When you hear the words, "This World Needs Jesus"

How does that strike you? Do you fall face-first on the ground pleading for Jesus to reach the hearts of these barbaric human beings? Do you scream to The Father and say, "Yes! Yes, Jesus. Save this fallen world and all of us who believe in you." Do you plead for His return? 

Or. 

Do you err on the side of, "Why would this world need Jesus? Sovereign over all things? THAT Jesus? The one who allowed such heinous acts to be done to so many? Yeah. Give me that guy." 

Whichever your response is probably all dependent on how Jesus has been portrayed to you throughout your life, through the acts of others. The example of Christ followers or "Christ Followers" probably determines whether you think this world needs Jesus or not. Maybe you've been judged, abandoned, ridiculed or even abused by someone who "loves Jesus". Some people actually do all these things in the name of Jesus! But, nope. That's not who He is. And I'm going to be 100% honest with you and say, although I've been a Christian for years, I'm just now really, truly starting to understand who He is. I'm such a baby in my walk with Him. And I'm sad to say, on more than one occassion in my life, I've probably been that person that has made someone doubt the true love and meaning of Jesus. I've judged, I've ridiculed, I've abandoned. I still do some of those things, but I'm learning, because those things don't represent Christ. And I so desperately want to portray who He is, through my actions. 

When Jesus walked this earth if who He was, was judgmental, arrogant, hostile, and self-righteous, then no, we wouldn't need Him now, in these times. But that's not who He was. I promise. But others, in the name of Jesus, may have gone around portraying that to you. And if that's the case, please lay your burdens down and learn who He truly is. Not through someone, but through scripture. Read it. Experience it. 

I was wrecked today. Just wrecked - by scripture. My heart cried out when I read it and re-read it. And I want to live like Him. 

Side note: If you don't know who Jen Hatmaker is, find out. And if you don't "follow" her on Facebook, follow her. She's real, raw, funny, and lives to portray Jesus, the real Jesus. 

Anyway. 

Here's her post from today (via Facebook): 

"It really can be dreadful, this Jesus life. Just dreadful. I completely agree and suffer through all the same anxiety about it. I really do. I desire about 64% of Jesus. That is about all of Him and His ways I can handle. I really mean this. For every 6 things I like about Jesus' stuff, there are 4 that I am totally willing to ignore or discredit. I do it every day, you guys. I look several things in the eye and say NOPE. I hover around a D-. 

Take Matthew 25, for example. What a disaster! Jesus so deeply identifies himself with the prisoner and the hungry and the stranger and the naked and poor, He says, "When you consider them and their plight, imagine that it is actually Me you are serving." 

Let me tell you something, Jesus: LOW BLOW. I do NOT want to see your face in the faces of these complicated, hurting, needy people. When I see a prisoner, I want to see "criminal." When I see the homeless, I want to see "addict." When I see a refugee, I want to see "threat" or at least "financial drain." 

What I do not want to see is your sweet face. 

Why couldn't you identify with more stable people? We like you in the faces of our children and best friends, for example. We like you in our government and in our Family Friendly Movies. We like you in our pretty churches and gated neighborhoods. 

We do not want to see you in the faces of the poor. That sucks. Now you are really messing with us. You do realize what this sort of holy identification will cost and require, right?

Why?? Why did you have to say all that in Matthew 25? I very much prefer Christian rules to this nonsense. (And it is nonsense, Jesus. Your ways do not make any sort of conventional sense.) I know we are to live this death and resurrection with you, but I only like the resurrection part. I'm serious. I want to skip the death part because it is too hard and requires way too much dying. Rules! You know we prefer rules! If we just dress modestly and don't say the f-word, can we call it a day? 

It is so hard down here, Jesus. People are so hurt and scared and abused and confused. We want to follow you but your ways are so terrifying sometimes. Thanks for looking into our faces and seeing "brothers and sisters" instead of cowards and charlatans. You have always elevated our status. I guess if you can see us through miraculous eyes then maybe we have the capacity to look at others and see, well, you. 

All this is so hard, Jesus. This world is so banged up. We need you. Help us. Strengthen our faith. Help us trust you. Break our hearts if you must. Give us new eyes to see." -Jen Hatmaker

Yes. This. 

Couldn't have said it better, I mean, couldn't have come close to saying it better. It almost warrants no response. And to me, it isn't even about being convicted by this, it's about being real. Be real, people! We feel this way! We do not like what were called to do as Christ followers. It takes us out of our happy bubble and forces us into hard, deep, dark places!! I don't like those places. And frankly, I don't necessarily like that I'm called to do it. But it's truth. It's scripture. It's the gospel. 

We must die to ourselves before we can live for Him. 

That's heavy. Way heavy. 

So, here's what wrecked me. In her post she references Matthew 25. And that's what our sermon was over this Sunday. I went back to read over Matthew 25. I wanted to get back there today. I'm desperately trying to seek Christ and understand my role here. Because I'm anxious, afraid, angry, outraged bitter and....wrecked. 

I homed in on these verses that Daniel, our pastor, spent a good anount of time on. Read it. And just let it resonate. It's powerful, powerful. It is the Gospel.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." (Matthew 25:35-36)

Ok. Stop. Before you go on, these words are so plainly written in red. Jesus said these things. So imagine the confusions from others. What? Jesus was these things? And there was, indeed, confusion. It goes on to say, "What? When? When, Jesus? When were you hungry? Thirsty? Sick? A stranger? In prison? When were YOU these things, Jesus?"

Here it is. 

"And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." (Matthew 25: 40) 

Bam. There it is. Right there in that moment. Wrecked. 

Our president nor our governor have the answer. The answer is in scripture not in a speech, a legal, signed document or decree - and it is plain as day what we are called to do and, yes, in fact we very much need Jesus. We are called to do all of those things out of love and selflessness. Even when we DO. NOT. WANT. TO.

We are to look to those who are hungry, sick, imprisoned, etc...and are called to serve and live out The Gospel as its stated in those verses. 

And the truth. We don't. We don't want to. But for others to believe that Jesus IS the answer. We have to. Otherwise, we're all a sham and we're not making much of his name or portraying Him as who He really is. 

But, in my everyday struggle of just being human, I will fail at this. That's why we so often get hurt and disappointed by humans, because we are just that - human. We can do a great job trying to be like Jesus, but we will always fail. But His grace is sufficient. And thank God for that. 

Jesus, let me die to myself so I can truly live for you. Let me be this.