Presented June 27, 2010
Have you ever noticed the ridiculous things that people say?
If you are into computers, and someone says, “e-machines are as good as any other computer,” you know that is a ridiculous thing to say. e-machines are among the lowest quality of computers. If you are a mechanic and someone says, “One tire is as good as the next,” you know that’s a ridiculous thing to say. Tires vary widely regarding handling, durability and traction. If you are into healthy eating and have studied nutrition and you hear someone say, “Potato chips are good for you because potatoes are vegetables,” you know that’s a ridiculous thing to say. Even if you consider a potato a vegetable, most of the “good-for-you part” that was in that potato is long gone before it even gets into the bag. If you’re a computer guy or a mechanic or a nutritionist, these statements can make you a little crazy.
It’s the same with pastors. Pastors aren’t bothered when people say ridiculous things about computers, cars, and food. But if you ever want to make a pastor crazy, try this one. I believe in God and Jesus and stuff. That kind of statement can make me crazy. It shows me that that person has a very poor picture of Jesus. If you have been in church a while, it should make you crazy too.
The Bible teaches very specific things about Jesus. So the vagueness of the phrase, “I believe that stuff,” is just plain foolish. And the Bible teaches very demanding things about Jesus. So the casualness of the phrase, “Yeah – I believe….” betrays something about the depth of your understanding about who Jesus is and what his nature demands of us.
In our passage today, Jesus is dealing with people who just don’t know who he is or what that means to them. So after Jesus responds to a gauntlet of questions from them, he asks one of his own. I don’t think Jesus is trying to make them look foolish. I think his purpose is to help them see who he is and respond to him properly. He wants them to have an accurate picture of his identity.
This podcast unfolds Jesus’ words and applies them to us today.