Blog Layout

 The Trouble with Jesus

by Constance Hastings

Break My Soul
Jun 21, 2022

The Trouble with Jesus is he requires commitment that shocks and angers people.

As if we needed any other example of how you’re so dangerous, this one may seal the deal. You don’t pull any punches either, telling any who would follow you that there’s no place to settle, call home, rest and restore one’s self. “Let the dead bury the dead,” you callously say to another who feels the need to give tribute to a loved one. Just saying goodbye to family when leaving to join with you is not permitted. Blind allegiance to a leader is the first sign of a cult, an ideology, totalitarian brain washing and overthrow. You’re speaking it now. Thanks for the warning.


You Won’t Break My Soul

In his mind, this was the point of no return. Jesus had “set his face,” that is he determined and was resolute to move on and head into Jerusalem. He knew he’d face resistance from his own followers as well as threats to his life from the opposition. An easy road just for himself it wouldn’t be. But those who surrounded him didn’t help with his cause. Yet nothing would he allow to turn him from his single-minded purpose even with the ugliness he knew was on his horizon.


Release the Anger

Not long in coming was it either. They were headed into a Samaritan town, a place where racial and religious tension brewed. When village leaders learned of his destination, they wanted no part of this Jewish leader some claimed as Messiah. Added to it was how two of his closest lieutenants, James and John, wanted to call down celestial fire to show these detractors what they had coming. Jesus blew J&J off. When you’re headed into a fight, be smart enough to pick the right battles. They moved onto another town.


Look for a New Foundation

Evidently there were those who wanted to join up. Specifically, three guys asked to enlist. At the time, the prospect of a leader who’d turn the fortune of the oppressed Jews looked promising. Get in on the action and thus the glory, right? But Jesus gave them another thought.


This journey had an ending that would not come back again that way. This was for good. For all it’s harshness, Jesus was doing them a favor in realistically managing expectations. By the time all was said and done, this world would see what they’d never known before.


Yeah, here’s the problem. You expect us to drop everything all for you. You serious? Who’d do such a thing and for what? Get real, oh Son of Man or God or whatever you think you are!


True, his requests of them/maybe us are shocking. Like, forget you’ve ever had some kind of life, people who’ve given you the best of themselves or depend on you in great degree? Sounds like it. But go back to what he said.


Follow me when I have no place to lay my own head? Know to get behind my work is to no longer count on the comforts you’ve been led to believe you deserve. That may come down to thinking you’ve got all the right ideas or even the right to yourself. I’m saying your life will be centered in my life and not your own.


Let the dead bury the dead. Walk away from that which sucks life out of you. Sometimes it can be those who make demands that would not recognize what you are made to be. Block that number; don’t take that call. Instead proclaim my message which will be fulfilled in this journey to Jerusalem and meeting my destiny on a cross.


Saying goodbye to family should be the least that one who is sacrificing self and security might have. Not so. Don’t position yourself next to those emotional ties that could draw you away and back off from what I’m doing.


My New Salvation

“Anyone who puts hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” That is, any who would follow Jesus has to stay fixed on the mission at hand. Otherwise, the furrow in the soil is likely to veer off, become crocked and steer away losing valuable resources and purpose. In short, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.


Even so, another understanding of what Jesus was asking is significant. He had “set his face” toward Jerusalem. Nothing could deter him from doing what he had come to do. To permit his supporters any less resolve could weaken his own. He needed only the most committed to go with him.


You won’t break my soul.

 Luke 9:51-62


(With an appreciative nod to Beyonce, “Break My Soul”)


The Trouble with Jesus is he doesn’t want to fight as much as he wants to lead in Love.
By Constance Hastings 28 Oct, 2024
The Trouble with Jesus is he doesn’t want to fight as much as he wants to lead in Love.
The trouble with Jesus is healing happens in reversal to one’s willingness to see.
By Constance Hastings 21 Oct, 2024
What do you want me to do for you? One’s answer reveals the beggar in one’s soul.
The Trouble with Jesus finds you have to convert more than the world to change it.
By Constance Hastings 14 Oct, 2024
Jesus, if you don’t mind, we’d like to talk with you about what you just said and ask a favor. Sure guys, what’s on your minds.? About your plans, when it all comes about, if the two of us could be seated next to you, one of your right and the other on your left? (long pause…) You have no idea what you’re asking....
The Trouble with Jesus was he didn’t tolerate anything getting in the way of full devotion to God.
By Constance Hastings 07 Oct, 2024
True Story: A husband told his wife he was going the next day to possibly buy a Corvette. (Disclaimer: this did not happen in my house…) She read to him these words of Jesus: “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” “Now, how do you think you’ll get to heaven if you buy a Corvette?” she challenged him. After a short pause, he smiled, and said, “Fast!”
The Trouble with Jesus: He doesn’t speak from a legalistic mindset. He speaks with the mind of God
By Constance Hastings 30 Sep, 2024
The Trouble with Jesus: He doesn’t speak from a legalistic mindset. He speaks with the loving mind of God.
The Trouble with Jesus is he used graphic and exaggerated devices to teach his slowest students.
By Constance Hastings 23 Sep, 2024
In some ways, Jesus, your radical messages are just what we need. You just said that welcoming children is just like welcoming you. Nice image there. But this time, it’s like you’re pushing radicalization, sending your followers off the deep end. Cutting off one’s hands or feet, gouging out the eye so you’re good enough to get access to your Dad’s Kingdom? Calling people to self-mutilation isn’t going to garner many likes on your page with this kind of talk.
The Trouble with Jesus is a radical reversal of ambition and status in God's love.
By Constance Hastings 16 Sep, 2024
Jesus, oh Son of Man, you gotta lay off this. If you want to get your message out there and have everybody behind you, you have to play to what they want. All this talk about dying and staying in last place is going to destroy you. But no, you just keep repeating it over and over again. Take some good advice even those sorry followers of yours seem to realize. The only thing that needs to raise from the dead is your rhetoric.
The Trouble with Jesus is he will not conform to what we think he should be.
By Constance Hastings 09 Sep, 2024
Don’t you dare criticize him for what he said. Honestly, you’re no different than he when it comes down to it. You claim you believe in God, but when push comes to shove, rubber meets the road, and truth be known, like Peter, you’d rather God follow you than follow Jesus.
The Trouble with Jesus is he gets messy with what we are like even as he meets us in what we need.
By Constance Hastings 02 Sep, 2024
Stories of people bringing the sick to Jesus are not out of the ordinary. Even now, heaven probably shakes constantly with petitions for people to be healed. Give them some credit here. While prayers may come with sobs for God to reverse what could be the worst possible outcome, the proverbial faith of a mustard seed is the foundation of their cries. The heart knows or at least wants to believe that God can heal. The fear is, will God make this miracle or not? Still, we ask.
The Trouble with Jesus: His words stab like open heart surgery, he exposed them and us.
By Constance Hastings 26 Aug, 2024
The Trouble with Jesus: His words stab in every living soul. Like open heart surgery, he exposed them and us.
More Posts
Share by: