ONE LIFE

Scot McKnight is the same guy who wrote the Jesus Creed, which I found helpful when I was preaching the series God’s Big Idea: Love God, Love others.

Published in 2010, this book is called One Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow. I really like this guy . . . a lot. I thought Chapter Five, The Justice Life was really well done. Here is my attempt to reflect on what McKnight has written.

"If you ask most people why Jesus came, they are likely to give you a John 3:16 answer . . . and they would be right. But the author quotes Flanney O’Conner at this point: “That’s right, but it just ain’t right enough!”

McKnight writes: “Jesus didn’t just come to die for your sins. According to Jesus Himself, there’s more.” Let’s examine what Jesus said about this.

1. His First Public Sermon – Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

2. His Most Famous Sermon – Luke 6:20-26
Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man."

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,” because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

3. His Answer to a Prophet - Luke 7:20-23
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “ John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect some else?’”

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

These passages make it clear . . . Jesus did indeed come to die for our sins. But he also came to bring into existence a community of people who would continue His work of justice, mercy, and love upon the earth . . . a kingdom society shaped by justice, mercy and peace.

Thanks Scot. Very helpful.

To view Scot McKnight's blog click HERE.