silence. Verily the words of Simeon were awfully fulfilled.  'Thou shalt feel in thine own heart the contradiction in regard to thy Son, when thou thyself shalt be seized with doubt in regard to his mission.'”  Mary was pierced deeply too as she wrestled with the teachings and sufferings of her Son.  Would she obey or would she try to intervene?  Would she believe him or give up?

The Word of God, in this case, the life and death of Christ, separates people into two categories: Christ Follower (rising); Christ rejecter (falling).  He separates good thoughts and bad thoughts one from another.  He reveals two different pathways of thinking that lead to different, distinct, behaviors.   He forces men to choose one side or the other, and, when they find their place, the hearts of people are revealed.  You have two sides.  Acceptance or rejection.

Hebrews 4:12 says, "¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  You must choose that His will is done, not your will, when you read scripture and see His life.  We must actively chose adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and submission especially when God's Word cuts your hearts and motives into two pieces.

Are you rising or falling as you are confronted with Jesus’ teaching?  Does he lift you higher or burden you down?  Are you on the bench or on the ice?  Do his words cut you to the heart so that you confess and turn away, or do they slay you to avoid any meaningful prayer, thought, and action?  If you failed last year, it was probably because you failed to be molded by God's Word.  Cut yourself away for the sin that entangled you last year with the sword of Jesus Christ.

App List:

Do an in-depth study of God’s Word.

Read a Proverb a day with the whole family

Memorize one verse a week with the whole family

Obey Jesus especially when it hurts.

Respond to conviction, turn away from sin and believe in the promises of Christ: new life, new hope, forever.