In this recent Christmas season, there was a lot of talk of “baby Jesus”.  Some even use that as an expression.  Many speak of “sweet Jesus”.  Certainly, he was a baby. Certainly, he is kind.

Some of the most often cited scriptures in the entire Bible are His words about being our Shepherd, a good one at that.  And that His Father so loved all of us that he sent his one and only son – Yeshua – to die for us so that any who believe in him would be saved, and not perish.  You know many more verses about him being the Way, the truth and the life. He was the perfect son of God. He is our Lord. He’s great, he’s love, he’s terrific, he’s kind and he’s forgiving.  All that is absolutely true.   

But how often does your pastor ever preach these other verses that are also words spoken by the son of God?  Paul and Peter and others certainly did. Paul spoke of the “severity of God”, as well as his goodness. God is love.  But God is also just. Sometimes his justice frankly can be severe, especially at people who don’t believe or won’t obey.  And faith/belief and obedience go hand in hand, frankly. 

Paul didn’t mince his words. In talking to the Romans – and you can go back and get the entire context about the Olive tree analogy – look what Apostle Paul says:

Romans 11:21-22

For if God did not spare the natural branches [the Jews], He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness AND severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, IF you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”

Ministers love the gentle verses about forgiveness, patience, grace, and God’s patience and so on.  And so do I.  I love to preach of God’s grace and his imputed righteousness we receive by faith, as so many scriptures teach.  But I also want to be sure to give you, what Paul calls “the WHOLE counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).  So this blog – which could develop into an even more exhaustive sermon on the topic – will do just that:  talk about other words of Yeshua that are just as true and pertinent as the ones which are often quoted. 

Again, how often do you ever hear these scriptures used in church or on the radio?  Brace yourself. You may be surprised these words came from Yeshua.  But remember: he is a loving king and Savior to those who seek Him and submit to him as Lord of lords, king of kings.  But to those who carelessly believe they don’t need to change, don’t need to overcome, don't need to be prepared and ready for his coming, and don’t need to seek him with all their might – they WILL be in for a big surprise.  So here we go; remember these are Yeshua’s OWN words!  Check them out! 

Luke 12:45-48 -- “But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

Have I made my point?  “Jesus said that?”   I can hear people thinking that already. Yes he did.  Yeshua spoke of beating ineffective servants with stripes?  Yes.   Click on “continue reading” to read a few more tough sayings of our King.   This should help you understand that our king is not just a “baby Jesus” or always a “sweet Jesus”.  If we don’t obey him or prepare for him, his coming will be a very, very sharp wake-up call for many – including many who call themselves his followers, as you shall see.

 It’s NOT enough to claim he is your “Lord” or “Master”.  Our actions and way of life have to prove our words.  Listen to your Lord on this. Remember HE is speaking here:

Matthew 7:21-23    "NOT everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22 MANY will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  23 And then I will declare to them, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, you who practice lawlessness!'

Notice these are people who claim to be believers. They claim to have had power to even cast out demons in Christ’s name and perform miracles, perhaps healings, in his name – and yet they hear him shout at them -- “GET OUT of my sight! I never knew you!”  They apparently were not people who were seeking and doing God’s will in their lives (v. 21). 

I hope these verses are making you and me realize being a believer in Christ is very serious business!  The “goodness and severity of God” – remember that?  It’s for real.

If we have sins and after repentance, remain in a lifestyle of sin as a way of life – well, let’s let Yeshua say it.  After healing the blind man who was now worshiping his Healer…

John 9:40-41 “Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.”

Ouch!  When we sin when we know better, that’s far more serious than sin done in ignorance.  I preach to myself.  I believe many of us know better when we’re doing wrong. It’s gotta stop – for if we see what we’re doing and do it anyway, “your sin remains.”  Not my words.  HIS words.  I hope some of you are waking up from a false sense of security in the soft preaching of some.  Don’t harbor sins. Don’t cuddle up to temptations.  It’s time to wipe them out of your life.  After repentance, prove your repentance with real changes happening in your life.

I think I’ll give a whole sermon on this topic of “the tough Jesus”, because there are SO many more examples. 

Do you know Yeshua - speaking directly to Peter – called him “Satan” – because he was repeating a thought Satan had put into Peter’s head, that Christ would not have to die!  Read it for yourself:

Mark 8:32-33 -- “He spoke this word [of his impending death] openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He [Yeshua] had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked PETER, saying, "Get behind Me, SATAN! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

One time a Gentile woman pleaded to him to heal her daughter. Gentiles were often called “dogs” by Jews.  I’m sure Yeshua had a reason for saying what he said, and the way he said it, and to whom he said it, but it’s still shocking. Read it in Matthew 15:21-28.  I’ll quote part of it:

Matthew 15:25-28 “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"

26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

How about this one?  Someone’s dad had just died.  The man wanted to be a follower of Yeshua and asked if he could first bury his dad.  Here are Yeshua’s tough words:

Matthew 8:21-22   Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."  22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

In the messages to the 7 churches we find once more some very tough talk from Yeshua to especially five of the seven churches.  Study Revelation 2 and 3 on your own and you’ll see what I mean.  He calls Sardis spiritually dead in Revelation 3.  Laodicea – he says if they don’t repent, he’ll vomit them out!  And so on. He’s very, very tough on most of the churches. What would he say about your congregation?  

Are you ready for more?

Matthew 10:32-33 -- "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Titus 1:16 says we can be denying our Savior by our actions.  Read it for yourself.   So, are you hearing THESE verses where you attend church?  Pastors, we should be preaching the entire Bible, and not just the soft and easy parts.

Luke 12:49-53 -- “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!  51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.  52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.  53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

And I haven’t even begun to talk about what he said to the religious leaders of his day – especially in Matthew 23.  He called them sons of snakes and whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones.  And you know who “THE snake” is, right? 

My intentions are several with this blog:

• Come to know the real Jesus of the Bible. Yes, he certainly was kind, and gentle – but he also could be, at times, very, very tough. 
• Take your high calling very seriously.  You and I will be called to account to how well we have used our calling and the opportunities and gifts given us.
• Put your whole energy into preparing for his calling. Be a good servant, helping others, carrying their burdens and thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). 

You’ve received a sneak preview of the fuller sermon on this topic that will come soon, God willing. 

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