Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Rampant Megalomania?
Matt. 7:28-29. The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; 29. for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Jesus was different He didn’t quote rabbi so and so but plainly stated, “I say to you.” After He is finished He gives the parable of the two builders and stated that fools and the wise are identified by their adherence of what He has said. John Stott writes, “We cannot escape the implication of all this. The claims of Jesus were put forward so naturally, modestly and indirectly that many people never even notice them. But they are there; we cannot ignore them and still retain our integrity. Either they are true or Jesus is suffering from what C.S. Lewis called “rampant megalomania.” Can it be seriously maintained, however, that the lofty ethics of the Sermon on the Mount are products of a deranged mind? It requires a high degree of cynicism to reach that conclusion.”
Jesus taught as one having authority – exousia – as one at liberty with his jurisdiction. This sermon taught a higher futility in being able to comply than that of the Ten Commandments. This was to show exactly the facts that He was God and was proclaiming this even in His condescension of manhood. In His words, “The kingdom of God is like,” He gives us insight to what He knows about God’s kingdom. This is unfamiliar and amazing stuff to hear as opposed to the traditional dry and dusty orthodoxy of the scribes quoting other men.
Jesus was different He didn’t quote rabbi so and so but plainly stated, “I say to you.” After He is finished He gives the parable of the two builders and stated that fools and the wise are identified by their adherence of what He has said. John Stott writes, “We cannot escape the implication of all this. The claims of Jesus were put forward so naturally, modestly and indirectly that many people never even notice them. But they are there; we cannot ignore them and still retain our integrity. Either they are true or Jesus is suffering from what C.S. Lewis called “rampant megalomania.” Can it be seriously maintained, however, that the lofty ethics of the Sermon on the Mount are products of a deranged mind? It requires a high degree of cynicism to reach that conclusion.”
Jesus taught as one having authority – exousia – as one at liberty with his jurisdiction. This sermon taught a higher futility in being able to comply than that of the Ten Commandments. This was to show exactly the facts that He was God and was proclaiming this even in His condescension of manhood. In His words, “The kingdom of God is like,” He gives us insight to what He knows about God’s kingdom. This is unfamiliar and amazing stuff to hear as opposed to the traditional dry and dusty orthodoxy of the scribes quoting other men.
# posted by Castusfumus : 5:45 PM
