Things I Wish Jesus Hadn't Said

  Paraphrased from: Robert Holmes, Why Jesus Never Had Ulcers!

    Matthew 10:34-39

If it were up to me, I would eliminate a lot of passages from the New Testament, and that would include a lot of words that came out of the mouth of Jesus! Oh, I wouldn't touch those things that we like to hear like "Those who come to me I will not cast out," or "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."  Though I'm not too sure about that, "do not sin again" comment! 

I certainly wouldn't tamper with reassuring words such as, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  I'd also leave intact that wonderful invitation, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And I really like that reminder about how I'm worth more than the sparrows. 

Words like those comfort me when I'm hurting and frightened.  Knowing that God loves me beyond my understanding gives me security,  and those assuring words strengthen me when I'm alone or in trouble.  I'm really glad Jesus said all those things C and I believe them. 

It's all those other things that I wish he hadn't said at all.  Those harsh things that don't seem to have much joy in them.  They sound almost cruel C and at first glance, they seem totally out of keeping with everything else Jesus said! 

One thing I'd like to use my red-pencil on is that reference in which Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Mat 10:34).  That confuses me!  Elsewhere he blesses the peacemakers and then instructs us, "All who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Mat 26:52).  Yet here he is B saying, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." I sure wish he hadn't said that!

Maybe it was just one of his bad days, but probably not!  Jesus used words like a poet uses them.  That's the biggest problem we have in understanding the Bible, knowing when the words are to be taken literally and when they are to be understood poetically or metaphorically. 

When Jesus said, "I came to bring a sword," we don't really expect to see him swinging a sword anymore than we expect him to be swinging on hinges when he said, "I am the door!"  He was speaking metaphorically, poetically. Do your really believe that Jesus had a flock of sheep for Peter to feed after his death? 

It may seem trivial to make this point, but you would be surprised how often in the course of history C from the Crusades up to the present day, that wars have been justified by such simple-minded reading of the scripture.  A lot of damage to prospective Christians has been done by Christians who have insisted on taking every phrase of the Bible LITERALLY instead of SERIOUSLY. 

I take what Jesus said seriously, not literally. That’s why I wish he hadn't said a lot of things.  In speaking metaphorically, Jesus reminds us that as much as we might wish it to be so, Christian faith does not always end with peace of mind and a rosy outlook on life.  Christian living is not all contentment and bliss. 

There is often discontent.  There is often tension.  There is often conflict. These painful events may be the result of Christian commitment, and that's why I wish Jesus hadn't said that stuff about bringing a sword. Christian faith and Christian life could be so simple if it were just a matter of peace.  

But Jesus had to go and say: "I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household" (Mat. 10:35). 

In other words, follow Jesus and there will be conflict, even among those who are closest to one another!  And this really does not contradict what Jesus says in all those places where he promises joy and blessings.  Jesus is not saying that conflict is the last word any more than crucifixion was.  He IS saying that conflict is unavoidable.  

I remember one man who swore that he and his wife had not had a cross word in 45 years of marriage. But that's simply not realistic. Certainly, we need to minimize conflict in marriage, but when more than one person is involved, conflict and compromise are certain.  Two people living intimately together for 45 years without a cross word simply does not seem possible! Intimacy inevitably means conflict from time to time. When questions of faith and ultimate commitment are encountered, conflict between friends, family, and lovers is unavoidable. 

Jesus was probably speaking from personal experience.  We have evidence that at least on one occasion, his own family came to take him home because they thought he was "beside himself."  No doubt he knew what "division" meant C alienation from those closest to you. 

Although Jesus' first followers were Jews, he was really calling them out of and away from the boundaries of orthodox Judaism.  Nothing could possibly generate more conflict within a Jewish family than that.  When a deeply religious Jew turned his back on his family religion B to commit his life to this alleged Son of God, it was far worse than death, as far as the family was concerned. 

Even today, in some Oriental and Middle Eastern religions, when one leaves the faith to become a Christian, the family publicly carries a casket through the streets to symbolize the convert's death.  It's almost as if Jesus came bringing a sword!  Being Christian brings division! 

I wish Jesus hadn't said, "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." (Mat 10:37)  It sounds as if he were saying, "Choose between your family and God."  He's not saying that, of course, but he is saying that one must choose where one's ultimate commitment lies. 

In all of our closest human relationships, we may love each other deeply, but we do not own each other.  Only God owns us C only God possesses us!  Therefore, we acknowledge that our first obligation is to God. 

There is no one on earth that I love more than my wife, daughters and grandchildren; yet, my ultimate commitment is to God.  If I live out that commitment faithfully, then I become a more faithful and loving husband, father and grandfather! 

In those times when I have been less than I should as husband and father, it was because I had lost touch with God. In all my roles whether as husband, parent, pastor, citizen, or friend C it is God who gives the meaning.  My love for God takes nothing away from my love for others. In fact, it is God who made those relationships possible. 

I need to love God more than anyone or anything else. I need to love my family and everyone else better than I do.  Maybe Jesus did have to say those words in order for me to understand commitment and covenant and priority of relationships to God & family! 

But Jesus didn=t stop there.  He had to say those other words about taking up our cross daily and following him.  I could have done without that.  I much prefer, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me ... for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mat 11:29-30) 

If I were editing the Bible, I would keep those words and cross out all those references to having to bear a cross.   

C                    I much prefer going to church to get away from the pains and problems of the world C rather than be reminded of them, especially of my responsibilities.   

C                    I'd rather love the people I enjoy C rather than reach out to those I don't much care for.   I mean, why do I always have to be nice?

C                    I'd much rather be content with what I know and what I believe C than expose myself to new truth and new experience that might force me to change some of my thinking and behaviors. 

W.C. Fields was once caught reading the Bible.  His friend asked, "What are you doing?" To which Fields replied, "Looking for loopholes."   

C                    I sure would like to find an easier way to be a disciple, but every time I try, I run into a Jesus who says, "He who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Mat 10:38) 

C                    You know those bumper stickers that say, "Honk if you love Jesus"? Well, I saw one that said, "If you love Jesus, tithe C anybody can honk!" 

I guess it's a fairly simple thing to praise the name of Jesus, but to take him seriously, and to take his word and his way of living into our  society .... Well, that's the hard part! 

Any group can get together and study the Bible or pray or design worship services and preach and sing C that's the easy part!  But living it!  That's the rub! 

If Jesus were preaching to us today, I imagine he would be saying some things we wish he wouldn't say.  And he'd be asking us some questions we wouldn=t want to answer.  

C                    How much money are you giving away these days in comparison to what you are keeping for yourself and your loved ones?