Christ-Centered: Who Would Jesus Center? WWJC? (part 2)

Last week I posted some thoughts based on Ottmar Fuchs' commentary on Mark 3:1-6. Fuchs writes:

"Jesus takes the man with the withered hand from the periphery and places him in the center, in this case the center of the synagogue. That is outstanding, because the center is the place where the Thora, the word of God and God himself has his place. We are not concerned here with a mere center of locality, but a theologically determined center. Also worthy of mention here...are his encounters with leapers, tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners. Many parables also belong here" (1)

I ended by asking: Is it possible that by seeking to move Jesus to the center of our lives or our organizations we are in fact not seeking the Kingdom of God?  Could we be following Jesus more by seeking to center those on the margins than we would be by seeking to bring Jesus to the center?

A good follow-up question might be, not just who does Jesus place in the center, but rather, would Jesus place himself in the center? In John 5:19 we read:

"Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

John 5:19 is one of many texts where Jesus places in the center his father in Heaven.  So one answer to the question of Jesus placing himself in the center, is that he placed in the center his Father.  But further proof of Jesus not placing himself in the center can be found in Phi. 4:5-11.

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."

In this famous passage we see Jesus removing himself from his rightful place (at God's right hand in heaven) and becoming a servant to humanity.  In this action, Jesus is clearly not placing himself in the center.  Even in the end, when Jesus is exalted,  it is God placing him in the center and not Jesus exalting himself.

So if Jesus places into the center those on the periphery, and removes himself from the center, maybe once again we are left with needing to reconsider the term "Christ-centered."  Christ clearly wants others to be the center and not himself.  If we are to follow Jesus being "Christ-centered" might not be a very good goal.  Can we wrap our minds around the idea that Jesus does not want to be the center?  

How often do we seek to place in the center ourselves and our needs?  If we are honest, are we looking out for others our ourselves as we go through the world?  What if in following Jesus placing him in the center is not following him at all?  What if becoming a servant is more in keeping with what Jesus wants us to do?

As we head into Holy Week are we prepared to live into the reality of the kingdom where Jesus is not the center, but rather the servant of all?  Can we dare to be Christ-like and become that type of self-sacrificial servant?

WWJC?

Joel K

(1)  Fuchs, Ottmar, God's People: Instruments of Healing.  Berne: Peter Lang.  1993.  Pg. 49 & 50.

Christ-Centered: Who Would Jesus Center? WWJC? (part 1)

I was in a meeting today and someone used a term I have heard many times - "Christ-centered." Over the years I have heard lots of people use this term. They say they want their lives to be "Christ-centerd." Others use it to describe how they want there organizations to be - often in contrast to other organizations that are viewed as not being "christ-centerd."  We even sing, "Jesus, be the center." Today, as I heard that term, I wondered to myself, "Does Jesus even want to be in the center?." Put another way I asked myself "Who would Jesus put in the center? Or, Who would Jesus Center - WWJC? (hmmm, maybe that could catch on).

In Mark 3:1-6 we find this account of Jesus:

"Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."

Ottmar Fuchs comments on this passage in his book "God's People: Instruments of Healing."  Fuchs notes: 

"Jesus takes the man with the withered hand from the periphery and places him in the center, in this case the center of the synagogue.  That is outstanding, because the center is the place where the Thora, the word of God and God himself has his place.  We are not concerned here with a mere center of locality, but a theologically determined center.  Also worthy of mention here...are his encounters with leapers, tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners.  Many parables also belong here" (1)  

If Fuchs is right, and I think he is, Jesus is always bringing those on the periphery to the center and these are most often people considered the lowest, the least, the last and the lost.  If Jesus is seeking to move to the center the types of people that our culture seeks to move to the margins shouldn't we be doing the same?  If Jesus is concerned with that type of centering we might need to change our song and sing, instead of "Jesus be the center," (insert outsider/outcast) be the center. 

Is it possible that by seeking to move Jesus to the center of our lives or our organizations we are in fact not seeking the Kingdom of God?  If we are called to be Christ-like-ones - which is what Christian means after all - we should be following after Jesus' example and seeking to move to the center the leapers, tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners, and men with withered hands in our world?  Could we be following Jesus more by seeking to center those on the margins than we would be by seeking to bring Jesus to the center?  If Jesus is willing to place a man in need of healing in the center of the synagogue, supplanting the scripture and even God himself, how far are we willing to go to bring those who are on the outside into the center?  

WWJC?

Joel K

(1)  Fuchs, Ottmar, God's People: Instruments of Healing.  Berne: Peter Lang.  1993.  Pg. 49 & 50.

‪#‎JoelsJobJourney‬

Not much happening here during Lent, but I'm posting each day (Mon. -Fri.) on the Book of Job over in Facebook land.   You can follow the discussion on Facebook using the hashtag ‪#‎JoelsJobJourney‬