Machine Gun Jesus
Remember the story of Jonah and the whale? I do...kind of. I remember Jonah running away from God's command, being swallowed by a great sea creature, and eventually being spat back out after he repented to God. That's where my memory ends of the story however. Yet, the actual story doesn't end there.
God was sending Jonah to the people of Nineveh to turn them from the life they were living. Jonah, being fearful of the area, decided to take off with some dudes on a boat. The thing about God, is you can't run away from Him. So, Jonah gets swallowed by this fish/whale (it varies by translation), realizing he can't escape God, repents, and he gets released to go to Nineveh.
The story of Jonah is an interesting one. In the final chapters we see God deciding against wiping out Nineveh, as they had turned from their wicked ways. Even in the Old Testament, God was about mercy and grace. Jonah went to Nineveh to warn them of their "impending doom", they turned from their sin, and God spared them.
God, is a god of mercy, even in the Old Testament. Jonah sinned by not obeying God, he repented and God showed mercy, thenGod saw the people of Nineveh had turned from their sin, so He showed graced and spared them destruction, Jonah was pissed because God didn't wipe them out. Yet God cared about the 120,000 people along with all the animals that lived there.
There are a lot of Christians with that mindset today, we see people living in sin, and hope God rains judgement on them. The fact that in the last year I know of at least one shooting at an abortion clinic carried out by a Christian to "teach the sinners a lesson", says something; We have our perception of Jesus completely screwed up.
We sometimes have this image of Jesus as this commando, riding in on an M1A1 Abrams Tank wielding a couple AK47's, chewing gum and taking names. He makes His way in to town, kicks a few butts, and everyone is better for it. We like the image of Jesus the conquerer, it makes us feel big and strong. We want to see thunderbolts and earthquakes. Except, that's not Jesus. Jesus rode in to town on a mule, not a weapon on hand. (Matthew 21:5). Back at the time, a king entered the city on a donkey during times of peace. Jesus was entering on the pretense of peace.
Jesus didn't come crusading with an army, destroying all who sin. We'd be in trouble if He did, because none of us are free of sin (Romans 3:23). Jesus didn't come to destroy people, He came to give them hope, and life. (John 10:10). Ultimately, Jesus came so that He could fulfill the prophetic words in Isaiah 53.
The end result, constant relation with Him. We have hope in His sacrifice, and healing in His blood. Sin no longer runs our lives, we are set free. Jesus arrived quietly, not with guns blazing, but open hands. He took the brunt of our punishment, without an opposing word. He even asked God to forgive the men that destroyed Him. That doesn't sound like the Rambo Jesus we like to imagine raining hellfire on sinners, that sounds like the loving Jesus, who turned the other cheek, and forgave His oppressors.
Jesus, thank you that in you there is not condemnation, but freedom. There is not despair, but hope. Thank you, for giving yourself for me. I am a sinner, and yet you took the punishment of sin, which was death. After taking the punishment you died and rose again, you tore the veil between us and God, that we may walk in wholeness with you. Thank you.
God was sending Jonah to the people of Nineveh to turn them from the life they were living. Jonah, being fearful of the area, decided to take off with some dudes on a boat. The thing about God, is you can't run away from Him. So, Jonah gets swallowed by this fish/whale (it varies by translation), realizing he can't escape God, repents, and he gets released to go to Nineveh.
The story of Jonah is an interesting one. In the final chapters we see God deciding against wiping out Nineveh, as they had turned from their wicked ways. Even in the Old Testament, God was about mercy and grace. Jonah went to Nineveh to warn them of their "impending doom", they turned from their sin, and God spared them.
Jonah 3:10
When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways,
he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
God, is a god of mercy, even in the Old Testament. Jonah sinned by not obeying God, he repented and God showed mercy, thenGod saw the people of Nineveh had turned from their sin, so He showed graced and spared them destruction, Jonah was pissed because God didn't wipe them out. Yet God cared about the 120,000 people along with all the animals that lived there.
Jonah 4:1-2
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people
4:11
Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness,not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?
There are a lot of Christians with that mindset today, we see people living in sin, and hope God rains judgement on them. The fact that in the last year I know of at least one shooting at an abortion clinic carried out by a Christian to "teach the sinners a lesson", says something; We have our perception of Jesus completely screwed up.
We sometimes have this image of Jesus as this commando, riding in on an M1A1 Abrams Tank wielding a couple AK47's, chewing gum and taking names. He makes His way in to town, kicks a few butts, and everyone is better for it. We like the image of Jesus the conquerer, it makes us feel big and strong. We want to see thunderbolts and earthquakes. Except, that's not Jesus. Jesus rode in to town on a mule, not a weapon on hand. (Matthew 21:5). Back at the time, a king entered the city on a donkey during times of peace. Jesus was entering on the pretense of peace.
Jesus didn't come crusading with an army, destroying all who sin. We'd be in trouble if He did, because none of us are free of sin (Romans 3:23). Jesus didn't come to destroy people, He came to give them hope, and life. (John 10:10). Ultimately, Jesus came so that He could fulfill the prophetic words in Isaiah 53.
v3-7
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
The end result, constant relation with Him. We have hope in His sacrifice, and healing in His blood. Sin no longer runs our lives, we are set free. Jesus arrived quietly, not with guns blazing, but open hands. He took the brunt of our punishment, without an opposing word. He even asked God to forgive the men that destroyed Him. That doesn't sound like the Rambo Jesus we like to imagine raining hellfire on sinners, that sounds like the loving Jesus, who turned the other cheek, and forgave His oppressors.
Jesus, thank you that in you there is not condemnation, but freedom. There is not despair, but hope. Thank you, for giving yourself for me. I am a sinner, and yet you took the punishment of sin, which was death. After taking the punishment you died and rose again, you tore the veil between us and God, that we may walk in wholeness with you. Thank you.
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