SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:66-71
People want to know who Jesus is.
But when He tells them, they don’t want to believe it.
His claims may sound far-fetched, but there was so much supporting evidence.
“If I tell you, you will not believe me.” (Luke 22:67)
It’s not that people couldn’t believe it, it’s that they didn’t want to.
Jesus was upsetting their world, His claim to be God’s messiah scared them.
Sure, they wanted a messiah, but not like Jesus.
They wanted someone who represented their agenda, not God’s.
They didn’t want to be convicted, they didn’t want to be challenged.
People want a God who gives them what they want, who makes them happy or rich or healthy.
People want a Messiah who appeases their conscience, relieves them of fear, but otherwise makes no demands.
Jesus is not our ‘sugar daddy’, who lavishes gifts on us in return for our company (church attendance) or favours (worship, offerings, good deeds).
He represents God, and God’s kingdom agenda, and it will not fit with our self-centred agendas.
Repent, deny yourself, follow me, care for the poor, forgive, be merciful and love your enemies – who wants this messiah?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I sense that we have tamed You, turned You into our kind of messiah. You have summoned me before You today, and are asking me, ‘will you accept the messiah that I am? Will you do what I ask?”
Observation/Application
I am reminded of the refrain found in scripture – They have eyes but do not see; ears and they do not hear.
Selective hearing and seeing – that’s what the people had. Jesus didn’t fit their mould. He wasn’t to their expectation. He was their competition. Their enemy? And so the leaders insisted upon their own way and saw only their own way. Blinded by their own vision and not hearing the truth.
And today? Do we do the same? We don’t like what we hear? We change churches or stop going. We don’t like the causes, we stop giving. This world belongs to God or does it? Our actions/my actions reveal who is in charge. Do others see Christ living in me by what I say and do. His word and deed in motion through me.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy