Sunday Sermons

Jesus the Unwavering

Mark Dunagan
08/15/10 - Sunday Morning

Jesus the Unwavering

He did not doubt the Fairness of God’s judgments:

On Jerusalem: Matthew 23:32-36
Hell: Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43-48

Jesus never doubted the reality of hell, its eternal nature (Matthew 25:41), or the justice of such a punishment. It is simply stated as fact. He did not speculate about hell being annihilation, the fire eventually burning out, or the wicked eventually ceasing to exist after a time. He never pondered how a “loving God could send anyone there”. He saw none of this as being contrary to the concept that His Father is good and merciful (Luke 16:25 “Remember – you received good”). He equally set the door on the speculation about there being any second chances to be saved after death:

Matthew 25:11; 28-30; 41
Matthew 7:21-23
Luke 16:26

He did not doubt the certainty of God’s word:

The Bible that existed in His time had been accurately translated: Matthew 5:18
It was actually the word of God: Matthew 22:31-32
It would never cease in the future: Matthew 24:35
It is understandable: Matthew 15:10; Luke 10:26
It is understandable to everyone: Mark 16:15
It is more than sufficient warning: Luke 16:27-31

There is absolutely no speculating about whether Scripture is reliable, relevant, or understandable. Neither did Jesus doubt the truthfulness of Scripture; there was no speculation about whether human opinion had entered into the text, He simply said, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

He did not doubt the ability to understand God’s Word

Jesus did not speculate about whether people could understand Scripture or whether each of us comes from an upbringing and culture that prevents us from truly seeing what the text says, or having colored glasses that we can never remove, rather He simply said:

“If any man is willing to do His will, He shall know of the teaching, whether it is from God, or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17).
“If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
“Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).

Thus, understanding and obeying what God says is simply a matter of being willing to obey the truth when we find it, being a truth seeker and a truth lover.

He did not doubt the ability to know the truth

While many people in the world speculate about whether or not truth is absolute, whether it actually exists, or whether truth is the same for every person, Jesus simply said:

God’s word is truth: John 17:17
The truth is knowable: John 8:32
Yet it can only be discovered by listening to Him and obeying His instruction: John 8:31

He did not doubt the only way to God

Jesus did not speculate about there being many different faiths or paths to God, rather He was very certain that He was the only way:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).

He did not question the importance of obedience

Jesus did not express any doubt about the need for obedience, whether obedience to God’s word was even possible, or whether one could make it to heaven without such obedience:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
He then gave an illustration of very religious people who had done many “religious things in His name” – yet were not truly obedient. Did they make it? Absolutely not. “What if they were really sincere? What if they did a lot of humanitarian good works? What if they feed the poor? What if they taught people how to read? What if they helped in all sorts of ways? What if they were really nice people, very religious, but simply did not believe in you? Will they make it?” No. Only those who believe God enough to do His will are heaven bound.

Some people might doubt whether one can really obey God – yet Jesus clearly cut through any such doubt. He simply said, over and over, it comes down to this:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (14:23).
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (John 15:10).

He was not confused about marriage, divorce and remarriage

Like these other topics, volumes have been written concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage, yet Jesus states the topic clearly.

First, God’s law applies to “everyone”: Matthew 5:32; 19:9 “whoever”
Matthew 19:8 “From the beginning”.
It might seem like the world is filled with all sorts of different situations and hard cases, yet Jesus only saw one cause for divorce, “unchastity” (5:32).
Jesus also shows us that any other cause of divorce affects everyone involved. The person who is put away – they commit adultery if they remarry (5:32). The person who did the putting away – when they remarry they commit adultery (19:9). The person who marries the put away person – they commit adultery (5:32).

The disciples clearly understood the difference in what Jesus was saying and what was taught at that time (Matthew 19:10), and they over-reacted and said, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry” (19:10). Like many people today, they thought that this teaching was unworkable, and yet many people have married and never divorced. Jesus then responded to their over-reaction. Not everyone is cut out for the single life (19:11). Some men never marry because of genetic problems, others never marry because they were made eunuchs by men, and finally some men in order to enter the kingdom must simply forgo marriage – either because they do not have the right to marry, or choose not to divide their energy between God and a family.

He was into finding the answers

Jesus never undermined or doubted the ability on the part of mankind of understand Scripture, obey it, and find unity based on its teachings (John 17:20-21). He did not bring up hypothetical situations of good and honest people coming to different conclusions. Neither did he try to confuse the matter by giving example after example of things that the Jewish people disagreed about. When people tried to put Jesus into situations where others had disagreed, Jesus always found the right answer – and it was in Scripture where it had always been.

The controversy between the Jews and Samaritans over the proper place of worship (John 4:20). The answer: The Jews were right: 4:22
The controversy over paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:17): The answer: It was lawful (22:21).
The controversy over the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-28): The answer: It had been clearly inferred in Scripture (22:31-32).
The controversy about divorce (Matthew 19:3): The answer: “Have you not read?” (Matthew 19:4). This question had a clear answer in God’s word.
He question about what to do to gain eternal life (Luke 10:25). The answer: “What is written in the Law?” (Luke 10:26). That is, the Law was very clear.

I never find Jesus trying to undermine God’s Law by giving a list of spiritual or doctrinal questions for which there is no resolution. Some people seem to enjoy trying to put together such lists and using them as a tool to convince people that the Bible cannot be understood and that unity in doctrine is not essential. I’d rather spend my time doing what Jesus did – opening up the Scriptures, finding the answer in Scripture – and enjoying the blessing of doing so alongside the people who obey it.

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.ne