Who is Jesus? #144

 Ten Things You Must Know About Jesus

His Audacity

At first blush, we might consider this trait of Jesus in stark contrast to the one in the previous blog – His Humility.

According to Mr. Webster to be audacious is to be daring and bold. Others would define audacity as taking a bold initiative or having a disregard for social convention.

Most of us probably view audacity in a negative light. During the streaking era in our country, I would classify those doing the streaking (as one did across my college campus) as being pretty audacious. If someone opened your front door and sat themselves down in your house and lit up a cigar, you would consider them audacious (as well as under arrest).

Jesus was one who broke many a social norm. Instead of hobnobbing with the religious leaders, as was expected, he came to the sick (sinners) who needed a physician (savior). He healed on the sabbath - a major no-no. He allowed a prostitute to anoint him for his burial. He chastised one of Israel’s teachers (Nicodemus) for not understanding Kingdom stuff.

The very audacity, He went into the temple area and drive those thieves out of there. Maybe the best encounter that shows both His audacity and His humility is found in John 8 – that adulterous woman.

The encounter begins with, “…the law says stone her” and ends with, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Surely everyone present at that scene, and the Pharisees made sure it was a very public place, was waiting for Jesus to follow the law - should have been open and shut. Wait, what was that He said? “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Of all the nerve - the expectation was to follow the law. How could He?

Well, He didn’t dismiss her sin, but His audacity did dismiss the crowd. Of course, His audacity was right.

Isn't it time, if not past time, to be an audacious follower of Jesus? Do we need to "boldly go where no one has gone before?" Are there some social norms that we need to violate in order to bring the message of the physician to the sick? Or, are we going to continue to come to church or have church rather than be the church?

Oh, there is one other thing.

Of all the audacity, Jesus - to call me a sinner. Aren’t you afraid of injuring my self-esteem? Don’t you know I need some positive strokes – gotta save face?

Of all the humility, Jesus - to take my place on the cross. You took care of my problem. I was the problem and you were/are the solution.