What Audacity!

Posted on by pamecrement

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Have you ever considered how audacious Jesus was?

 

He broke every aspect of the religious culture of His day. He hung out with all the wrong people. He even seemed to enjoy doing so, not because He was showing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of the day. He actually loved them. He never saw them as less than.

 

I love how Leslie Leyland Fields describes this:

 

“Jesus seems to collect them, the ones every other leader ignores, the kind of followers no one else wants: the sick and weeping, lame and palsied.”

 

And it was really a shock when He started choosing His disciples. They were just common fisherman by and large. There was even a tax collector and some were known to have quite a temper. They never studied the Torah. What made them so special?

 

I heard He even hung out with that weird guy who was baptizing by the river whose name was John and He let John baptize Him. If God sent Him, why would He consider that? No one was sure of whether John was really legit or not.

 

There was a big stir when He went to the wedding with His mother. I guess the host’s wine ran out and He asked for the water pots to be brought and then somehow turned that water into wine. The wine was supposed to be the best wine served that whole night. Talk about a bold move!

 

Then there were women.

 

He actually hung out with women. How scandalous that was. Some of the women were IMG_3047known to be loose and free with favors. There was even a harlot. And then that madman who went around half naked much of the time. They say He cast out demons and sent them into a herd of pigs that ran over a cliff.

 

Unbelievable!

 

None of it made sense. If He were the Messiah, He would never have been born to Mary and Joseph, the carpenter. Besides He didn’t look or act like a king and He didn’t crush the Romans who were making life so difficult or deal with the priests who were robbing people blind sometimes.

 

I think we miss seeing this Jesus many of us profess with all His glory displayed for us to see. He loved no matter who you were, where you were born, how you had messed up, what disease you had, who your parents were. How audacious!

 

It can be easy to forget that the word “nice” doesn’t seem to show up as a character trait or a fruit of the spirit. It can be easy for us to be misled, as we desire to be like Him. We try to be “nice” and end up being inauthentic instead of loving boldly and audaciously as He did. He didn’t limit His circle to the approved group…quite the opposite. He held nothing back, not just on the cross but every time He interacted with anyone.

 

I wonder if we have ever considered how dangerous life could be if we really became more like Him. People wouldn’t “get” us. The crowd we usually hang with would be confused and maybe a little irritated if we brought “one of those people” to our meeting.

 

The truth is that He came to shake things up because no one was really getting in touch with the truth about His Father, our Father. He was clear on His mission and purpose, but He wasn’t out to start a revolution.

 

He was the revolution.

 

Whether you accepted Him or not, whether you do today, the world has never been the same because He came and with a holy audacity that turned the world on its ear.

 

“The audacity of Jesus! To love people like me, like them, and to move us toward faith in him! To sweep so many undeserving into heaven!” Leslie Leyland Fields

 

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19 thoughts on “What Audacity!”

  1. Pam,

    I love that you wrestle with the big things, with the necessary and real things. And I love that Jesus was audacious. His bold righteousness was totally revolutionary and relevant to every age. We have so much to learn from Him because he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing this at the #GraceMoments Link Up, I am so grateful you are a part of it!
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Dawn! Those comments encourage me. I sometimes feel I am on such a different page from so many other blogs, but each time I write I try to seek to hear the Lord’s voice and His direction…trusting His direction is meant for at least one person who reads what I write. Blessings on your day and the link-up you offer us!💕

      Reply
  2. Pingback: Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop 11.23.17 - Apron Strings & other things

  3. Great post! If we could all be like Jesus, to not judge others and love everyone! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

  5. Pam, YES, YES, YES! LOVED every word of this!

    “He WAS the revolution!” Bam.

    So, so good! Thank you for writing this. This is my heart. This is MY Jesus. <3

    Bless you!
    (visiting from Tune in Thursdays)

    Reply

  6. Pam, I love this so much! This is the Jesus of the Bible! This is the Jesus I serve and want to be like. Thanks for such a great post!
    Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at both #HeartEncouragement and #TuneInThursday.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Gayl! Blessings on you as well. As we approach this Thanksgiving week ahead, I pray He will bless you with rich conversation and fellowship, first with Him and then with those you love.💕

      Reply

  8. Praise Jesus for his audacity to love even me, a common teacher turned retiree-writer who’s messed up plenty along the way. Praise him for moving me toward faith, leading me along its path, and guiding me back when I’ve strayed. And praise him for the day when he’ll sweep me into heaven, undeserving that I am! Thank you, Pam, for a praise-prompting, thought-provoking post. (So glad to have “met” you over at incourage.com!) P.S. Thank you also for becoming a follower of my blog, From the Inside Out. I pray you’ll find the posts meaningful!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Nancy! I identify very much with the sentiments you express here. I was delighted to meet you at the linkup as well and look forward to getting to know you better through following your writing. Have a blessed day!💕

      Reply

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