In many political campaigns in order for a candidate
to get votes, promises are made that cannot be kept and
other outlandish things are stated. Most of political talk is
empty, idle, and vain. Much of the talk is just plain nonsense.
This presidential race has produced some nonsense,
What nonsense? Jesus was-a community organizer!
Really now. What person knowing just a smidgen of the
life of Jesus would fall for such a nonsensical statement?
What an insult and an affront to the divine person and the
divine work of Jesus. Jesus is called a number of things in
the Bible. but He is never, never called in any way, shape,
or form a community organizer
Jesus was rejected. Consider. Jesus was rejected twice
in His hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:1-3; Luke 4:16-28).
The Jews for all practical purposes rejected Jesus and the
Bible states this clearly. “He came to His own and His
own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). If He was a community
organizer. He failed miserably in His own hometown.
A man ought to be successful in his own hometown.
He failed in having the nation of Israel, His nation, to follow
Him. Jesus was an unsuccessful community organizer!
Rejected, but not accepted by the community, Jesus
was!
Jesus was rejected because of His message. Any serious
reading of the Gospels help us to understand why Jesus
was rejected. He was rejected because of His message.
His message was not for what man had hoped, but after all
God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8). The people
wanted to hear a message of a kingdom freeing them from
Rome’s tyranny, as the bondage of the Roman Empire
was troubling and difficult. They did not look for a community
organizer!
The message of Jesus was simple. He came for the purpose
of doing the will of God (John 6:38). He came for
the purpose of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19: 10).
For many Jews, especially. the Pharisees this was offensive.
His message was designed to call sinners to repentance
(Matt. 4: 17: 9: 13). The Jews did not like to think of
themselves as sinners. His message was that He came to
build His church and establish His kingdom (Matt. 16: 13-
19: 18: 18). He did so on Pentecost in AD 30 (Acts 2). His
message was that He came to give His life a ransom for
man’s sins (Matt. 20:28: 26:28; Eph. 1:7: 1 Tim. 2:5-6).
His message was that He was the Savior of man (Matt.
1:21). John writes, “And we have seen and testify that the
Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John
4: 14). A community organizer He was not! Rejected, not accepted by the community.
Jesus was!
Jesus is known by many names. The mission of Jesus
was spiritual! The names of Jesus signify His spiritual
mission! Nothing in any of His names indicate that
He was a community organizer. T. C. Horton in his
book, The Wonderful Names of One Wonderful Lord,
lists 365 names and titles of Jesus in both Testaments.
Some of the many names and titles for Jesus are: Jesus.
Lord, Christ, God, Son of David, Son of Man, Son of
God, The Servant of God, The Good Shepherd, The
Great Physician, Savior, Prophet. High Priest, The
Bread of Life. The Door, The Lamb, The Judge, Apostle,
The King, The Resurrection, The Life, The Way.
BUT no community organizer! Does this tell you something?
–W. Terry Varner (Publishing Peace, Vol. 4, No. 11, November 2008, p. 3).
