Hard sayings of Jesus

There are several passages in the New Testament that are just difficult. I understand them okay (most of them). They’re just really hard to live out. Over the next few posts, I will mention some of these. Feel free to join the discussion as you see fit.

Matthew 10:34-39 states:

³⁴  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶  And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. ³⁷  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. But in this passage we see that he causes division as well. There is a specific focus on family members turning against each other because of Jesus.

Join the discussion. How have these verses played out in your life?

yes, you’re messed up. and yes, Jesus can change you.

So I heard this true story about this guy who was homeless. He was always completely naked, running around and terrorizing people. All day and all night, he ran around the cemetery, cutting himself and howling like a dog. Sometimes, people would catch him and try to chain him down, but he broke the chains every time. Crazy. For real.

And then he met Jesus. Jesus cast a legion of demons from the man and he was immediately sane. Then he went to the neighboring ten towns to tell everyone what Jesus had done for him. Of course, everyone who heard was amazed. (Read the entire story here.)

These are my thoughts:

1. If Jesus can change this guy’s life, don’t you think he can change yours?

2. When Jesus changes you, he expects you to tell your story.

3. Jesus sees who we can be in him, not who we are by ourselves.

4. I am quick to judge about whether Jesus can change someone. I believe it, but I don’t always act like it.

5. Churches and Christians should stop expecting people to change before they know Jesus. It’s not going to happen.

6. If you’re messed up, Jesus can change you. If you know someone who is messed up, keep praying. Jesus can change them, too.