Thinking Like Jesus

This coming Sunday, March 24, is Palm Sunday and few moments in Jesus’ ministry more vividly portray the magnitude of what it means that “the Word became flesh” as John 1:14 describes incarnation, than does Palm Sunday. Riding in to Jerusalem in what seems to be a parade, Jesus immediately goes to the Temple where He attempts to bring what God intended to be a “house of prayer” back to what God intended rather than what it had become at the leading of some very “religious” people.

He must have known that to disrupt that very lucrative business – whose lucrative nature was hidden in the mask of pseudo-spirituality – would be to draw the proverbial line in the sand. But He is so focused on what His Father in heaven had sent Him to do, that what may seem at first to have been a parade becomes more of a protest.

One of the texts that can help us better understand such courage, such commitment to mission, such willingness to obey His Father is Philippians 2:5-11. Surely our reflection about Palm Sunday, the events that led up to the Lord’s Supper in the upper room, and the cross itself should not should not ignore this great, and very complex text.

Those who claim to follow the risen Lord are commanded “to think like Jesus thought.” Is there a better answer to the question “What is a follower of Jesus?” than to say that such a person is one who thinks like Jesus thought? But what does that mean?

For Paul it meant the reminder that “though He existed in the very form (essence) of God” He was able to let go of that and “empty Himself.” That pronoun “Himself” may be the crucial word – He did it Himself. God did not “do it to Him” nor did God “do it for Him.” It was His own volition that let Him to pour out His equality with God,  “taking on the form (essence) of a slave.”

Paul seems to suggest a kind of “causal relationship” with the next phrase – He became a slave because He was made in human likeness. That is, the most natural (in the sense of being what God intended humans to be) thing for an authentic human to be is to be a servant – a slave. Then Paul reminds us that “He humbles Himself” (there’s that word “himself” again) and became obedient. To think like Jesus thinks means that our obedience must always be preceded by making ourselves humble. That obedience led Him to death, death on a cross. 

To that “way of thinking” God responded by exalting Him – giving Him a name above all other names, a name that will be confessed by creation itself and all that is in it by declaring “Jesus is Lord!” Our promise in Christ is that one day we will share in that glory. (Romans 8:28-30)

The great thing about being encouraged “to think like Jesus thought” is that we aren’t being asked to do anything that God hasn’t already done. Remember in Mark (8:34) when Jesus said “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves (“He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped but emptied Himself”) take up their crosses (“He took on the form of a slave, because He was made in the likeness of a human”) and follow me (He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even on a cross.”).

That must be how He managed to do what He did throughout His ministry – including riding in to Jerusalem, knowing that this would be the week that all hell would break out on earth and have Him in its sights.

As we come early this year to Palm Sunday, may we spend time reflecting on what it means “to think like Jesus thought.”

Thinking before Posting

Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to watch The History Channel’s The Bible last night. If Facebook is any indication, what I really missed was a rendering of Satan that supposedly looks like President Obama. It seems a stretch to me, but apparently not for lots of people.

Having heard several interviews of the people who are producing and directing this series, I can’t imagine that there was any intention on their part to make Satan look like President Obama; nor can I imagine that after viewing the final product it would have dawned on them that the character of Satan would be viewed as an Obama double. 

Those on the political left seem to be moving towards apoplexy – stunned by the insensitive work of the television crew who dared to let a character as vile as Satan look like the President.

Those on the political right seem compelled to post the picture and follow it up in the comment space with something like “Coincidence?” So rather than focusing on whatever part of the biblical narrative the series was portraying, it all of a sudden becomes some kind of nonsensical coincidence that the character looks so much like the President. I’m just waiting to hear that somehow the Holy Spirit caused that to happen.

When I reach the end of my journey here on earth and someone asks me, “Who was the best president in your lifetime?” I seriously doubt that I will say President Obama. I have issues with him, as I would with any president. Questions that that are political, economic, social, theological, and lots of other areas. 

But whatever objections I might have to the current president’s policies, I doubt that they are as strong as the objections people like Peter or Paul might have had with the Roman Emperor and his crews of henchmen. Listen to some of what they say:

Paul to Timothy, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4 (NRSV)

Paul to Titus, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ² to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.” Titus 3:1,2 (NRSV)

Peter to the whole church, “For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. ¹⁶ As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:13-17 (NRSV)

Unless I’ve been wrong all my life in studying Scripture, I think they are speaking words that suggest believers respect rulers who were far worse than any ruler we’ve ever encountered. Oddly, Paul nor Peter puts in a little parenthetical comment to the effect that “coincidentally, don’t you think Nero looks like Satan?”)

I understand the frustration lots of believers have with President Obama. But he is the president. We Christians are doing ourselves no favors when we suggest he looks like Satan and that some character in a dramatization of the biblical story “coincidentally???? looks like the President, even though his role in the story is that of Satan.

Perhaps even more a point of frustration, people by the thousands seem to be looking for excuses to dismiss God and the story of Scripture. All those people need to do is look at some so-called Christian points of view on Facebook and they have all the excuse they need.

Maybe – and I know this is insane – but maybe if I want the President to listen to the Bible’s definition of marriage and its testimony about the sanctity of life, I should start by modeling the fact that I’m not beating him over the head with some of the Bible while ignoring the parts I don’t like.

As Michael Casey suggests in his wonderful little book, Sacred Reading, this “grazing” approach to reading Scripture is not of God.

Road Signs and Jesus

If you either grew up in the south or travelled in the south before the days in interstate highways, you might remember seeing those road signs, nailed high up on southern pine, that simply said , "Repent."  I honestly don't ever remember thinking that I needed to repent, but I have to admit that was pretty good advice

Jesus was all about reminding those who wanted to follow Him that repentance opened doors. His ministry, according to Mark begins with advice.  "The kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel!"  When you think about it, what better thing could any of us when confronted with the presence the presence than repent?

In Luke 13, Jesus talks about repentance in very intriguing ways. Some folks asked Him about a horrible deed for which Pilate seems to have been responsible (apparently crucifying Jesus wasn't his only awful deed).  Apparently they thought that was a sign that the victims were "worse sinners" because of how they died.  Jesus says that's the wrong question - we ought all to repent so we don't perish

He then reminded them of a horrible accident where 18 people died when a tower in Siloam fell and killed them.  Again Jesus says that did not mean those 18 victims were more sinful, but events like that remind us all that we should repent.

He then tells the parable of the barren fig tree. That's the story where the owner has patiently waited three years and still there was no fruit. He is ready to cut it down, but the vinedresser asks him to give it one more season. After that, if there is no fruit then it should be cut down. He wants to fertilize it - in hopes that it will become productive.

Sounds like repentance may be the fertilizer of our fruit production!  The word Luke uses is often translated "manure." Manure in the sense of being filled with the kind of nutrients that produce fruit. If the New Testament word for repentance means something like "to change one's way of thinking," then perhaps a part of what Paul has in mind when he says "be transformed by the renewing of your minds" is repentance. We certainly can't make that kind of change without repentance!

Where I find it hard to know what to do with the idea of repentance is not in addressing the obvious sin in my life. But I would never think that covers the subject. The Book of common Prayer has that convicting phrase - "the things I have done, and the things I have left undone."  That can keep you going for a while!  I'm pretty sure it isn't about making a list and checking off as we repent.  But what?

When all is said and done, maybe it is simply the recognition that the presence of Jesus calls me to know I am not the person God created me to be. I don't need to be worried about who is the worse sinner. I just need to recognize that like every other sinner, I don't deserve the presence of Jesus. It's all about grace - for the "good little boys" and the "bad little boys."

Those old, now rusted over signs that said "REPENT" we're actually good advice!