Unorthodoxy of Believers to Bring God’s Kingdom to Earth
Since the beginning of the era called annō Dominī – the year of our Lord, men have worked against the grain of the religious and political establishments to bring God’s Kingdom to Earth. Nations and cultures have been challenged by the unorthodoxy of Jesus and His followers.
Jesus Taught God’s Kingdom, Not the Usual Judaism
The rabbi from the podunk town of Nazareth went throughout Judea and the Ten Cities across the Jordan River, declaring the Kingdom of God on Earth. In what people call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said things like,
- “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)
- He said, “I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
- In a country full of oppressive Romans – pagans who despised their worship of only one god, He said, “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed lepers, and drove out demons. Contrary to established Jewish customs and religious traditions, He healed people on the Day of Rest.
Religious leaders confronted Him about this. Jesus declared “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:17-18)
One Greater than Jonah and the Temple
Religious leaders came to Jesus asking for a sign from Him. He said the only sign they would receive would be the sign of Jonah. Then He said, “…now something greater than Jonah is here.” (Matthew 12:38-41)
When His students “broke the Sabbath” by thrashing grain with their hands and eating it, Jesus told the religious leaders who accused them that something greater than the Temple was present. Then He said, “…the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:1-8)
Jesus Declared Himself Divine
The Jews of that era understood from Daniel 7:13-14 that the term “the Son of Man” applied to a divine figure, God’s expected Anointed One. They didn’t like it that Jesus kept referring to Himself as the Son of Man. They knew He was claiming divinity.
The friends of a paralyzed man brought him to the rabbi who was healing people. Jesus took one look at the man and declared, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” The religious leaders immediately thought, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus responded by saying, “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” And He told the paralyzed man to pick up his mat and walk home. (Mark 2:3-12) This further demonstrated the unorthodoxy of Jesus.
When the time came for Jesus to stand trial before the Jewish ruling council, the High Priest commanded Him to say if He was the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One. Jesus said He was and the High Priest declared this statement blasphemy. The Sanhedrin sentenced Him to death. (Mark 14:60-64)
Final Unorthodoxy of Jesus
The Hebrew writings declared “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” The Savior was so unorthodox as to turn that curse into God’s favor…for those who believe. (Galatians 3:13)
- “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- “…he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
- Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Questions
What unorthodox beliefs has God shown you through His writings? Can you put aside traditional thoughts to accept them?
Are you strong enough to oppose traditional ideas you know are false according to God’s Word?