The Jewish Message of Jesus

McLaren emphasizes that Jesus' message held several points of reference with his Jewish faith. Jesus' message was especially consistent with the message of the prophets.

"Jesus spoke on behalf of the poor, the forgotten, the rejected, and the outcasts."
"Jesus emphasized the inward sincerity of the heart and not mere outward conformity."
"Jesus spoke of coming judgment on injustice and hypocrisy."
"Jesus echoed and intensified the prophetic message that a new world order was possible and coming."

Prophetic messages are not readily accepted. They frequently challenged the status quo. They took leaders to task. Prophets were not popular figures. Except with the poor, oppressed and downcast. Those looking for change rallied to the prophets.

What does this say about Jesus' message and acceptance?

The Political Message of Jesus

Sometimes we think of Jesus as apolitical. In our movement we've even had proponents argue that Christians should not be involved in politics. They shouldn't run for office. They shouldn't hold public positions. Some even went to the extreme to argue that Christians shouldn't vote. After all, "This world is not my home." Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."

However, Jesus' message impacted many different areas. Ultimately, he was crucified as "king of the Jews." Here is a long quote from McLaren on the scope of Jesus' impact.

"I've become convinced that if the good news of Jesus were carried in a newspaper today, it wouldn't be hidden in the religion section (although it would no doubt cause a ruckus there). It would be a major story in every section, from world news (What is the path to peace, and how are we responding to our neighbors in need?) to national and local news (How are we treating children, poor people, minorities, the last, the lost, the least? How are we treating our enemies?), in the lifestyle section (Are we loving our neighbors and throwing good parties to bring people together?), the food section (Do our diets reflect concern for God's planet and our poor neighbors, and have we invited any of them over for dinner lately?), the entertainment and sports sections (What is the point of our entertainment, and what values are we strengthening in sports?), and even the business section (Are we serving the wrong master: money rather than God?)."

So what do we do? How do we respond to the mess we're in? McLaren says that Jesus' answer is: "Change your way of thinking. The kingdom of God is available to all. Believe this good news! The empire of God is now available to all!" And he was not talking about "heaven after you die."

The Secret Mess of Jesus

Today I'm starting a new series on Brian McLaren's The Secret Message of Jesus. McLaren begins by asking many thought-provoking, sometimes difficult questions.

"What if we have developed a religion that makes reverent and honoring statements about Jesus but doesn't teach what Jesus taught in the manner he taught it? What if the religion generally associated with Jesus neither expects nor trains its adherents to actually live in the way of Jesus?"

OR

"What if Jesus had actually concealed his deepest message, not trying to make it overt and obvious but intentionally hiding it as a treasure one must seek in order to find?"

AND

"What if Jesus' secret message reveals a secret plan? What if he didn't come to start a new religion--but rather came to start a political, social, religious, artistic, economic, intellectual, and spiritual revolution that would give birth to a new world?"

Some of McLaren's questions may make you question McLaren. But please hold off judgment for a little while. Let's explore what McLaren has to offer.

At the Tomb with Jesus

"Jesus is dead and buried. It is a total disaster as far as his followers are concerned. Jesus excited their hopes for the kingdom of God, he gave them reason to believe that what God has promised to his people through the prophets would come to pass. But now he is dead. Disasters abound--death, disappointment, and doubt."

As McKnight observes in his final chapter, we all face disasters, little and big. We face those times of uncertainty in life. We unsure where to turn and to whom. We need, as the disciples needed, the resurrection. We need that possibility. We need hope.

"Beyond death is the new life of resurrection. And beyond personal disasters there breathes the new life of Jesus' offer of forgiveness, Jesus' offer of presence, Jesus' offer of faith, and Jesus' offer of mission."

At the Cross with Jesus

To begin this chapter, Scot McKnight quotes Thomas a Kempis. "Many are wowed by his miracles; few are wooed by his cross." And yet the cross remains a central symbol for the Christian faith. 

Crucifixion is ugly and grotesque. Why did God chose such a means for his son? McKnight writes, "God erects a grotesque cross on Golgotha to reveal his physical sympathy for our earthly pain, his offer of spiritual freedom from our sin, and his graphic image of moral transformation."

Somehow, through the cross, our relationship with God is put right. We are a new creation and are given a fresh start.

At the Last Supper with Jesus

McKnight observes, "Our memory awakens our past. To keep its past as part of its present, God gives Israel a series of rituals, routines, and rhythms. God bestows such gifts so Israel does not succumb to spiritual dementia, spiritual memory loss."

There are passages like the Shema (Hear, O Israel) and the Ten Commandments. There are various celebrations throughout the Jewish calendar. Chief among the celebrations is the Passover.

McKnight writes, "The Israelites reenacts the original Passover and, in so doing, awakens the memory of what made Israel what she is: people liberated from bondage."

Every year they share the meal. They remind one another "Our Father was a wandering Aramean." They remember that God redeemed "us from our slavery."

The church also remembers. Each week we share the Lord's Supper. Jesus took the Passover of Israel and transformed it.

McKnight shares several shifts. "Instead of an altar and a priest, Christians have a table and Jesus. Instead of sacrificing a lamb, Christians remember Jesus' death. Instead of eating a lamb, Christians drink the wine and eat the bread. Instead of slaying the firstborn of Egypt, Abba slays his own firstborn. And instead of protecting the Israelite babies with blood-smeared doors, Abba protects those who drink from the Firstborn's cup."

What do you remember as we share Communion?

On the Mountain with Jesus

McKnight comments, "Death bewilders all of us. Tragic death pound the core of our being, forcing upon us the deep question 'Why?' Tragedies mock shallow answers, driving us deeper into the mysteries of life. We are led to one of two possible alternatives: either we face the wild winds of tragedy with our hearts anchored in hope, or we turn our backs to hope to be blown by the wild winds into the shoals of despair."

Jesus helps us in dealing with tragedy. Jesus leads us through the maze. McKnight writes, "He helps us to know that there is more to life than this world and this mortal body, that there is an eternity with Abba. Knowing that 'all is elsewhere' leads us not to minimize our pain, but to endure it, to embrace it, and to carry it with us as we walk on in hope."

McKnight points us to the transfiguration. In the midst of describing his death to his disciples, in the midst of their incomprehension, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on the mountain to pray. There he is transfigured. He is changed. His face and clothes become as lightning. Moses and Elijah appear. God's voice is heard from heaven, "This is my beloved son. Listen to him."

What do we learn from the transfiguration? What do we take away from this experience? McKnight argues that it is not what we typically assume. Instead, "What we see in Jesus' transfiguration is not so much his deity, but the glorification of his humanity--what all humans really and potentially are."

Jesus shows us what it means to be truly human. Jesus leads us to be what we were always meant to be.