An Unclean Christ

So we left off in the middle of chapter 9. Here we find John's disciples coming up to Jesus and asking why Jesus and his disciples don't fast. Jesus says 2 things here, the first is "the reason why your fasting is hear, what you've been waiting for is happening." I love the movie Almost Famous, theres a line in there that goes "Its all happening". Basically Jesus is like "its all happening". The second thing he says is, "and get ready for a change". Its all happening, get ready for the change. I see this whole scenario like a baby shower. Why would you have a baby shower after the babys born? The baby is already here, the point of the shower is to prepare and celebrate the baby. In the same hand, your life instantly changes when a baby is born.

While he was talking a man came to him and asks him to raise his recently deceast daughter from the dead. Jesus is on his way to heal this girl and on the way a woman with a discharge of blood for 12 years came up to him and touched the hem of his garment thinking " If I only touch him I will be healed." When she did this Jesus turned around and said, your faith has served you well, be healed. He goes into the mans house, touches the girls hand and she lives. Jesus then walks out and heals two blind men by touching their eyes and saying according to your faith be healed.

What is the one thing that a bleeding woman, a dead girl, and 2 blind men have in common? These are all people who were ceremonially unclean.(at least the dead girl and the bloody woman, I'm not sure about the blind men) It is likely that no one has touched this woman for the 12 years shes been bleeding. If anyone did touch her, they would become unclean for 7 days and go through the ritual to become clean again. Its also likely that no one has touched this girl since she died for fear of becoming unclean. Jesus touches these people, he becomes unclean, to heal them. To raise a girl from the dead, he will become unclean. To give the blind sight, to heal a bleeding woman, he becomes unclean. Jesus becomes unclean to get close to us, to heal us, to love us.

Try and apply this to today. I see Jesus hanging out with a homeless man. Everyone around is like, "You don't know where he has been. That man has lice, and we might think he has aids" Jesus would say "So what, I will take his lice and his aids for him to be healed. If thats what it takes for him to know I love him." Think about it more personally. Jesus takes my hurts and my inadequecies, and i know that he loves me. For me, Jesus takes my pathological lying, and I know he loves me.

So after that Jesus casts out a demon that makes a man mute and he goes on to say, "look guys, theres lots of work to be done and we need people to stand up and help out."
Chapter 10
Jesus calls the 12 apostles to step up. Soon after that he basically tell them not everyone is going to want to hear what you have to say. It is likely that people will hate you and probably try and kill you, but dont lose heart. I love what he says in verse 14 "And if anyone will not recieve you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave..." Here comes it again, Jesus isnt out there to cram the gospel down peoples throats. He puts it out there and if your interested in the truth, take it.

He then goes on in more depth about being persecuted (its going to rain) and not to lose heart. He says trust God to take care of you, dont fear man, but fear he who can kill your soul and your body.

I love what comes next. Jesus flat out says[34] "Do not think I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" Heres the big change that Jesus was starting to talk about. Jesus will give all authority on earth to men. This will be a battle, everyday, for the rest of your life. Im getting a bit ahead of myself here, but in matthew 16:18 Jesus says "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" We aren't being attacked by hell, We are attacking hell. This is not going to be a peaceful process.

This is also not an easy process. I need to be reminded daily, sometimes hourly, that I'm in the middle of a war. Christ didn't come to bring peace, he came to turn the tide on a losing battle. We have made and continue to make great strides in the gain for ground. We need to be in communion with our brothers and with our savior at all times. This is not an issue to take lightly. This is a war and we need to be well equipped, well trained, and well organized. This is why we cant break off and do our own type of christianity. This is why its not ok just to believe that if your a good person you'll go to heaven. I have seen the enemies camp, its not enticing. I am fighting for the christ who has healed and saved beggers, blind men, and paralytics. I am fighting for the unclean chist.