Alienation as Evangelistic Technique

One further point from Greg Stevenson, as the crowds grow in John 6-8, Jesus continues to push his audience with his allegorical talk. After feeding the multitudes, the people continue to follow him. He offers them bread from heaven. “I am the bread of life.” “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

Jesus continues to push the crowd until many leave. He asks his disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Instead of making things easier on the crowd, making his talk more palatable, Jesus makes his talk more difficult. While we too often lower the bar to entice people to join our group, Jesus actually raises it. He doesn’t make it easy to come to him. He continues to push. Jesus alienates the crowd until only the very serious are left.

I’m Back

Finals are over and grades submitted. I’ve returned from a vacation with the family and a sermon seminar in Michigan. The sermon seminar focused on the Gospel of John.

One of the presenters at the seminar, Greg Stevenson, commented on the different ways of speaking and seeing in John. There is the heavenly perspective of Jesus (from above – spirit – light – day) and the earthly perspective (from below – flesh -dark -night). Several of the conversations can be seen in a new light.

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Jesus tells him you must be born from above. Nicodemus responds, “How can a person be born again when he is old?” That shift “from above”/”again” is the same word in Greek. Jesus meant it one way, Nicodemus understood it another.

The Samaritan woman at the well also came to Jesus. Jesus offers “living water.” She hears and requests “moving/flowing water,” as opposed to stagnate. Again, same words, but different understanding. The object is to get on the same frequency with Jesus so that we understand what Jesus is really saying.

_____________

On another front, our Family FunFest is this weekend, Saturday June 2nd. We have several people who are not able to help due to other obligations. We need all the help we can get. Several of us will be showing up at 10:00 to set up and prepare for the day. The FunFest is from 11:00 to 3:00. We’ll have the inflatable slide, bounce house, obstacle course, carnival games and prizes, and free food. Please come out to support this outreach event and invite your friends and neighbors. This is always a good time to meet new people. Be in prayer about the people we can meet through this time together.

Also, remember our Open House the next day. That Sunday we’ll have a pot luck lunch following the morning assembly so we can spend more time with our guests.