SEPTEMBER 26, 2005

A TOUGH GOSPEL FOR TOUGH PEOPLE
by Pastor George Van Alstine

John the Baptist was the appointed announcer that the Kingdom of God was breaking into human experience in the person of Jesus. For his bold proclamations, John had been put into prison. As a result, many of his followers became followers of Jesus instead.

This caused John some concern, and he sent a delegation of close friends to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come?” Jesus’ answer was simple: “Look at the results of my ministry in changed lives; then you will have no doubts” (Matthew 11:6).

Then Jesus turned to the crowds who were listening to him and talked to them about John:
“What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” (Matthew 11:7-9)

John the Baptist had had a harsh calling—denouncing sin and proclaiming judgment in preparation for Jesus’ coming. He spent long periods alone in the desert, eating only insects and wild honey, clothed with a rough camel’s hair cloak. If the crowds thought they’d see a man dressed impressively “in soft robes,” they’d be disappointed. If they expected him to waver under harsh questioning, like “a reed shaken in the wind,” they’d be surprised. John was a tough guy, called to a tough ministry in a harsh environment. And he stood up to the challenge.

Matthew, the author/editor of this Gospel record, adds this commentary to Jesus’ words:
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)
Matthew seems to be saying that the Kingdom of God is still populated by tough people. The Kingdom “has suffered violence” at the hands of many throughout history who have attacked it. But it is also true that the violent take it by force”—that those who enter the Kingdom want it so much that they fight their way in.

That’s not our usual picture of God’s Kingdom, which we like to visualize as a place of serenity and comfort. We see ourselves as entering through a wide open gate, surrounded by plantings of flowers, leading to something akin to a yellow brick road.

But the truth is that life within the Kingdom can be pretty harsh, full of bumps and bruises. Many believers in other times and other cultures have suffered persecution, or even martyrdom, for their faith. Others have lived lives of poverty, starvation or disease. By contrast, we have it easy.

But our relative comfort is an illusion. Our financial security can be destroyed tomorrow; one doctor’s visit can undermine our sense of physical well being; a family crisis can leave us feeling rejected and alone. While we are on this earth, our positive experience of living in the Kingdom of God will be mixed with inevitable negative challenges.

We’ve probably all heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Well, if you are in the Kingdom of God, you are tough. Your decision to enter the Kingdom was a hard one; saying yes to Jesus has meant saying no to many other things. You had to “take it by force.” Like your cousin John the Baptist, you can live in a desert with rough clothes, living on bugs—if you have to.

You’re tougher than you think! When the difficult times come upon you, you’ll be able to handle them all. You may not think so, but God has guaranteed that kind of strong, resilient character to all his Kingdom citizens.