The Idol of Our Justice

As I lay awake last night (for some reason I woke up at around 3 am), my thoughts drifted to Jonah and how he had similarities to the older brother in the Prodigal Son story.  In fact Jonah represented both brothers in the Prodigal Son story in some ways, but his attitude in chapter four is remarkable.  I’m sure this was on my mind from hearing the final message in a sermon series on Jonah from Chip Henderson at Pinelake Church in Starkville (http://pinelake.org/media-resources/sermons/series/jonah/).

Jonah ran from God, got swallowed by a fish, got threw-up onto a beach, then went to Nineveh and preached and the city turned to God.  After all of that, Jonah says to God in 4:2-3, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?  That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.  I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.   Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”  Why?  Why would it be better for him to die than to live?  It had taken him awhile, but he did exactly what God told him to do.  Yet, he was not satisfied.

Several reasons for this are offered by others:

1. The people of Nineveh are the enemies of his people and he would be held in contempt by his own people.  He might be viewed as a traitor.  
2. He didn’t like those people in Nineveh and didn’t want to see them succeed at anything.  He especially didn’t want to see them avoid God’s judgment.  He was racist against those that were not Israelite and prejudiced against their actions.  
3. He could have been scared, although the Bible doesn’t mention fear.  The modern city of Mosul, Iraq is believed to be the site of Nineveh.  Perhaps then it was full of radical Muslim jihads then too.  What if you were told by God to go to Mosul, Iraq today and preach to them.  Mosul is in the middle of a violent fight today between ISIS and the Iraqi Army.  Would you go? 

These seem valid, but I wonder if it wasn’t something deeper.  The Assyrians who lived in Nineveh had undoubtedly done violent and wicked things.  They were so bad that God had limited the number of days that He would withhold His judgment.  Jonah’s message was their last time to turn to Him.  The Israelites were God’s chosen people and they were trying to follow God’s law.  Similarly, the younger brother in the Prodigal Son story left home and did wicked things and wasted all of the resources he had taken.  The older son stayed at home and did what his Father asked.

Yet, when Nineveh turns to God and when the younger brother returns home, both Jonah and the older brother have serious internal problems with it.  This deeper issue is an issue of their perceived justice.  Jonah wanted these terrible people to burn and the city to be wiped away.  The older brother wanted the younger brother to starve and feed pigs.  They both earned their position and should have to deal with the consequences.  That’s man’s justice.  If my own soul was left to man’s justice, I’d split hell wide open, all of us would.

God’s justice is bound by His character which is framed with mercy, grace, and love.  He gives us what we do not deserve and He doesn’t give us what we do deserve.  The death of Jesus creating a way to God overcoming our sin is not what we deserve, yet God’s character required it. 

The inability to accept God’s position regarding who repents and turns to God is idolatry.  Jonah and the older brother both worshiped their version of justice more than God’s decision.  We must be careful to always look to the miracle of repentance in the heart of men more than what we think their consequence should be.  God will not waste any single opportunity in time for anyone to see Him and repent acknowledging He is the one true living God.

Do you love Me?

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” – John 21:15

Jesus asks this question after they had dined around a campfire on fish and bread.  This was just after Jesus had told them where to throw their nets to catch fish and they had caught 153 fish in their net and their net didn’t break!

As I read this question from Jesus, I find that I am unsure what is meant by the words “these”. 

Family.  Some interpretations indicate that “these” refers to the other disciples that were there with Peter and who were his spiritual family.  One Bible version actually poses the question as “do you love me more than they do”.  This would imply that Jesus wanted Peter to recognize his place among them.  He should not be ashamed of where he had been or done or said, but lead these other men with his abundant faith.  If Peter loves Jesus more than the family around him, then he is to feed them and shepherd them.

Fish.  Another interpretation considers that “these” refers to the fish.  Peter as a fisherman would have great elation and joy from being a part of such a significant catch of fish.  This was a real fish story.  I am sure that none of them had ever been a part of such a great catch.  They had been blessed in their work by following Jesus’ instructions and casting where He directed.  Yet, Jesus might have been looking Peter in the eyes and saying “do you love Me more than these fish”.  Is following Me the pursuit of your heart more than this success?  The answer to this question had already been demonstrated.  Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to the shore to be with Jesus rather than hold onto the great catch.  The others all held onto the catch and brought it into shore.  Jesus is asking Peter to verify that he loves Jesus more than the temporary emotions of earthly success. 

Friends/Foes.  A last interpretation might be that “these” refers to all the people in the world.  Jesus is asking if Peter loves Him more than all the people in the world.  After Peter says he does, the Jesus instructs for him to feed them spiritually and shepherd them.  “Make disciples” Jesus had told them.  Jesus knew that some people would become friends but many would become foes and oppose him.  Jesus seems to be saying “do you love Me more than the adoration or the hate of men?”  “Do other people have more influence upon you than I do?” 

I believe Jesus meant all of these when He asked Peter this question and we need to carefully examine each category in our own lives. 

1. Do we love Jesus more than our family?  Are we willing to feed and shepherd them spiritually? 
2. Do we love Jesus more than our vocation?  Are we willing to leave it all behind and follow wherever He leads at any time?  Are we willing to be better defined as a Christ follower than as a (insert name of your earthly success)? 
3. Do we love Jesus more than any person on earth?  Are we willing to stand and try to feed the spiritually even if they love us too much or hate us too much?

We must decide how we will answer this question that Jesus asks Peter.