45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ~Mark 10

45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ~Mark 10 …and if you intend to give your life, there must be someone willing to take it!

Jesus came to write a new script for what it meant to be Israel’s Savior… (the old script was too small to encompass what God was doing through Christ.)

How did “Messianism” work in Jesus’ day?

How did “Messianism” work in Jesus’ day? Messianism: the belief in a messiah, who acts as a savior, redeemer or liberator of a group of people. ~Wikipedia

Judas Maccabaeus, 200 years before the life of Christ…

Simon of Peraea, 7 years before Christ

Simon of Peraea, 7 years before Christ “Simon was so bold as to put a diadem [crown] on his head, while a certain number of the people stood by him, and by them he was declared to be a king, and he thought himself more worthy of that dignity than any one else.” ~Josephus

Simon of Peraea, 7 years before Christ “Simon would have done greater things, but care was taken to repress him immediately.” ~Josephus

Judas the Galilean, 1 after the birth of Christ.

Judas the Galilean, 1 after the birth of Christ. “There was one Judas, a Galilean, of a city whose name was Gamala, who, taking with him Zadok, a Pharisee, became zealous to draw them [the Jews] to a revolt. Both said that this taxation was no better than an introduction to slavery, and exhorted the nation to assert their liberty.” ~Josephus

Judas the Galilean, 1 after the birth of Christ. 37bJudas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ~Josephus

“30bWhat miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?” ~John 6

“30bWhat miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?” ~John 6 31Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?” ~John 7

It’s important to know who the Bible is asking you to put your faith in, and what He stood for, and how He was different from everybody else!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ~Matthew 5

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ~Matthew 5

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ~Matthew 5

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ~Matthew 5

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ~Matthew 5

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ~Matthew 5

“Jesus was summoning his hearers to a real revolution, which would come about through Israel reflecting the generous love of YHWH into the whole world. In other words, he was inviting them to follow him in his own royal movement, which was designed to bring the kingdom in a way very different from that of Judas Maccabaeus two centuries earlier or Judas the Galilean two decades earlier. ~N.T. Wright

When we reduce the teachings of Jesus to those which we “already do” we eliminate our need for grace..

When we reduce the teachings of Jesus to those which we “already do” we eliminate our need for grace.. (In accepting the challenge to become grace givers, we find that we must first become grace receivers.)

You were made for more than When we reduce the teachings of Jesus to those which we “already do” we eliminate our need for grace.. You were made for more than lex talionis…

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. ~James 2