Skip to main content

The Problem, The Boy Next Door


Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,  but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” (John 7:28-29)
         Do you know the nativity story? Of course you do. How many magi were there?[1] When did they arrive?[2] What did Joseph and Mary do after they left?[3] Do you know the story of Jesus's trial? How many times does it say that Peter betrayed Christ?[4] I'm not asking these questions to fault you on your Bible knowledge. I hope you got them all right. If so, how many people you know do you think would get them right. I'm only asking them because quite often, we think we know something when we don't.
       This seems to me to be the point that Jesus is making in this passage. People thought that the Messiah was supposed to just show up one day, free the Jews from Rome and set up His Throne in Jerusalem. That created a problem for them, because they knew where Jesus was from. He wasn't the mystery they thought He should be, which mystified them. The reality was that they didn't really know Him, where He was from or the One who sent Him. Their assumed familiarity bred contempt.
        There are stories based on the Scriptures like "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2) and "“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:40) about people being visited by angels or Jesus without realizing it. The goal is to teach us to be hospitable to strangers. That's a good lesson. I think this passage invites us to consider another possibility. It's so easy to think, "Oh, that's my kid" or "that's my neighbor." It's easy to dismiss them because we know them. Those closest to us can be, and are more often used by God in our lives than strangers.
       I once read something about the idea that if a visitor spilled milk on the coffee table and new rug, we'd be likely to shrug it off and say, "that's OK," but if our child did the same, we'd freak. Jesus was the "boy next door" and so the Jews decided He couldn't be who He said He is.


[1] Unknown,
[2] Unknown, but long enough after Jesus' birth that He and His parents were living in a house, and before  He was 2 because Herod had children under 2 killed.
[3] Fled to Egypt.
[4] None. It says he denied Him 3 times.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more