The Gospel according to Neil

 Listen to this conversation I had with Neil this morning: 

Neil: "I think Jesus was lonely." Me: "Why do you think that." Neil: "He didnt have kids and a wife" Me: "Yea, but did he have friends?" Neil: "He did but he also had enemies-wicked people from Nineveh"

Do you remember the story of Jonah? "Go to Ninveh, and tell them to repent!" Jonah, a prophet of God, would not go. In fact the book of the Bible with his name on it says, "He boarded a boat and went the opposite direction." He didn't go because he was afraid of them. He didn't go because he thought they would rejecct his message. He didn't go because he actually believed there was a chance they would repent and come to know God.

WOW! Who let that guy be a prophet?

This story is strange until we remember the culture that Jonah was living in. In his world, people were incredibly tribalist. This is having strong loyalty to one's own tribe or social group. WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS AND THEY ARE THE BAD GUYS!

And To BE HONEST..... our world is still filled with tribalism. Usually centered on religion or politics. Not much has changed....has it?

But God sent Jonah to the outsiders because God wanted them to know of his love. So he sends the prophet. It takes a while, including spending 3 days in the belly of a fish, before Jonah FINALLY proclaims the Good News that even they can turn from their wicknesses and be saved. AND THEY DO BELIEVE! They repent. They fast. They turn away from their wicknesses.

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, said it this way...

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 

The story of Jonah is foreshadowing Jesus. Just as Jonah was in the belly of a fish for 3 days so Jesus would go and die for 3 days. Just as Jonah went to preach forgiveness to his enemy, so Jesus would declare from the cross, "Father forgive them." 

The Gospel is so simple but we make it complicated. Love your enemy. Include the outsider. Be friends to the outcast. Why? Because it is what Jesus would have done in that moment. 

And Yes. Neil is right. Jesus missed out on being married and having kids of his own. I'm sure there were times when he was lonely and confused and frustrated. And Yes. He had friends. Like Peter, John, and James who believed in him (as best as they could) for 3.5 years of ministry. And He had enemies. 

But all those things didn't stop him from choosing to love and be a person of love. So happy Saturday. Go out and love someone who doesn't deserve it because the world could use a little more love today.