Quote from Forum Archives on March 21, 2004, 5:21 pm

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

EXPERIENCE THE PASSION #4/4
OUTRAGEOUS LIVING
March 21, 2004

Text: Isaiah 53

A field trip I accompanied one of my children’s classes on went to one of
those giant-sized screens. The program we saw was of aquatic life off one
of our shores. I was fascinated by the beauty of this part of our
underwater world. I remember sitting there thinking how wonderful it is
to live in a time with the technology we have. I will never be a scuba
diver who can swim around those areas and see the wonders that live under
the surface of the water. Yet, there I was, hundreds of miles away from
any beach, able to view and witness with amazing reality a place I would
never get to experience otherwise. I still think it’s pretty neat!

At the same time, I am very much aware of the drawbacks that this
technology also brings. In one respect, it has reduced our practice of
hospitality and sociability. After all, we can go buy or rent videos or
DVDs and hang out in the comfort of our own home and be entertained. On
top of that, technology brings us some amazing home entertainment
equipment that puts some movie theaters to shame. Why bother leaving the
comfort of our homes to engage in activities that might be risky and
embarrassing?

As a person with what is called an introverted personality, I can easily
relate to wanting to stay out of the public eye. Yet, in spite of
personalities and technologies, building a life that focuses almost
exclusively on the individual results in a most unsatisfactory life.

In truth, God has made us to be a people who are most satisfied when we
are doing His will. Doing our will brings mixed results. Sometimes we do
some pretty good things on our own, but many times demanding our will
brings hurt and misery to others and to ourselves. How many people have
we heard about who face a despondent, unsatisfied life in spite of their
successes through which they obtain everything they want? Conversely, we
also know of people who use what they have gained - sometimes even
sacrifice what they have gained - for the Lord and have received
complete, fulfilled lives.

In the world, though, it is not unusual that demonstrating the Christian
faith results in humiliation of some type. It’s impossible to go through
life without being the victim of humiliation at some point or another. As
Christians, we find ourselves experiencing humiliation that accompanies
our commitment to Christ. We want to do the right thing. We want to be
obedient to God. We want to stand on the side of Biblical truth, not
permitting the culture to determine the outcome of life’s choices. And
where does it get us? At times we find ourselves being misquoted and
misunderstood. We’re looked upon as being the unenlightened and the
uneducated. Instead of being publicly affirmed and accepted, we’re
sometimes accused of being close-minded and overly rigid. You know how
that has gone in our culture. Look at the ridicule that Mel Gibson
suffered well ahead of the release of The Passion of the Christ, and he’s
a well-known name in the industry that heaped a lot of the ridicule on
him! As Mr. Gibson reported to one interviewer, “…anytime you make a
movie about Christ, it’s going to create controversy. From day one, these
people have been shooting arrows at me.” (Julie Reed, “One Man’s Passion:
An Interview with Mel Gibson,” Worship Leader, January/February 2004, p.
17)

Regardless of the resistance we experience by being faithful to the love
of God, we are always encouraged by the example of our Master, Jesus the
Christ. Recall the magnitude of the humiliation that Jesus endured during
the week of his Passion because of his obedience. The humiliation he
suffered was incredible. Let’s consider four types of humiliation that
Jesus suffered.

One, there was the humiliation that accompanied the public rejection. The
opening words in Isaiah chapter 53 remind us that not everyone accepts
the truth. “Who has believed our message?” Jesus came into the world and
told the truth. His story was not a tale that was conjured up in his own
imagination. He had not taken some sort of course in creative writing and
written a tale called, “I am the Messiah!” He was God in human flesh. He
was God’s answer to humanity’s struggles and sin. Yet the very people for
whom he had come chose to turn a deaf ear. They sought to disgrace him
publicly many times by trapping him with ethical dilemmas. When those
failed, they discredited him by having paid “witnesses” testify against
him and by gathering a mob to demand his life. Public disgrace.

Two, there was the humiliation that accompanied the public resistance. It
is one thing not to believe what Jesus had to say. It is another thing to
say, “We’re not even open to listening.” The crowds that Jesus came to
embrace had a preconceived notion in their mind regarding the coming of
the Messiah, and anyone who didn’t fit their preconceived model was going
to be resisted outright.

