Uproars

“And they began to accuse Him, saying, ‘We found this fellow perverting the nation….’ But they were the more fierce, saying, ‘He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.’” Luke 23:2a, 5

It is so very hard for me to imagine a more humble, meek servant than Jesus. He came as the Lamb of God, simple, quiet, unassuming. There is no recorded time that He pushed Himself on people—He spoke to those who came to hear. A time or two He raised His voice at the scribes and Pharisees, who were polluting His people, and He called out the moneychangers, who were polluting His temple, but that is it. He started no riots, no insurrections, no trouble whatsoever.

He did not cause the uproars He was accused of starting. To be more precise, He did not start public uproars. The uproars He caused were in the inner man. He did His work in the strength of meekness. He spoke to hearts. He confronted sins personally, privately. No doubt His words and actions caused much turmoil—stirring up hearts and minds and long-held beliefs and traditions of man.

His accusers didn’t like what Jesus was doing to the people—stirring up cold hearts, opening eyes blinded and ears deafened to the gospel, healing brokenness, comforting the grieving with hope, offering new life, all which literally changed everything for everyone.

Perverting the nation? Stirring up the people? Yes, perhaps, in ways that were desperately needed, inwardly. And until He came, no one else could ever do it. There were short-term changes brought about by the efforts of the prophets, but only Jesus—that meek, humble, sinless Son of God—brought lasting change.

Only Jesus could bring the kingdom of God.

Jesus, help us to appreciate anew the work that You did for us. May we go forth in the same humility and meekness, touching lives, offering hope, and loving others. Amen.