What if Jesus Meant it?

When asked by pollsters, 90 percent of Americans identify themselves as "kinder than average." If we say we care about the least in the kingdom, if we see ourselves as "kinder than average," if we see ourselves as responsible stewards, then we are content. Contentment does not result in change.


The content mind is one of the greatest obstacles to a rich spiritual life. The content mind is a proud mind.


It has nothing to learn; it has an answer to everything and no more questions to ask. Jesus wants us to have an active mind, like a child's, full of questions. Jesus taught in parables, simple stories even a child could understand. Jesus says we must be like children if we are to enter God's presence---because a child is still capable of learning.

Jesus says we are to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind and we are to love our
neighbor as we love our self.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Luke 10:25-28
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" [27] And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." [28] And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

The lawyer believes he has Jesus trapped in a technicality because in a strict letter of the Law the term neighbor may apply only to someone of the same religion.

Luke 10:29
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus,"And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus tells the lawyer the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach that the spirit---not the letter---of the Law is what God wants of us.

Luke 10:30-37

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you
spend, I will repay you when I come back.' [36] Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" [37] He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

What if Jesus meant that?