Luke 20:19-47
Today's Passage: Luke 20:19-47
One of my seminary professors, Charles Baylis, went to be with the Lord back in March. I took his class on the Gospels and as I read today’s passage, I can’t help but think about Dr. Baylis. He shared a story (that I heard more than once) of when he was a young man in Sunday school. I struggle to remember the exact details of the story, but the teacher asked him a question about their lesson and I’ll never forget his response, “That Jesus is really something.”
As we walked through the Gospels that semester, he repeated this phrase repeatedly. As I read the passage today, his words ring in my ears.
The religious leaders have about had it with Jesus. Yesterday’s passage was a clear message about them. They sent in spies attempting to trip Jesus up. Thinking themselves clever, they asked about paying taxes—the ploy flopped. The Sadducees too asked a very smart sounding question, which only proved their own ignorance. Finally, Jesus asked a stumper. He took a Messianic psalm and asked a rhetorical question to prove their own ignorance. The Psalm is about Jesus, and the religious elite were too blind to see it.
Jesus warned the people, “Beware.” The religious elite weren’t servants of the Lord, they loved the power and prestige—robes, respect, and places of honor. They took what wasn’t theirs and greedily abused the unfortunate. They flamboyantly showed their religiosity but their hearts were far from God.
That Jesus is really something. The big thing that stands out to me is that people will never outsmart Christ. Believers do this when they justify sin. Non-believers do this when they rationalize secularism. In both cases, smart people say smart-sounding things. However, when you drill down, it’s actually quite dumb.
Rejecting the Lord or his commands will never be smart or wise. Believers do not need to feel threatened when they engage the world’s intelligence. We may not always have answers to questions regarding science or other world religions—but we can learn. The answers exist. As you engage with your lost friends and family, don’t worry about them asking questions for which you don’t have an answer. I know this holds a lot of people back. Just say, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.” Guess what, next time someone asks that question, you’ll have an answer.
I dare say, there is no question that believers haven’t wrestled with throughout the centuries. Jesus couldn’t be stumped in his day, and he’s still providing answers. At the end of the day, our job is to introduce people to Christ, making disciples, and training them to obey him. If we live like Jesus is really something, then we have the truth that can answer any question the world can ask.
Written By: Tyler Short
One of my seminary professors, Charles Baylis, went to be with the Lord back in March. I took his class on the Gospels and as I read today’s passage, I can’t help but think about Dr. Baylis. He shared a story (that I heard more than once) of when he was a young man in Sunday school. I struggle to remember the exact details of the story, but the teacher asked him a question about their lesson and I’ll never forget his response, “That Jesus is really something.”
As we walked through the Gospels that semester, he repeated this phrase repeatedly. As I read the passage today, his words ring in my ears.
The religious leaders have about had it with Jesus. Yesterday’s passage was a clear message about them. They sent in spies attempting to trip Jesus up. Thinking themselves clever, they asked about paying taxes—the ploy flopped. The Sadducees too asked a very smart sounding question, which only proved their own ignorance. Finally, Jesus asked a stumper. He took a Messianic psalm and asked a rhetorical question to prove their own ignorance. The Psalm is about Jesus, and the religious elite were too blind to see it.
Jesus warned the people, “Beware.” The religious elite weren’t servants of the Lord, they loved the power and prestige—robes, respect, and places of honor. They took what wasn’t theirs and greedily abused the unfortunate. They flamboyantly showed their religiosity but their hearts were far from God.
That Jesus is really something. The big thing that stands out to me is that people will never outsmart Christ. Believers do this when they justify sin. Non-believers do this when they rationalize secularism. In both cases, smart people say smart-sounding things. However, when you drill down, it’s actually quite dumb.
Rejecting the Lord or his commands will never be smart or wise. Believers do not need to feel threatened when they engage the world’s intelligence. We may not always have answers to questions regarding science or other world religions—but we can learn. The answers exist. As you engage with your lost friends and family, don’t worry about them asking questions for which you don’t have an answer. I know this holds a lot of people back. Just say, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.” Guess what, next time someone asks that question, you’ll have an answer.
I dare say, there is no question that believers haven’t wrestled with throughout the centuries. Jesus couldn’t be stumped in his day, and he’s still providing answers. At the end of the day, our job is to introduce people to Christ, making disciples, and training them to obey him. If we live like Jesus is really something, then we have the truth that can answer any question the world can ask.
Written By: Tyler Short
2 Comments
That Jesus IS really something. He has the answer to everything! I'm always amazed at His awesome wisdom.
Thanks for your excellent post today, Tyler!
I like that quote, "That Jesus is really something!" Cool!