"He’s not a Tame Lion”

One of the themes you’ll find again and again in the Gospels is how surprising – even shocking – Jesus can be. Take, for example, his demand for absolute discipleship in Luke 14:26. He says,

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”

Jesus was uncompromising in His demand that there be no rivals to him in our lives – not even the members of our own family! Our love and commitment to Him must surpass all other loves and eclipse all other commitments.

Sadly, much of that emphasis has been lost in today’s preaching. Instead, we’ve tried to present Jesus as someone people should like, someone who is “relevant” and fun and always good to have at parties. But mostly this “new Jesus” ends up looking about as interesting as the store manager down at Office Depot. He’s friendly, tame, middle class and safe!

No, you can’t re-imagine Jesus! You can’t turn him into the ‘nice guy’ down the street. You have to take him for Who He really is – as He’s revealed Himself in Scripture. And there you find that he’s rarely “safe”. As Mr Beaver says to Lucy in C S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia (the book, not the movie!) ”He’s not a tame lion!” Nor is He “safe.”

In that same passage from the book, Lucy asks Mr Beaver if Aslan, the Lion representing Christ, is “safe”. To which he responds, "Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

So it is with the real Christ. He’s not safe, but He’s good! He’s the King! I pray God will give us new eyes to see Jesus for Who He really is – not a “tame lion” – but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who is mighty to save!