HoHum:
John began to think about how blessed he was to have such a wonderful wife, and he decided to show his appreciation. So he went out and bought a box of candy and a dozen roses. When he got home, he decided to ring the door bell and surprise her. When Mary answered the door bell and saw him with candy and roses, she burst into tears. "What's wrong?" he insisted. "It's been a horrible day," she cried out. "The baby's been sick, the washing machine broke down -- and now you come home drunk!"
WBTU:
Ever been misunderstood? It's easy to be misunderstood. Misunderstanding happens all the time. This morning I’m talking about more than a simple breakdown in communication. How do we deal with it when people believe that we are wasting our lives and devalue us as human beings? How do we cope if we are deeply misunderstood in our way of life? What do we do if our words are twisted, our motives are challenged, and our actions are questioned?
Jesus was often misunderstood in this way.
Thesis: Jesus was misunderstood by:
His father and mother- Luke 2:41-52
This is the only story we have of Jesus when he was a child/ teenager (at age 13 considered a man). We have accounts of his birth, infancy and toddler years, but little else before the age of 30 except this.
How could his parents forget about Jesus? Have we ever left a child behind?
The next day Joseph and Mary retraced their steps. No Jesus so retraced all the way back to Jerusalem. After 3 days they finally found him in the temple in Jerusalem. By the time they found Jesus, they were frantic. They had the same unique feeling we parents feel when we find our lost child. Inside two opposite emotions: overwhelming relief and joy because we have found the child, and rising anger because of what the child has done to us. Mary’s first words to Jesus display what she and Joseph felt (vs. 48).
Jesus is engaging in the give and take that young Jewish boys engage in when they were getting ready to become full fledged adults. The teachers in the temple were astonished at Jesus’ understanding of the Scriptures. With that Jesus said (Vs. 49)
Ever wonder if Jesus understands families? Does Jesus understand when children/ teens have trouble understanding their parents and parents understanding their children? Yes, he does. We see here a deep misunderstanding between Jesus and his parents.
We see at the age of 12 Jesus was aware of his mission as the Messiah. He has an intimate relationship with his true Father. Considering that Joseph and Mary had experienced his miraculous conception, his birth, the shepherds and wise men, it seems that they would have a better grasp than anyone of the uniqueness of Jesus. However, it says in vs. 50...
In this we can see that Jesus is going to be misunderstood over and over again. His own parents’ failure to understand his mission is the start of a mountain of misunderstandings.
His family- Mark 3:20-21, 31-35
When I say his family here I am talking about Jesus’ brothers. John 7:5 says that his brothers did not believe in him. Imagine growing up with Jesus? We can infer that Joseph has died so Mary is being taken care of by Jesus brothers.
Imagine Jesus, after the death of Joseph and as the eldest son, taking care of his mother and taking care of the family’s carpentry business until the age of 30. When he is around 30 years old, One day Jesus goes to be baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River and after that he gives up his responsibilities with his family and goes into ministry. Image the difficult transitions that would have occurred in the family because of this.
Mark 3 is early in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is performing miracles by curing many of sicknesses and disabilities. He is driving out evil spirits. We find in Mark 3 that the opposition to Jesus is getting serious- “Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” Mark 3:6, NIV. Jesus is becoming a popular preacher and many crowds around him all the time so that in vs. 20 he and his disciples do not have time to eat.
Imagine Mary being concerned about Jesus not being able to eat. Mary wants to mother her son and protect and provide for him. His brothers feel like Jesus is getting too big for his britches, “Who does he think he is?” so they go to try to reign him in, take charge of him.
Jesus uses this occasion to broaden the concept of family. This is important for the church.
Notice that in Mark 6, after Mark 3, Jesus goes to his hometown of Nazareth. Jesus did not cut all ties with family. Jesus made sure that his mother was taken care of John 19:26-27. Also we find this, ““They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14, NIV.
Political forces- John 18:33-38
Jesus began to ruffle the feathers of the political establishment by disagreeing with the Pharisees over traditions and extra biblical rules. Many Pharisees claimed that Jesus was possessed of a demon. As Jesus grew more and more popular, the rulers expressed concern that the Romans would come and take away their place and their nation. Behind this mask of patriotism they were really envious of Jesus and his popularity. Jesus had to be eliminated. When they delivered Jesus over to Pilate, Pilate saw through their hypocrisy. “For he (Pilate) knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.” Matthew 27:18, NIV.
Pontius Pilate is a politician through and through. Even though he finds nothing in Jesus deserving the death penalty, he gives into the Jewish crowds to have him crucified. We find in John 18:33-38 a misunderstanding over the nature of Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus clarifies the nature of his kingdom—‘My kingdom is not from this world (vs. 36).’ Jesus also explains the sense in which he is a king in vs. 37
Pilate’s question—‘what is truth? (vs. 38)’—seems to be consistent with his character as a hard nosed politician. Of what use is truth in the world of power?
Both the Jewish authorities and Pilate misunderstand the nature of Jesus’s kingdom and authority. While they play crucial roles, they are unaware of the true importance of their actions. “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:7, 8, NIV.
His followers- Luke 18:31-34
Many times we find Jesus’ followers misunderstanding him. Biggest misunderstanding is when Jesus begins to tell his disciples about his death, burial, and resurrection.
Even in John’s Gospel, when Peter and John ran to the empty tomb, it says that John believed. Even so John is honest and says in the next verse ““(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)” John 20:9, NIV.
“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” John 12:16, NIV. When Jesus resurrected from the dead and appeared to them, that is when they changed and understood the gospel. When Jesus was crucified, they were confused, grieving, and hiding in fear. When Jesus rose, they were confident, bold and freely proclaiming the gospel. The resurrection made all the difference.
“They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” Acts 4:2. Resurrection of Jesus made all the difference.
Conclusion and invitation:
People today still misunderstand Jesus. Doing some research on males and how they view the church. Think of the pictures of Jesus we saw as a child. Didn’t they suggest a tender, sweet man in a shining white dress? As our boys grow up, whom will they choose as a role model? Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, or the action heroes they see in films and video games? Some males look at Jesus as weak and wimpy. Two descriptions of Jesus that apply: the lamb and the lion. When we see Jesus on the cross we correctly associate him as the Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world. When we see Jesus resurrected from the dead, he is no longer weak and wimpy, he is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has triumphed” Revelation 5:5, NIV. In C.S. Lewis’ description of the resurrection in the book the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, after Aslan, the Christ figure, rises from the dead, “And now,” said Aslan, “to business. I feel I am going to roar. You had better put your fingers in your ears.” And they did. And Aslan stood up and he opened his mouth to roar and in the movie I could feel it. Kari Jobe “Forever” The moon and stars they wept, The morning sun was dead, The Savior of the world was fallen, His body on the cross, His blood poured out for us, The weight of every curse upon him, One final breath he gave, As heaven looked away, The son of God was laid in darkness, A battle in the grave, The war on death was waged, The power of hell forever broken, The ground began to shake, The stone was rolled away, his perfect love could not be overcome, Now death where is your sting?, Our resurrected King, Has rendered you defeated, Forever he is glorified, Forever he is lifted high, Forever he is risen, He is alive, He is alive! Do you feel the roar?
One day Jesus Christ will come again and it will not be with a baby cry like at his birth but it will be with a roar. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10, NIV. Do not misunderstand Jesus!
