I've been thinking a lot lately about something. I've been wondering what it would be like if Jesus were around today. How would I react to Him? Would I accept Him? This is a scenario that I used to imagine when I was younger. I would read about how dense the Disciples were and I would swear that if Jesus were around today I would get it. I would imagine how much I would enjoy hearing His teachings first-hand, and to be there to be personally mentored by Him.
I think that if he were around today, many people would find Him very irritating. I want to say even in the Church, but I would have to say especially in the Church. If I'm honest I would have to admit that I may feel the same way at times. Jesus was very forward. He didn't tiptoe around difficult topics, but addressed them head on. He told people what they needed to hear instead of what they wanted to hear.
If you look also, he spoke out the most against the religious people. If He were to address the Church today, what would he say? He told those who thought they had it figured out that they were absolutely clueless. He told them that what they thought mattered was pointless, and that they weren't as committed to God as they were their own pride. How would I accept this rebuke? I use it to examine myself, but what if there were a person telling me these things? Would I get defensive? Would I try to justify my actions and thoughts?
Jesus also promoted doing the hard things. He told people to give up everything in order to follow Him. He said to forget about the worries of the world, leave any hindrance including family, and suffer for Him. Would I be willing to give every thing up on earth if He were standing in front of me looking me in the eye, or would I turn away disappointed like the rich young ruler?
So many more questions come to mind such as how we would react to what he would say about our worship? What would he say about our relationships? The strange thing is, even though he isn't here right now, telling us these things, he left us enough when he left the earth to figure these things out. Also he gave us a Spirit that does the same thing. I do feel the rebuke that I should do something differently even if Jesus isn't standing right next to me examining my motives.
This is another reason that I fear that I would reject Him if he were on earth today: He is here, in the Spirit, and I reject Him constantly. He may demand something of me, and I make excuses. How many church services do I attend where I am not whole-heartedly worshiping God? How many times have I reacted badly to disappointment? Do I have trouble forgiving others? Because of the Spirit, I can understand His teachings more than the Disciples did, but I still reject Him through acting selfishly.
Come to think of it, I'm afraid that I would be one of those in the crowd that came to Jesus for food, miracles, blessings, and some good teaching, but as soon as something was demanded that was a little bit to difficult I would go home.
This is a sad state of affairs. I have devoted my life to following Jesus as the Christ, and when I think about it, I don't know that I would have even like Him when he was here. I don't think I would have responded too well. But what's worse, is that I know that there are times now that I don't respond to Him well at all.
