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Gospel

Jesus Demands Our Demise

Unchristian teachers would have us believe Jesus wants us healthy and wealthy or spiritual in a quest for excellence and comfort.

But does Jesus teach such nonsense?

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” ~Luke 10:25-37

Modern unchristian teachers would have us think life is about us.

  • God wants us to get that perfect parking spot
  • God wants us healthy
  • God wants us to have the nicest home on the block
  • God wants us to have great teeth

Jesus points to us to three people. The Priest and Levite were in it for themselves. They were me-centered. Because no one lived up to their standards, quite like they did, they were spiritual and worthy of admiration from others.

But the Samaritan was moved with compassion when he saw the man beaten on the side of the road. Jesus is telling us in this parable what it means to love God and love others as ourselves; preferring others above ourselves and our ambitions and goals.

Jesus shares whose excellence we must pursue, the excellence of God and others. In true religion fashion, Jesus demands our demise and the building up and pursuit of justice for others.

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