The Litmus Test weblog

The Master had said to them, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing the fruit of it.” (Matthew 21:43) They were the leaders of a dry and mystical religion that had no love in it, nor any semblance of a link back to God. But still, they were the leaders. They obeyed the law meticulously, so they didn’t need love or joy or peace or patience, gentleness, self-control, or any of the things that this man talked so much about. However, it was these very qualities that captured the hearts of the people. The leaders had the Law of Moses and the traditions of Judaism, which had been passed down for hundreds of years. Now all their people were being misled by this blasphemer. They would have to do something to gather their sheep back into the fold, or else they would lose their entire nation.

So there was Miriam, Yahshua’s own mother, hearing all the things these respected leaders were saying about her Son. But did she remember the words? “… and a sword will pierce your own soul to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Did she understand that the very thoughts of their hearts were being revealed?

His Circle of Disciples

“Can you please give this message to my son?” she asked the nearest bystander. “Please tell him that his mother and brothers are here to see him… We need to talk to him right away.” She waited anxiously for him to come running out. “Surely he’ll come out to talk to me after all I’ve done for him. I mean, I am his mother.”

He would never want to split up families, especially his own family, would he? Would God ever ask such a thing? After a moment or two, she noticed a hush come over the crowd. She strained her ears to hear whether the message had made it to him… Then she heard the reply. Yes, she knew it came from him, she knew his voice so well. “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

Desperately pushing aside those in her way she made her way close so He could see her. But she noticed Him looking around at His circle of disciples who were sitting tightly around him… then He was motioning to them.

“Behold my mother and my brothers? For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Like a knife the words plunged into her soul. He would not come out… He was devoted to those people sitting with Him in there. He would stay with them.

The words of Simeon resounded in her heart with unmistakable clarity. Now she understood. He had now become the sign that would be spoken against. He had become the witness of God on the earth that would be opposed by all the spiritual forces of the evil one. And the evil one was manifested in the leading men of their religion – the preachers of their congregations and synagogues. They were the ones speaking against Him.

But He didn’t care what the religious leaders thought of Him. No, He was gathering people who would set themselves apart to do the same thing He had – to be holy and set apart, a nation separate from the world.

He would establish the true kingdom of God on the earth, even if it separated mother from son and brother from brother. He would not compromise or let the gospel be watered down. He wanted a circle of disciples who would take on His own heart. Therefore He said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) How could His disciples have true love for one another if they all lived their own separate lives? How could their love be shown as a witness so that all men would know and be persuaded that they were true disciples unless they shared a common life together?

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