There are
a lot of things that intrigue me about Jesus. One of the aspects of His
ministry that has always produced jaw-dropping, head-scratching responses is
His upside-down teaching about life.
As we
journey through life, we may get to the point where we think we’ve got it
figured out and our thought patterns and responses for navigating through life
are deeply engrained. Yet Jesus interrupts us in the midst of our routines and
calls us to a new and better way. But beware! This encounter with the ways of
Jesus will be challenging.
Consider
these paradoxical propositions: to live you must die (Mark 8:35); to gain you
must give (Matt. 19:21); “blessed are those who mourn” (5:4); to rule you must
serve (Luke 22:26); and suffering has purpose (5:10-11).
It is
pronouncements like these that make people think Christ is strangely out of
touch. But we are the ones out of touch. He is not upside down, we are! We’re
like children who think they know better than their parents what is best.
No wonder
God has told us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways”
(Isa. 55:8). So, rather than relying on our mixed-up instincts, let’s ask Him
to help us reflect His ways.
What may
seem upside down to us is right side up to God. (RBC)
