Jesus on Current Issues of His Day Which Still Apply Today

Jesus on Current Issues of His Day Which Still Apply Today          Kelly Durant

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

2. Racism: The Good Samaritan Luke 10: 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

What do we conclude from this example? Jesus made it clear that the one who does God’s will to help and heal, no matter the religion, position, or race is the one whom God favors because he chooses to show mercy. This is God’s all-inclusive love!  Then said Jesus unto him, “Go, and do thou likewise”. Do what? Love those whom you may hate!  God’s love is not limited by the differences or actual hate people have between their selves over race or religion. Samaritans were half Jew brothers to the Jews and they hated each other over the rude treatment which came from both sides. Religiously they did not see eye to eye either, but love is blind to color, race, ideals, culture, and past cruel history.

Infanticide and Pro-Life: Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus always exalted children, the innocent ones, the playful, joyous ones as the example of how we must be in our behavior concerning the way God wants us to live.

The implied here in Jesus statement is that children are wanted! In the Old Testament there were cultures that would practice infanticide and throw their babies into a fiery statue for sacrifice to the gods such as Molech. Here is a verse that proves how an Israelite stood up to this horrific practice. 2 Kings 23:10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

Here is another thing Jesus spoke about not offending an innocent child. Matthew 18:6 ‘But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.’ Life’s heartbeat begins after a few days of conception and we must respect the creator of life and allow our society to be full of children which will mellow us as adults into being more loving, innocent, and happy creatures as they are.

Bearing Arms: Luke 22: 38 And they said, ‘Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.’ Jesus and his disciples at times carried weapons.

Considering that Jesus escaped getting stoned by the Jews several times before he was crucified, we can conclude that His approach was more ‘flight’, than ‘fight’. Obviously none of his disciples ever used their swords to attack anyone,(expect when Peter cut off an ear and Jesus put it back on) but Luke 22: 38 confirms they owned swords. In other words Jesus propagated the idea that defense is good but offense is not. His offense was always with words, penetrating words of truth. Jesus words are “sharper than any 2 edged sword” and yet they are comforting within the discomfort of the truth. They are enlightening, saving, convicting, and His words also expose the hypocrisy and false teachings of those who pretended to be of God but were not.

And finally, Luke 11:21 ‘When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:’ This verse implies being ready to defend from an attack but Jesus was not militantly aggressive. There have been some militant Christians throughout history but this is the wrong approach as Jesus made it clear in Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, ‘Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword’.

Socialism: Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet you lack one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

This command of Jesus seems to make a very strong case that the rich must share with the poor. Why? To alleviate suffering to as many poor as possible! The world is overwhelmed by the poor starving to death; it was that way in Jesus time and it continues on today as well. The solution is people dozens of thousands times richer that the poor have the social responsibility to provide for the dozens of thousands. We were born naked with nothing and we die naked taking nothing.

The first church, or group of believers, actually did obey Jesus command to sell all and share with all! Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. So socialism was God’s idea, but it works only when His love is motivating it! We have 100 years of history to see that man’s severe oppressive laws of socialism will never make it work. There must be a heart change for all greed and malice to be erased so there is a willingness to love your neighbor as yourself, materially and spiritually. 

Governmental Relations and Civil Disobedience: Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox (Herod), ‘Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Jesus identified the politician’s character, as that of a fox. Ever since the beginning the jealous religious leaders of Satan have always been trying to stop Jesus by scaring the government into eliminating what Jesus or His followers were doing and saying by making the authorities believe they were a threat to their empirical control. The ‘government was on Jesus shoulder’ as described in Isaiah 9:6 but Jesus remained free because he actually was proven to have not broken any of their Roman laws nor did He defy and attack the authorities as the zealots and others did.

Jesus clearly answered Pilate on his stance when He said in John 18:36

Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.’ Our battle is in the spirit against the sources of evil, which is not always from the people in power in this world’s governments. Ephesians 6:12 ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’. Referring to voting, we should be civic participants and ‘render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s but unto God that which is God’s’.

 

Attitude Towards World Religions: Jesus, being the Son of God manifested in the flesh, established a new world religion by His presence, a new religion of worshipping God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus because of His life, death, and resurrection became the intermediator to get to God. John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Also, Jesus only has the power to give to us mortals immortality! John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

In Jesus time, in His area, Judaism and Paganism ruled with oppression and people wasted their time and money worshipping and praying or sacrificing in vain often to idols made of metal and wood that were deaf and dumb which offered no salvation, healing, or love. Jesus also exposed that no place on earth is special or holy (places exploited by man) as some religions claimed and that the worshippers of God must do it ‘in spirit and in truth’ (John 4). Jesus’ grace and forgiveness clashed with the strict Jews, followers of the law, as they were cruel in their punishments and criticism and had no love for God in their hearts nor any love for others. 

Jesus presence annulled all world religions! Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. All world religions are comprised of teachings taught by men that have died, and some wisdom is to be gained from them, but the ultimate truth and life is in Jesus.  John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. May Jesus fill you with His way, truth, and life to the point that God’s Holy Spirit wisdom causes you to see that all other beliefs must fade into darkness under His glorious light!