"The Mystery of Jesus: What Did He Do?"

Today – “What Jesus Did” and not just what . . . but why He did some of the thing’s He did

In the bible there’s an amazing series of stories . . . revolving around Jesus interaction with a group called the Pharisees who were (the religious leaders of the day . . . ) At this point in His ministry Jesus was performing some amazing miracles, . . . . . . and peoples lives were literally being transformed in front of their eyes (it is awesome), and yet at every turn of the page as you read you’ll see the religious leaders of the day getting more and more skeptical with every miracle that Jesus does and it seems that the more good Jesus does – the more frustrated and angry with Him they get . . . . so much so, that it doesn’t even make sense . . . . . . and as you read between the lines a bit . . . you see that it wasn’t even the miracles that Jesus did that they were focused on – it was when that miracle happened and how it happened and where the power came from to do it and who the miracle was done to. They were solely focused on the rules surrounding Jesus actions not on what He was actually doing for people . . .

See . . . the religious leaders of Jesus day (Pharisees) were all about rules and regulations and they were full of tradition – now . . . their faith certainly had some sort of inside or (heart) element to it – but the outside is what really seemed to matter to them They would wear special robes so that when they were seen in public everyone knew they were the religious leaders. And they would only pray at certain times, . . . and often that was done publicly as well . . . and they would only eat certain foods, only on certain days . . . and they had rituals and traditions and practices for almost every thing they did . . . (from dawn till dusk) . . .

So . . . needless to say they weren’t very open to new things or new ideas, or new thought patterns . . . and they weren’t really open to anything that might create change to their religious traditions and practices . . . . . . and especially, . . . . . . they were not gonna accept this newcomer named Jesus with all his new thinking and teaching and the turmoil He was creating – so one day – (the bible says) they went down to see what all the fuss was about with this new guy Jesus . . . and the fad that He was obviously a part of . . .

Let me read some stories for you . . .

• Mark 2:1-12 (NLT) (read from the bible)

The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. "We've never seen anything like this before!" they exclaimed. Mark 2:12 (NLT)

• Mark 2:13-17 (NLT) (read from the bible)

When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough." Mark 2:17 (NLT)

And there are a dozen other stories where Jesus is doing some amazing

things for God and for people but these religious leaders just won’t have any part of it – and they keep grinding Him about the religious rules He’s breaking . . .

• Mark 2:18 (NLT)

The Pharisees sometimes fasted (regularly/publicly going without food to connect with God). One day some people came to Jesus and asked, "Why do the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"

What’s going on Jesus? Why aren’t you following the rules?

• Mark 2:23 & 24

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of wheat (walk & snack). But the Pharisees said to Jesus, "They shouldn't be doing that! It's against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath." – A rule that made no sense – condemned Jesus for it!

So I’m reading all those stories this week, and I was again . . . really amazed at the intense and immediate opposition by the religious authorities to what Jesus was saying and doing I mean He was doing some awesome things for the people and yet the religious guys couldn’t even see the good stuff – they were just in such a different space than Jesus was – so I’m reading this and I ‘m thinking, . . . how could it be that the church of that day was so disconnected from what God was actually wanting to do . . . How could that be? Surely we would never be like that!! . . . and then I had the answer . . . They were so focused on traditions that their tradition became God to them . . . and as soon as I wrote that line down . . . it made me ponder a bit about how I think about God and how I think about church . . . and how the church as a whole (and how this church) thinks about rules and unnecessary traditions . . . and I wondered what our response would be if Jesus came along and challenged some of the rules we have in our minds about what it means to be a follower of His . . . I wonder if our response would have been different to Jesus . . . than the Pharisees . . .

So work with me a bit today – Here’s what I did, and it kinda messed with me a bit . . . think for a minute about some of the spiritual rules we put in our heads . . . around issues of clothing (you gotta look a certain way to be here) – or money (to be here) or lifestyle or sexual choices or marriage or race . . . Think about it – isn’t it true that some of us have rules in our minds about who should be here in this church . . . (and who shouldn’t) based on these things that we have a mental picture of . . . . . . . of what a Christ follower or a church-goer looks like? . . . Just a thought – we’ll connect on it later . . . (hole that tension in your mind).

