Are you offended?

 

"And God bless you if you're not upset by what I'm doing."

What goes through your mind when people get something for nothing, or don't get what you think they deserve? How do you feel when someone doesn't meet your expectations, or does the exact opposite of what you think they should do?

It was interesting to see the reactions this past year to those receiving unemployment. Some thought it was great that the government gave extra benefits (mostly those receiving them). Others, though, thought it totally unacceptable and frivolous (mostly those not receiving them).

Well, this isn't about politics, or money. Necessarily. It's about all that and more!

I love how N.T. Wright translates Matthew 11:1-6 (below), and especially v. 6 (above)! As Wright claims in his 'Matthew for Everyone' commentary, throughout this chapter Jesus is dealing with the fact that what he's doing is not what people were expecting him to do. And in this section, his own cousin and colleague was having doubts. Had Jesus forgotten what he was supposed to do? What he was supposed to be about?

John has found himself in prison for speaking the hard truth to King Herod. And you can detect a little disappointment in his voice at how Jesus is behaving. Eating with sinners, befriending tax collectors... Had Jesus lost his marbles, or was he maybe not... 'the one'? Instead of confronting the evils around him, he was showing mercy and kindness to people who "didn't deserve it."

Wright says, "Just as wicked people don't like the message of judgement, because they think (rightly) that it's aimed at them, so sometimes good people don't like the message of mercy, because they think (wrongly) that people are going to get away with wickedness."

But mercy was at the heart of Jesus' mission, and it should be at the heart of the church's mission today. 

Is it? Do you think "the church" is known for it's mercy... or maybe for something else?

And, hey, let's get personal... Is it at the heart of what YOU are about???

Wright concludes, "Those who recognize it, and are not offended because they were expecting something else, will know God's blessing."

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This has always been a tough thing for me. I mean, honestly, I want good things to happen -- to me. I have to admit that I'm not always that in favor of good things happening to other people - especially those who I don't think deserve to have good things happen to them. What if Jesus likes Donald Trump? Will I be able to deal with that?!

The fact we are all loved by God sounds good... until I start to think about it too much. Loving my enemies... How could God love them???

Well, I think he might. He must!

Maybe the better question is... why does that upset me so?

Sometimes I wonder if I would recognize Jesus if he were in my midst. It seems the prophet John had a little trouble doing so. 

Help us, Lord, to see you at work in our lives, and in the lives of those around us. May we rejoice as others are blessed, and not be offended. Amen.

***

Matthew 11:1-6

"So when Jesus had finished giving instructions to the twelve disciples, he went away from there to teach and preach in their towns.

Meanwhile, John, who was in prison, heard about these messianic goings-on. He sent word through his own followers. 'Are you the one who is coming?' he asked, 'Or should we be looking for someone else?'

'Go and tell John' replied Jesus, 'what you've seen and heard. Blind people are seeing! Lame people are walking! Lepers are being cleansed! Deaf people can hear again! The dead are being raised to life! And - the poor are hearing the good news! And God bless you if you're not upset by what I'm doing.'"