[Jesus Christ teaching in AD 33.....] Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:41-46 |
How often do you see the ambitious, hoping for advancement, reward or recognition, suck up to those in power? You need only watch an episode of 'The Apprentice' to see what I mean. A bunch of impressively dressed, egocentric, budding entrepreneurs is desperate to impress Lord Sugar.
Two difficulties face Alan Sugar. First, how is he to know the difference between those who are genuine and those who are not when all of them are trying to reveal not only the best of themselves but also attributes which they don’t actually possess. Second, how is he to remain objective and not have his good judgment blinded by an over-feeding of his own ego? Both those difficulties cannot be over-estimated. Both could readily be avoided if Lord Sugar took up a lowly position – a position subservient to those whom he might, later, appoint as his employees. They would then ‘look down’ on him – and he would see them as they really are because, in their view, “nobody important would be watching”. I can’t think of a better way for a king to discern his subjects than to go under cover as a newly arrived nobody, just like the TV series when bosses of large companies take a couple of weeks in disguise. |
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"I would rather have an inferiority complex and be pleasantly surprised, than have a superiority complex and be rudely awakened." (Vanna Bonta, actress and novelist)
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This is exactly what our eternal Boss has done… From birth onwards: - But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in torn cloths and lying in an animal feeding trough." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
This role reversal – this message - is at the epicentre of the good news which Jesus brought with him into this world. It’s a message that is foolishness to the unthinking. It’s a message that is an offence to those who wish to generate respect and authority for themselves whilst appearing to follow Jesus of Nazareth.
John, the biographer and contemporary of Jesus, wrote of him: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
But...... Not only did he become like one of us in sinful flesh, but also he chose to arrive in one of the poorest towns in a disreputable area – let alone being born amongst animals. Not exactly the kind of stage you would expect to see a King or a Lord. He then grew up amongst the poor and the discarded. He spent time with women, even prostitutes! |
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‘It’s not that God ’looks down’ on us to judge us. When he’s judging us he’s looking up at us to see how we treat him when he’s way beneath us.’ (Anon.)
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But taking up this position he, unlike Lord Sugar, could see what men and women were actually like – in the raw. Actually, he already knew – but we didn’t and don’t – until we read about the effect he had on those who met him and knew him and decided to follow him – and decided to kill him.
His inclusion of the excluded had an effect (still seen today) on those whose shoulders (comfortably successful and authoritative) rubbed with his own. They found him a threat - a threat that had to be removed!
But this was of course a long time ago and so how is this relevant to you and me and the here and now? Take a fresh look at the words in bold above. His test for his followers will one day be what they will have done to him – in Jersey, here and now. You see, he’s here – in disguise – beneath us, looking up at us..... |
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