advice – Broken Believers

Was Jesus Mentally Disturbed?

“When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 3:21, NIV

Even our Lord’s own family did not believe Him. I can see them gathering out of concern, not only for concern for Jesus, but for the family name– perhaps they felt a need even to protect themselves? They talked at length, and decided on an intervention, to take custodial care– as families must do at these difficult times.

Jesus had been saying things, disturbing things.

He had resolutely confronted the religious system, and then rebuked King Herod and the civil government. He was living on an edge, and the sense that His family had was that He had become mentally unhinged. He had been cavorting with decidedly irreligious and wicked people. He lived in constant bedlam, with people mobbing Him for healing.

His teaching seemed extremely radical, almost absurd. His “parables” contained bizarre ideas. And the massive crowds actually would chase Him, trying to anticipate His next move. He was essentially a celebrity – a “rock star.” I suppose we have no idea, of His appeal to the masses.

We have some choices that must be made. What do we make of Jesus? Is Jesus Christ:

Legend
Lunatic
Liar
Lord and GOD?

In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement,

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg–or he would be the devil of hell.”

“You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”

The accusation has often been the case for His followers. Some of Paul’s friends thought he was crazy when he went blazing over land and sea to carry the gospel to every city. But his answer was, “No, I am not crazy; the love of Christ controls me” (2 Cor. 5:14).

This was a good kind of crazy.

He was being used by Jesus to continue the ministry that Jesus had started– the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

I believe it is a far deeper insanity, that seals up the truth and the light and keeps it away from unbelievers. It is crazy to know total forgiveness and unconditional love, and then to avoid opportunities to share that same love. Now, that is crazy!

Our fear of being ostracized and mocked is an intense experience. Peer pressure is not just something our teens go through. We are always in danger of being molded into the world’s image.

Who are we?

Our Lord and Master was vilified, He was falsely accused of insanity. But perhaps, it is the other way around. Perhaps it is this world, and its bondage and sicknesses that are ill.

You must decide.

Please see these four very good links: “Was Jesus Crazy?,” and “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ” and “Evidence or Blind Faith?” or “Who Would Die for a Lie?“

Bible Study Links

Something different.

Top 10 Useful Study Links

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15

Consider putting these links if you like on your bookmark bar. Some sites need to be explored. Some of these links have apps that can be very useful for use on your phone. When I first compiled this link list I had 25. I culled out these 10 which are the best. If you would like the full list please let me know. Slowe299@yahoo.com.

You may distribute this list freely.

biblegateway.com/, Many Bible translations, comparisons

thetreasuryofscriptureknowledge.com/, Cross references. A classic. KJV.

enduringword.com/, David Guzik’s commentary on the whole Bible

desiringgod.org/articles,. John Piper’s site comes with a search window

blueletterbible.org/, Greek, Hebrew dictionary, quite useful

gotquestions.org/, Excellent site, search questions, comprehensive

christian-quotes.ochristian.com/, Over 1000 quotes by Christian leaders

reasonabletheology.org/ , apologetics, comments, theology in plain language

Operationworld.org, intercession for the world, new country every day, get app.

executableoutlines.com/links.html, many links, a good site, expansive

Extras, I couldn’t resist. 😁

https://alaskabibleteacher.com/, my site, discipleship and ministry posts 2x week.

https://kingdavid101.com/, my other site, slowly walking through the life of David.

I really, truly hope that this list helps you.

When You Sift Wheat

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.”

“So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31-32

I’ve been thinking about failure; it is something that I am really, really good at. In my over 40 years of walking with Jesus, I realized that I’ve experienced more weak moments then strong. I have easily failed more than I have succeeded. I am embarrassed by this.

I’ve sinned, and failed more as a Christian, than I ever did as a pagan sinner. And things sometimes show little sign of improving.

Simon Peter is about to undergo a trial so intense and difficult, that unless Jesus intervenes it will probably destroy Peter!

(The only other blatant attack where Satan seeks permission is in the life of Job. It is reasonable to believe that the forces of hell are concentrated on Peter.)

You and I undergo some of this onslaught ourselves. We go through periods of intense trial. Everything just falls apart, and we lose hope. I’ve had several periods like that, it’s like a tornado from hell bears down upon my life.

But there is something remarkably good in all of this.

First, Jesus is praying for me to endure. He is the faithful intercessor for my soul.
Second, He gives us a modicum of understanding by warning us of the approaching storm. Peter is told ahead of time of what was going to happen.
Third, the wheat will be sifted. Sifting or winnowing of the grain is necessary, it’s a good and godly work of the Holy Spirit. It is a good thing, as it builds your faith.
Four, you will survive to strengthen your brothers and sisters.

All pain and failure gives us a mandate to serve others. Our weakness gives us a spiritual license to become a shepherd of mercy and hope. (You could say that you are now a licensed minister.)

We can ask for nothing more; it is a good and profound work to serve others.

In love’s work, only sifted people can truly serve.

The London Underground

“And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.’

Mark 6:31, ESV

Our Savior would never drive us to do things with a whip. He is not a taskmaster, and He will not insist or impose His will over us. Nothing about him is brutal or demanding. (He could, really– if he wanted to.)

There are no galley-slaves in the ship of the Kingdom of Jesus – every man chooses to work his oar out of love!

It is interesting that Jesus was very careful and aware of his disciples needs. No one suggested a break from the work, but Jesus initiated the break from the massive press of the crowds. He knew intensely what his disciples needed.

“Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.”

Mark 6:31, NCV

The presence of so many people had put the disciples in a very hard place. The NCV describes the crowds, as “coming and going.” If you have ever been on the London Underground you will understand just the sheer number. Everyday, 2.93 million people ride the trains. I remember travelling from the backwoods of Alaska, with just a backpack, and hitting the crowds on “the tube” in London, UK.

The intense masses I saw in London were way beyond anything I ever imagined. Talk about a “culture shock! I saw more people in a single minute than in an entire year of living in Alaska. It was like an amazing giant ant-hill; I would stop, and just stare. Nothing prepared me for this.

Jesus is concerned about the living freshness of his disciples. He shuts things down in order to rest with his followers. Often the tendency will be the opposite, especially when the leader is weak and immature. “Work harder, and even more hours!” Jesus did not have the need to be available to the crowds 24/7. And he certainly didn’t expect his disciples to. His heart is committed to his followers.

He “orders” his disciples, come apart and let’s rest!

“But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31, CEV

I don’t know if you can grasp the sensitivity, or see the nuances of Jesus shepherding his disciples. He has a deep awareness of them; he doesn’t get lost by people pressing in from every side. He loves the world of men and women, but his followers are his specialty.

He tunes in on their frequency, and knows their spiritual capacity.

What gives his followers strength, is to be close with Jesus, and to separate from the needs that were densely surrounding them. We can be flattered by being needed, but that can be very corrosive or destructive.

I’m guessing but I believe that a few of the disciples may have been annoyed by this break in the action. They found it hard to remove themselves from the action. Some may have been frustrated, perhaps maybe even slightly irritated by another “Jesus’ retreat.”

“One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.”

Mark 3:20

When you are pouring out, you will find there is only a certain capacity before you run dry. You may think this is “noble and praiseworthy” but it is nothing of the sort. It is a form of arrogance and pride. In order to really mature as a believer, we must shake this off and not to entertain our seeming indispensability to the cause.

We must keep on following Jesus into the quiet places.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28, MSG

Category: advice