Jesus Asks More of Us

I’ve heard it said by secular friends that Jesus is full of grace, love and acceptance, but I wonder if they actually know what Jesus taught and did? When I hear this secular reasoning, it is usually meant to subtly remind me that a Christian should just be a good citizen, follow the laws of the land, pay taxes, don’t complain, be seen and not heard, stand quietly in the line at the grocery store and be nice. For some, that is the only purpose of Christianity, but is that what Jesus expects? 

I believe he expects more of us than that! In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus doesn’t lighten the load for a Christian, rather he tightens it—for example when he says, “You’ve heard it said, ‘Do not murder’, but I say to you anyone who hates his brother has committed murder in his heart.” (Matthew 5:21-26) 

That is the limit to the law: it cannot change a human heart, which is full of murder,  jealousy, etc. Only the gospel can change the heart.

Jesus taught his followers that if they wished to find their life, they must give it away for the sake of the gospel (Matthew 16:25), just as Jesus would do. He would demonstrate grace, acceptance and love perfectly on the cross (to which our culture scratches its head.) It was on the cross that Jesus extended grace to sinners, accepted the guilty and showed his love by dying the death we deserved so we might enjoy the life he deserved! 

On the walls of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the quote, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” to which any Christian must agree; however, Jesus asks more of us than simply nodding our heads at this. We have an answer as to why it matters.

It is because all people are made in his image (Genesis 1:26), it is because he died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2), ), it is because his love extends to every nation (John 3:16) and it is because at the end of time, there will be people from every tribe, tongue and nation at the throne of grace (Revelation 7:9). 

We are not simply those who follow the basic laws of the land— we follow the King who demands more of us because he gave more of himself to rescue the lost, the blind and the dead. He sends us out into the world to be more than just good people, but to be salt and light in a dark and decaying land for the glory of God and the collective good of all.

-Pastor Ken Stoesz