Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Jesus’ insight into the Pharisees’ core attitude is exhibited in Mark 3:5: “And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, ‘Stretch forth thine hand.’ And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.” These legalistic leaders were not interested in the needs of this disabled man (Mark 3:1-3) or in the clear moral choice that Jesus cogently articulated (verse 4). The problem is “the hardness of their hearts.” The process of hardening occurs when people persist in resisting the light of God, preferring their own darkness. Jesus lamented this tragic outcome in Luke 13:34: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” God sent “prophets” and others over centuries to speak to the nation of Israel; each time one was rejected, hearts were hardened a bit more. Finally, Jesus pronounced necessary judgment (Luke 13:35). “Ye would not!” – may we shudder at these words of warning, and may we love each ray of illumination that our Savior God graciously shines upon us.