God’s messengers have never been known for their success rate. Noah failed to save the lives of his contemporaries from the flood. Moses failed to get Pharaoh to let his people go. The prophets failed to get God’s people to remember they were God’s people. Jesus’s life ended in a vicious, brutal public execution.
So why go share a message that is bound to fail? Why not do some focus groups and market research and figure out what people want to hear, and how to tell them? Why not focus on the target market which is least likely to kill you?
It’s because Jesus message isn’t a new product or philosophy. It’s the promise that people can change.
Jesus never gave the impression that people would like him or his message. In fact, he made it very clear that it requires a tremendous sacrifice that few are willing to commit. He says things like:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Mt. 7:13-14)
I think sometimes people hear this and get the wrong idea, that Jesus is some exclusivist, who only likes certain people and condemns everyone else. That’s really an oversimplification of what Jesus is saying here. He’s just stating the fact: My message is hard. My good news comes at a price. And most people won’t want to pay that price.
Jesus is giving people the chance to change, but the thing about change is that you can’t force it on them. You’ve probably known someone who made poor decisions. Maybe they had a habit of getting in to bad relationships. Maybe they had an addiction. Or maybe just a bad diet or bad hygiene. You can’t force them to change. All you can do, is clearly and lovingly, let them know that a better way is possible. And there’s a very good chance that they will choose to ignore you and keep doing what their doing.
When Jesus sends people out, he’s not so much concerned about where they go, but how they go. The first thing he wants them to understand is that they will often fail. Their goal isn’t success. Their goal is to speak the truth in love. And wherever we go, whatever we choose to do, it’s crucial that we go with this understanding that it is okay to fail, and it is more important to love.
photo credit: Alex E. Proimos via photo pin cc
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