WWJD-Part 2

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine:  For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”  Matthew 7:28-29

Continuing from yesterday’s blog, Jesus had finished His Sermon on the Mount before the multitudes, and they expressed astonishment at His words.  They were surprised, amazed, and completely astounded at the things that He had said to them.  What in the world had the scribes, the “learned teachers and interpreters of the law”, been teaching them?  We know that these religious leaders had given them a long list of rituals, traditions, dos and don’ts, that, if done properly and timely, would put them, as they believed, in good standing before the LORD.  The teachings of these scribes were legalistic, that is, there was very little talk about love, mercy, forgiveness, and blessing others.  Their religion was about following prescribed rules and regulations rather than a true, intimate relationship with their Creator.  When Jesus told the crowd that their righteousness had to go way beyond the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20), this must have been quite shocking to the people and very provoking to the religious leaders.  After all, the scribes and Pharisees were considered to be the “authority” concerning God’s law.  Now comes this Man from Nazareth whose very words made the Scriptures come to life.  No more boring, hypocritical, sanctimonious, and condemning lectures from a bunch of stodgy old men who may have been well versed in the letter of the law, but who chose to ignore the spirit of the law.

These religious leaders had taught the people that it was proper to love their neighbor, but that they should hate their enemy (Matthew 5:43).  Now Jesus is telling them that it is not OK to hate their enemy.  In fact they were to love their enemies, bless the ones who curse them, do good to those who hate them, and pray for them who use and persecute them (Matthew 5:44).  This was exactly the opposite of what they had been taught all of their lives.  No wonder they were astonished.  It wasn’t just the words of Jesus that so amazed them; it was His very presence and demeanor.  He taught with authority which permeated His entire essence.  In Matthew 8:27, after Jesus had calmed the storm at sea, His disciples “…marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!”  Jesus’ authority came directly from God, His Father.  Every word that Jesus spoke was given to Him by His Father.  The religious leaders were constantly on the attack against Jesus because they refused to believe that He was sent by God and given all authority to speak for God, even though He told them plainly and gave proof through the many miracles that He did right in front of their eyes.  As a matter of fact, many times after Jesus finished a time of teaching, He would give proof of His authority and the power of His words through a miracle.

Upon descending from the mountain where He preached His Sermon on the Mount, He healed a man who had leprosy, a servant of a commanding Roman officer, and the mother-in-law of Peter, one of His disciples.  He was constantly demonstrating His words by His example of loving service to the multitudes.  In John 13:1-17, we have the account of Jesus, the Lord, the Savior, the very Son of God, stooping down and washing the feet of His disciples as an example to His followers to become humble doers of His word.  We have a saying today among folks who say, “I had rather see a sermon than hear one.”  People do not have much use for a person who says a lot of “good” words but doesn’t back up his or her words with action.  Jesus always lived out His words by His actions.  That’s what He expects from His followers.  “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour” (John 12:26).

The Apostle Paul admonished believers concerning their hearing and doing in I Corinthians 15:58:  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  When Jesus finished washing the disciples’ feet as a humble example of obedience to His own word, He urged His disciples to do the same.  Jesus said,”…The servant is not greater than his lord (master); neither he that is sent (messenger) greater than he that sent him.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them (John 13:16-17).  And therein lies the way to joy, peace, and contentment.  It is not so much what Jesus would do; it’s more like what Jesus did, and how He backed up every word with an intentional and righteous action.