So . . . what was Jesus message that was so different, and in the face of religious and cultural opposition what was He saying . . . I think Jesus had three very cool principles He followed that I believe can change the way we think about who God is and what it means to follow Him . . . . . . Here’s the first teaching/and principle Jesus gave . . .

1.It’s Not About Rules –It’s About Relationship . . .

I love the story (I just read) in Mark 2 where Jesus picks out Levi – to

follow Him – Levi – the tax collector – the crooked business guy – with buckets full of money and lots of shady friends . . . I love how the bible says it. Jesus picks Him out and says – leave what your doing and follow me . . . and Levi says – sure . . . . . . and then what happens?

Mark 2:15 (NLT)

That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.)

And of course the religious guys see it and what do they say . . .?

Mark 2:16 (NLT)

But when some of the teachers of religious law (who were Pharisees) saw him eating with people like that, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?"

And then Jesus response

Mark 2:17 (NLT)

When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do and I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough." . . .

Jesus looked at these religious guys and said . . . Fellas, you might be frustrated with who these people are and how they act – but I’m not – I want to help them get better – I want to help them see God and to feel His love . . . and the only way to do that is through a relationship, not through rules . . . . . . and so Jesus broke the religious rules of the day to build relationship with sinners – with people who would never have gone to church because the church had nothing for them . . . Think about it – If the church expected everybody to clean up their lives first and have their lives in perfect shape before they walk in the front door, if that’s what the church is supposed to be . . . – it would be pretty empty in here today . . . . . . Cause none of us could ever jump that high – we’ve all got our stuff/sin and lots of it isn’t pretty . . .

Folks, I gotta speak some truth today about us and who we are and who I am . . . I got thinking about what our church looks like . . . and I asked myself some questions . . . why is it that this church community doesn’t have one native (aboriginal) family that attends here in a city where 25% (plus) of the people are aboriginal?

Or . . . why is it that we don’t have very many hungry folks – or people who are dressed in dirty clothes . . . attending this church? And Dean, why is there a drug problem like crystal-meth out there but not so much in here . . . (in these Doors) . . . And why is it that you were told (Dean) just lately that people living a gay lifestyle would never go to a church like this . . . people . . . What’s up with that? Could it be that we’ve got some rules that we’re a little bit blind to . . . Rules that are keeping us out of relationship with lots of people God loves and could it be that some of our rules are even stopping people from seeing God in us . . . pretty sobering thoughts . . . .

Jesus said . . . it’s not about the rules . . . no, He said . . . “I’m going to that party with Levi . . . and I’m gonna mix with “those” people . . . and I’m gonna befriend them, and I’m gonna take my God light and shine it in the dark and see what happens” . . . and of course, we know what happens – . . . . . . Levi and his friends follow Jesus and they get to know God and their lives do get changed . . . and they go on to make a huge difference in the world and they start a movement in the first century called, “the church” that has lasted 20 centuries and helped change millions of lives on the inside . . . . . . Folks a clear and healthy picture of the church has “those people” among it and inside it . . . The church is supposed to be about taking the light of God out, – into the darkness . . . . . . . to see if it will shine, . . . and you know what? It does every time – it shines . . . because its not about rules – it’s about relationship . . . and its through relationship that God’s love changes hearts . . . And I guess I just don’t want us to forget that . . . Lakeview Church can never become just a safe little Holy Huddle . . . (that’s not who we are) – we’re about everybody and anybody finding the light of Christ (and joining community). It’s not about rules – its about relationship. And Jesus calls us to build those relationships.

Here’s the 2 nd principle and teaching Jesus held . . .

2. It’s Not About Being Religious – It’s About the Heart

In Matthew chapter 15 these Pharisee guys are pressing in on Jesus again, and they continue grinding Him about not keeping the traditional rules to the letter of the law – and I love how He pulls truth over to cover their need for tradition . . .

Matthew 15:1 & 2, 8, 10, 11, 17 – 20 (NLT)

Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to interview Jesus. "Why do your disciples disobey our age-old traditions?" they demanded. "They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat." (This was another big rule they had that somehow they connected to following God) . . . But Jesus said this . . . You hypocrites – you honor me with your lips, but your hearts are far away from me . . .

Jesus immediately tells them that God isn’t nearly as interested in our exterior actions as much as He’s interested in our hearts . . . let me read little further (Matthew 15) . . . . . .

Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, "Listen to what I say and try to understand. You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do."

"Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out of the body. But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!"

Jesus said – you guys are great at doing the outside religious stuff with all your lifestyle and your public actions . . . – but your hearts are cold to God He said . . . . You’re not able to hear God with your heart . . . . because you’re so caught up in doing the “right things” all the time . . . . In essence Jesus was saying, you’re trying so hard with your life to do everything right that God can’t speak into your soul . . . and you’re focusing on the outside . . . when it’s the inside that matters to God . . .

Folks, our view of God gets really distorted when we start making up rules to try and please Him – and when we constantly feel guilty because of what we have or haven’t done for Him . . .

Now – hear what Jesus was saying . . . He said, making a list of how to be a good Christian and making sure you do the list everyday is not the answer . . . but . . . . . . making sure your heart is in a space to hear from God, is what is most vital . . . and by the way (just so you know) - reading the bible and praying (talking and listening to God) and serving in the church are great ways to connect you heart to God’s . . . but don’t’ let those great things become some cheap rule – because God doesn’t love you any more or less based on what you do – He just loves you and He wants to change your heart . . . just place your heart and life in a place to see God . . .

And trust me on this one – as you let Him change your heart on the inside . . .then the right things will start happening on the outside . . . and you won’t even really have to think about it to much . . . because lots of the outside stuff about following Jesus isn’t really even prescribed – by

Him . . . You’ll notice that Jesus never gives you a how to list – you know, . . . do these 9 things and God will love you more . . . instead – Jesus says . . . as soon as God starts changing your heart – then your religion (that which you do for God) will become very clear . . .

It’s the inside that matters . . . not the outside – It’s not about being religious – it’s about he heart.

Here’s the 3 rd principle and teaching Jesus held to . . .

3. It’s Not About Condemnation – It’s About Grace

My favorite clash between the religious leaders and Jesus happens in

John chapter 8 . . .

John 8:1-11

Early the next morning Jesus was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, (I love this part) but all Jesus did was stoop down and write in the dust with his finger . . . (Think about that) They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"

"No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

What I love most about this story is that Jesus didn’t even really need to say anything – He just allowed a few words to sink in over time . . .”All right, stone her but let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” . . .

Folks, I don’t know about you – but I tend to make to many judgements about people to quickly in life . . . when they’re not living the way I think they should live or acting like I think they should act . . . . . . and here’s why I think I do it – (and maybe it’s true for you as well) . . . See . . . as soon as we can find someone who is messing up, or sinning (or whatever) they’re doing that’s worse than us – the spot light is off us and it’s on them in our minds . . . I mean we say . . . I don’t drink as much as that person does . . . – and oh man do they ever spend money on clothes, . . . and wow, their marriage is in huge trouble . . . or I might have an issue with pornography but I’m not sleeping around like they are . . . and we place ourselves in a position to judge and Jesus says – that’s not our job. Our job is to show love and grace and nothing more . . . Can you imagine what that woman felt like being publicly humiliated and publicly judged by the church . . . maybe 20 of the religious elite – dragging her guilty – through the streets . . . . . . and then can you imagine what she felt like when Jesus looked into her eyes and said . . . where did all your accusers go? Is there no one here to condemn you . . . now go and sin no more . . . (clip here)

Folks, here’s the principle . . . love wins over sin every time . . . every time and judging is always wrong –every time . . . I’m gonna give it one more push . . . Let me ask you to check your attitude when it come to judging people . . . .(me too).

How they spend money

How they raise their kids

How they deal with their addictions how’s your attitude of judging?

How involved they are here

How their marriage is going

How they choose to live sexually – how’s our judging attitude about that?

I gotta tell you that when I hear the news every night about gay marriage I am quick to judge . . . but I think Jesus would say – that’s not your role Dean . . . or yours (church). . . Instead – why not find a way to show love and grace to everybody and anyone we can – why don’t we figure out how to be Jesus instead of judging – and let love win over sin – every time.

It’s not about judging/condemnation – its about grace . . . .

It’s not about religion – it’s about the heart

It’s not about rules – it’s about relationship and

Its not about us –gathering together in here – it’s about us shining the light of Christ to a city that is looking for truth – It’s about us taking our light out of here to light the darkness.