What kind of a Messiah did the people want? We have been told many times
that they desperately were searching for a political Messiah. They wanted
someone who would overthrow the powers of Rome. Yet when Jesus announced
that his Kingdom was not of this world, the people pulled back, unwilling
to give him a second thought.

Three, there was the humiliation that accompanied the public ridicule.
There were the crowds who called out, “We want Barabbas.” There were the
soldiers who ripped off his clothes and tossed dice for his garments.
There was the criminal on the cross who was more interested in getting
Jesus to prove his power than in seeing the truth. There were the crowds
who mocked, “He saved others. Why can’t he save himself?” Up until Jesus
took his last breath, the people who looked on were continually
ridiculing him.

Finally, there was humiliation that accompanied the private wrestling.
Throughout The Passion of the Christ, the viewers are introduced to an
imagery that, while not being taught directly in the Scriptures, is
probably quite accurate. The film depicts the presence of the evil one
lingering in the background, tempting, taunting, and teasing Jesus at
every turn. In the garden, one can almost hear the evil one mocking Jesus
by whispering, “Go ahead Jesus and quit. You don’t need this. Walk away.
Stand up for yourself. All of the pain you’re enduring isn’t really worth
it.” The tactics used by an enemy in a prison of war camp include the
humiliation of the prisoners by trying to convince them that their
sacrifices are not worth it. It takes a great effort to resist such
devious devices of mental torment.

On the outside, those events may not appear humiliating, yet can you
imagine what it must have been like for the Christ? He was God in human
flesh. He was the Creator of the world. He had the capacity to snuff out
the existence of the evil one in the blink of an eye. Yet, Jesus endured
it. Every time the evil one appeared, Jesus allowed himself to be tested.
He willfully laid aside all of his privileges as God and allowed himself
to be taunted by the very one who wanted to become like God.

What incredible humiliation Jesus endured! Public resistance! Public
rejection! Public ridicule! Personal wrestling! And why? Because Jesus
had determined that he would be true to his calling and he would honor
the Father. Jesus had made the personal decision that he would not
disobey the will of the Father. Yet with that commitment and courage,
there came unparalleled humiliation and embarrassment.

But this is the way to outrageous living. Obedience to God is the only
way. Anytime we back down from this, we enter a life that we find
unfulfilling. But on the other hand, when we do not back down from this,
we enter a life that is fulfilling beyond our limited imaginations.
Anytime we make a decision to be a disciple of integrity who lives out an
authentic and consistent faith, we may find ourselves thrust into
experiences where the potential for humiliation is real. Anytime that we
determine to stand on our convictions, there are always going to be those
individuals who don’t understand our choices, who can’t relate to our
values, who would rather pick the popular path than the path of
obedience.

Withdrawing into safe little havens, like home theaters, is not the
response God has given us. We always have some purpose in God’s
established kingdom. Even the introverted personalities among us can
choose to do things behind the scenes, so to speak, that bless and
benefit others. How do we endure humiliation we may encounter, whether in
public or private? Remember that God has gone before us. God relates to
our suffering. Turn to Hebrews 4:15. “For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has
been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.”

As we read the words of Isaiah 53 and envision the pain that Jesus
endured, is there really any experience of human humiliation to which God
cannot relate? God has fully embraced the rejection, retaliation, and
resistance that we sometimes endure when we stand on the side of the
Christ.

To those who persevere and endure, there is outrageous life. There is
outrageous life now and certainly outrageous life to come. In spite of
the bleak prophecies that Isaiah had to make, there is always great joy
with victory. Consider Isaiah 53:11-12. “After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my
righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide
the spoils with the strong…” Consider also the words of Isaiah 52:13–15.
“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and
highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his
appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred
beyond human likeness - so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will
shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will
see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.”

This is our source for outrageous living. To know to the greatest extent
we can how much Jesus sacrificed on our behalf is to be left with a
wonder beyond words. I may wonder at the technological marvels I have at
my fingertips, but even they pale in the light of Jesus’ complete victory
over sin and death. From Jesus’ victory comes “strength for today and
bright hope for tomorrow.” Through worship, prayer, and obedience, we
discover our own source - the only source - for outrageous living.
(adapted from Dr. Chuck Moore, “Experience Everlasting Life,” Experience
the Passion, Mainstay Ministries, CD-ROM, 2004)

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN

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