Luke 17-18 2,000 years has a way of taming the story

October 31st, Luke 17-18

       In a classic game of, did Jesus really say that, today's passage ranks pretty high…"Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." Not one of the most often quoted portions of red letters in the gospels. Jesus throws in another Samaritan as a hero in another story of lepers. I'm pretty sure none of us understand the level of impact that Jesus is going for in doing that. It's offensive for the people we hate and look down on to always be your heroes Jesus. I bet he knows that. What's up with Sabbath healings, Samaritan heroes and vultures/corpses?
       We find the Pharisee praying…I'm thankful that I am more special than any other person. No one is more worthy than I. Certainly not the unjust or people who extort money or adulterers and certainly not like that there Tax Collector(or Samaritan).
       We find the Tax Collector…standing at a distance, not even feeling worthy to put his head up, begging for the mercy of God on me a sinner.
       One we've looked up to and wanted to be like, one we wrote off as one that should be cast away.
       Jesus likes to stir the pot, I know I certainly do, and maybe you do as well. Maybe reading about Jesus interactions with people is a source of great irritation to you, can't He just say what I feel comfortable with Him saying? Well… no…but there is more intent than simple irritation.
       The difference between Jesus' expressions that make people feel uncomfortable and our expressions sometimes, is that Jesus is always stirring the pot with the truth(that's different than a simple goal of being a horses rear end!!) The level of irritation people have with what Jesus is saying reflects the level of disconnect we have with doing things God's way.
       I encourage you to rethink the sweet, extra credit, stories of a gentle Jesus and invite you into the radical, life-changing, invitation of the Kingdom of God.