it’s all upside down
photo purchased on Shutterstock
“Get used to different.”
-The Chosen
“The truth of the matter is that the whole world has already been turned upside down by the work of Jesus Christ”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The longer I live, the more I experience life personally or through others, the more and more evident it is at just how upside down this life truly is.
This past week was a challenging week for me, and I venture to guess I am not alone. I have written about the holidays and special events before in my blog, Gratitude and Grief, and this Thanksgiving week was no exception. You would think after 20+ years and many holidays since that day back in 2001 when my life completely flipped upside down, that this would get easier and easier, but life doesn’t always get easier and easier in some respects.
photo purchased on Shutterstock
To me, and likely to most followers of Christ, the hardest part of being a Christian, is believing and living in a way that is so opposite of this world and in such opposition to how our minds and reactions are naturally bent. Everything about the Christian walk if you are truly walking the path that Jesus laid out for us, is completely upside down.
Beginning with faith, believing in what we cannot see, or touch, this is upside down when the world believes in science and only in what can be proven. Then there’s the whole virgin birth thing, and Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Again, upside down based on the limitations of our mind and of a world that says we need to be able to scientifically explain everything in order for it to be so.
Scripture tells us, as Christians we are to be different. It tells us that the world will see Jesus in us, in our daily actions, and especially in our words and deeds when times are difficult, and when we are hurting. God’s word tells us to have joy in sorrow, peace in chaos, hope in pain, that meekness is actually strength, and so on. I find living this way takes complete submission to God, especially when my heart is breaking, but isn’t that what being different is all about?
It’s all upside down when we live the Christian life.
photo purchased on Shutterstock
This past week I saw the first two shows of season three of The Chosen. If you haven’t been watching The Chosen, I highly, highly recommend checking it out. This is a series that runs through an app which you can get for your phone, iPad, and or TV, but they will sometimes offer big screen viewings of certain parts of the series, as was the case this time as they kick off season three.
The phrase, “Get used to different,” came from the Jesus character in season one. It really resonated with me then and has stayed with me as I continue to walk this road of faith. Being a follower of Christ in this world will be nothing short of different. Again, it’s all upside down when we decide to follow Jesus.
Before going on, I want to share this quote from the creator of The Chosen, Dallas Jenkins, because I think it clarifies any questions you might have towards the authenticity of his depiction of things in the movie.
“We are changing how the story is delivered, because we want people to think deeper about these stories. To be clear, we’re not changing anything that’s in the gospels. We’re just using historical and cultural context to expand on the character backstories, so that we can connect to the gospel stories even more personally.” ~The Chosen’s Dallas Jenkins
To the point made above, there was one particular scene in the movie we saw this past week that penetrated to the core of my heart. While there is no indication in scripture that Jesus and Little James actually had such a conversation as I describe below, it isn’t hard to imagine that they could have. It was one of the most tender and articulate descriptions of the beauty in being different, why God doesn’t always “fix” our brokenness, and how He uses the upside-down part of faith for His glory.
photo purchased on Shutterstock
It was a beautiful scene where Jesus had an emotional and tender conversation with “Little James,” one of the twelve apostles. Scripture tells us that Little James was smaller in stature than the other apostle also named James and known as James the son of Zebedee. Little James is known in scripture as James the son of Alphaeus, and although the Bible does not mention this detail, tradition relates that he was born with a form of paralysis which gave him a limp that he would have his entire life.
The scene was the first time that Jesus was sending the apostles out into the world. He was pairing them up, two-by-two and they were being sent out to perform miracles and to share the word about Him. Little James came to Jesus after He had paired them all together, and very lovingly, respectfully, and with deep pain, he asked Jesus Why? Why would you send ME out to heal others when I am afflicted and weak?
photo purchased on Shutterstock
Then he asked Jesus why He hadn’t healed him yet, and why He wasn’t healing him first before sending him out to heal others? Wouldn’t people laugh at him, a cripple, preaching about the healing power of Jesus, testifying of miracles that he himself had witnessed and was now performing, and yet that very same Jesus hadn’t healed him?
I don’t know about you, but I’m with Little James. I think those are excellent questions with strong support behind why he needed to know. But Jesus, had compassion for Little James. He did not get angry or talk down to him. He did not cast shame upon him for asking such heartfelt questions. Instead he felt compassion for him and comforted him. Jesus reminded him that he could heal him, but by not healing him and sending him out to heal others and teach others about Jesus in spite of his own brokenness, struggles, and pain, how much greater his testimony would be.
“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” - Billy Graham
There’s no doubt if you follow Jesus you will live in an upside-down world. Just read His Sermon on the Mount where Jesus teaches of the virtues and values in life that seem completely upside down to us and this world, but He promises lead to blessings and rewards.
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God works through incredibly flawed people. Truth is, we are all broken. God could have chosen to only work through people who have their acts together, but he wouldn’t get much done that way.
“We who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 GNT).
He uses weak people to show His power. Scripture is filled with examples of how God works through hurt and broken people. In order for God to use you greatly, like Little James, you will walk with a “limp” the rest of your life. Our humanity is actually one of our greatest strengths. Don’t hide your weaknesses, they force you to depend upon God and He is glorified through them.
“Get used to different.”
When you follow Jesus, things won’t always make sense to you, life will rarely make sense to you, but Jesus promises us that nothing we go through is wasted.
1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful” (GNT).
That way, He receives glory.
Referenced: Rick Warren-Why God Uses Weak People
