Jesus: No Community Organizer

Jesus Was Not a Community Organizer
by Torrey H. Brinkley

Some liberal politicians have recently tried to identify Jesus of Nazareth as a "community organizer." Even certain political candidates of today, who claim to have been "community organizers" cannot properly identify the term, and explain what they did, or attempted to do.

But, to be certain, Jesus of Nazareth, born some 2000 years ago, was not one who came into this world to organize any communities. There have been many attempts down thru the years to pigeon-hole Jesus into being something that he was not.

Even during his own lifetime, folk had trouble identifying what Jesus' life purpose and mission might have been:
--We see that Magi (or wise men from the East) thought that Jesus was born "King of the Jews" (Matthew 2: 2). Matthew puts Jesus' geneology right in line as being the "son of David" (Matthew 1:1), and notes that the Roman soldiers at his death put a sign above Jesus' head at the cross saying "This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:37).
-- Many scholars in the last century noted that Jesus was a good moral teacher, but nothing more. Early on, the writers of the Gospels observed that Jesus was far more than that. God spoke from Heaven, saying "This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17). Even the Devil, as he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness, called him "the Son of God" (Matthew 3:3, 6).
--Enemies of Jesus thought he was there to stir up the people, and cause them to rebel against authority. But the Scriptural biographies of his life show that he preached and taught with and about godly "authority", and backed it up by healing their diseases and sicknesses, even curing the demon-possesed, the paralyzed and the lame (Matthew 4: 23-24).
--Some folk think that Jesus just wanted to establish an idyllic religious community, solely contemplating about heaven. Yet, clearly, Jesus spent much time calling "tax collectors and sinners" to be forgiven and transformed (Mark 2:14-17).
--In Jesus' day his enemies did not understand what he was doing, nor did they recognize His power and authority (from God). They accused him of being out of his mind or possessed by Beelzebub (the prince of demons)....see Mark 3:21-22.
--Jesus did not come to organize a small community of people who were needy, so as to make them feel good about themselves. He came to plant seeds of a kingdom of God, that would extend to the furthest corners of the world (Mark 4: 30-31).
--Christ knew that His mission was not to bring "peace" into the world, or to solve community issues. His message and claims were so radical that families were divided. "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents & have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me." (Matt.10:21-22.)
--Jesus Christ was far from being a politician who wanted all people to love and admire and follow him or vote for him. As a matter of fact, He did so many things that caused others to hate and dispise him (Luke 6:22):
+++he warned the rich that they were in trouble (Luke 6: 24)
+++those who foretold the future with lies & deceit were condemned (Luke 6:26)
+++Jesus demanded a kingdom where his followers were to love their enemies, and pray for those who persecuted them (Luke 6: 27-28).
+++Christ actually told his followers to lend & give away possessions (even to total strangers) without expecting anything back in return (Luke 30:36).
+++Unlike politicians who constantly criticise those who diagree with them, Jesus warned everyone not to be a hypocrite, but to beware of the log in our own eye (Luke 6:41-42).

Perhaps no one understood Jesus of Nazareth better than his closest disciple, John, who wrote, in his extensive treatise on Christ's life, that Jesus was not a mere mortal who was born and died, frustrated in not accomplishing his life's goals. Rather John portrays Jesus as:
**He was the WORD of God (come in the flesh) ...John 1:1
**Jesus was the LIGHT of the World (which had lived in darkness).....John 1:9 & 3:19-21
**Christ was, in fact, the sacrificial LAMB of God, who died to take away the sins of all mankind (John 1:29 and 3:16-18).
**For those who are hungry, Jesus is the BREAD of life (that came down from Heaven as did the manna in the wilderness)....John 6:35 and 41, 48-51.
**For those who are thirsty in the community, Jesus says "I am the living WATER" ....John 7: 37-38.
**Many people feel lost and abandoned. Jesus said: "I am the good SHEPHERD" ...John 10:11, and he was willing to die for his sheep.
**When Jesus' good friend had died from an illness, Jesus did not organize an elaborate community memorial service; he brought Lazarus back to life. For he said "I am the RESURRECTION & THE LIFE." .....John 11:25-26.
**Jesus notes that there are a lot of trees in the forest, but His is the one with the right branches and bearing the good fruit. "I am the true VINE, and you are the branches. Remain in Me and I in you, and you will bear much fruit." ....John 15:5
**For people confused by all the rival ideologies and political systems and economic realities in this world, Jesus gave the definitive answer (that almost all public school educators, liberal theologians and politicians categorically reject today), "I am the WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except thru me." ....John 14: 6.

Pilate, the politician, claimed that he did not know the definition of truth (John 18:38). But Jesus claimed to testify of the truth, and that everyone on the side of truth would listen to him.(John 18:23 & 37).

Wise men today still seek him and pay attention to His instruction. The community around Jesus ( the religious leaders, the soldiers, the political establishment and rebellious sinners) all rejected Jesus at the end. They did not like His message, even though he healed their diseases, fed them when they were hungry, and shared about God's great love for them. Those who were humbled, convicted and repentant were grateful for such wonderful transforming news!

Thankfully, Jesus was the "resurrection and the life", and he came up from the tomb, giving life and hope to all who follow Him in grace and truth. (See Peter's observation in Acts 2: 31-33).

Will you cast your vote for King Jesus.......and put aside all pretenders?


---The author served as a church-planting missionary to Spain and in pastoral ministries in Colorado and Kansas.