Although he would shortly die on the cross, Jesus’ focus was not on himself but on other people. Has Richard Syvret really taken on board that, to Jesus, people matter more than things? That taking my body to church is nothing compared with providing for other people? Jesus came for people.
But there’s more for followers of Jesus to take on board from Jesus. If you’re not a Christian please realize again that this is not for you – but please continue to eavesdrop. Jesus thought it essential on one of his last days on earth to speak about the way Christians actually behave.
He said, “But, if a particular bond-slave of mine says inside that I’m delaying coming back and starts to hit out at other disciples of mine and starts to eat and drink with those who are intoxicating themselves – then I will have arrived for that bond-slave totally unexpectedly and at an hour he knew nothing about. I’ll separate him and place part of him with the play-actors. Where the play-actors are - the hypocrites – in that place, there are tears and remorse.”
For followers of Jesus those are pretty tough words, aren’t they? Have you seen Christians hitting out at one another? Have you seen them living the good life like everyone else - but neglecting needy people, harming them and others, and therefore not being like Jesus? Have you seen Christians in the West ignoring persecuted Christians in the East? Above everything else followers of Jesus should be people-people, providing for people, looking after one another in every possible practical way.
But what do you make of Jesus’ warning – just like a mother warns her child – that some of those who call themselves Christians will be placed with the play-actors - the hypocrites? Would that be a just outcome for them inasmuch as they would in fact have been play-acting their Christianity?
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