What Jesus Did Not Tell His Disciples to Do, but

Jesus did not tell his disciples to buy smokin’ hot cars, or huge mansions to impress the neighbors.

        But he did say the son of man has no place to lay his head and to travel lightly.          

Jesus did not tell his disciples to spread malicious gossip about others to make yourself appear better.

        But he did say a simple yes or no should suffice; your character should speak for itself.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to condemn those that are different that you.

        But he did tell them to ignore specks in others eyes and be aware of logs in their own.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to distort ideas to make you ideas appear better than they are.

        But he told them he was the truth, the life and way, and they should imitate him.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to be one issue political voters and resent taxes.  

        But he did say render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is God’s.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to act like self-righteous snobs.

        Micah tells us to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to party till they barf.

        But he did turn 180 gallons of water into wine and celebrate life with others.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to be bigots or self loathing.

        But he did tell us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to be greedy miserly money grapping materialists.

        Be he did said, “to who much is given much is required.”

Jesus did not tell his disciples life would be fair.

        Scripture tells us rain falls on the just and the unjust. We can be fair.

Jesus did not tell his disciples that the poor were poor because they were bad people.

        But he did tell us to take of our brother and sisters.

Jesus did not say the wealthy were wealthy because they were better and smarter people, nor did he say it was bad to be rich.

But he did say it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than to bet into heaven and wealth was to shared.

Jesus did not tell his disciples that what goes around comes around.

        But he did say our riches will be in heaven.

Jesus did tell his disciples that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

        But he did tell about great rejoicing in heaven over the saving of a single soul.

Jesus never seemed to argue with the common folk, he just told them instructive stories about how to live.

        But did take on the stubborn legalists who condemned others for not acting the way they wanted.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to hate their enemies and badmouth and tell lies about their character.

        But he told them to feed his sheep as an act of love for him and for them.

Jesus did not tell his disciples that children should be seen and not heard or live in poverty.

        But he did say that to be part of his kingdom we should have childlike trust and care for them.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to lock people up in jail for their sins.

        Jesus told the sinners to go and sin no more and that he loved them.

Jesus did not tell his disciples that the end justifies the means and it was okay to lie about enemies.

        But he did tell them to be peacemakers, to be meek, merciful, pure in heart and righteous.

Jesus taught in the beatitudes that the blessing was in doing the action that was right, not just a reward for correct behavior. You are blessed when you are poor in spirit, hungering for righteousness, hated for standing up for your ethical beliefs. You don’t earn your blessings by doing certain things, you are blessed in the doing of loving things. We are able to love because we are loved.

Today, following in the footsteps of Jesus, or Mohammed, or Confusion, or Buddha, or Gandhi we ought to do the right thing just because it is the right thing.

Unconditional love that was taught by all the great religious leaders is just that, unconditional.