During Christmas, I kept thinking of Simeon’s blessing when Jesus was presented in the temple. He told Mary and Joseph that through Jesus, “the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” That line reminds me that Jesus is not just a good morals teacher.
When we diminish his ministry to simple lessons about kindness or decency, we miss what's supposed to unsettle us. The gospel doesn’t just comfort us. It also exposes us.
And when the gospel of Jesus is preached in full, his call to repentance, his solidarity with the poor, his challenge to power, and people respond with fear, anger, defensiveness, or exclusion, that doesn't mean the gospel (or preacher 😂) has failed. It means what Simeon said: hearts are being revealed.
Stay blessed...john
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