What Did Jesus Teach?
The moment we seek to discover the emphasis of the Lord’s teaching, as the Synoptists record it, the truth becomes evident. It was specifically and above all a teaching about God.
Jesus ‘came preaching the good news of God.’ That he spoke also of the kingdom of God makes no difference to this fact: for if anything is certain as the result of modern research, it is that the kingdom, in Jesus’ thought, whether it means ‘realm’ or ‘kingship’, is wholly bound up with the character of God. It is something in which he is to come - not a state of things prepared for his coming by human effort. It is true, of course, that Jesus also spoke, and that constantly, of the character and behavior necessary for those who would ‘inherit’, ‘enter into’, of ‘possess’ the kingdom; and that in doing so he purified, simplified, and breathed new life into the ethical code of Judaism. This is no more than to say that, like all great teachers, he spoke both of God and of man, or preached both doctrine and ethics. But whereas contemporary Judaism laid all the stress on man - that is to say on ethics, on what man has to do to fulfill the will of God - it is surely true to say that by contrast the emphasis of Jesus’ teaching is upon God, rather than upon man - upon what God has done, is doing, and shall do for his people.
So he tells of the divine Fatherhood which watches over the lilies, the ravens, and the sparrows; which sends rain upon the just and unjust alike; which understands our needs and gives to us liberally; which is patient and long-suffering. He tells of a God always ready to welcome the prodigal, to search for the lost sheep, to give in his pleasure the kingdom to his flock; and of a heaven where there is infinite joy over the sinner that repents. God sees in secret and shall reward openly; God sows his seed far and wide with a lavish hand, and reveals his innermost thoughts to babes and sucklings. There is another side to the picture of God, though it represents him - whenever the time shall come that there is no more space for repentance - as a judge before whom there is no excuse.
For all the ethical teaching in the gospel, it seems impossible to deny that Jesus’ primary thought and message was about God, and that human conduct in his mind came in a second and derivative place.
From Kenneth Kirk’s The Vision of God
Claude Whitcomb said:
“For all the ethical teaching in the gospel, it seems impossible to deny that Jesus’ primary thought and message was about God, and that human conduct in his mind came in a second and derivative place.”
However, there is a direct relationship between serving people in the name of God and our love for God. How to determine our relationship with God is how we serve people. Hate has many faces from self righteous to gossip. Ignoring people is ignoring God. Loving others is believing that God can change YOU. Yep the chief of sinners are the YOUs in Church. You people help other you people through the grace of God.
Paul writes that loving our neighbor as our self IS fulfilling the laws of God. Serving people with an attitude of CARING [ChristCare groups’ goal] is where God stands. Theology does nothing for the soul. You can memorize the Bible backwards and still end up in hell. It is in CARING FOR THE OTHER is heaven on earth. Caring for others is loving God. Jesus says in Gospel of John, “IF you love me you will obey me.” What did Jesus say in this passage about obeying? Make my JOY complete by LOVING “you” people. By loving “you” people you are loving God.
I have not read this book, so I may have missed the mark [for you Greek minded people, SINNED]. Ethic is one of those words that can be used without caring for others – doing it out of duty. I rather use the words in the Bible, “You want to be great in heaven, be a SERVANT. BUT if you want to be NUMBER ONE in heaven be a SLAVE. My flesh rankles after that BUT! Servant yes but SLAVE, get real Jesus. So I am one of those “you” people. Because, being a servant or slave one has to lower oneself to the “you” people’s level; no matter the level. That is the rub.
A servant or slave is not concerned with ethics but with obedience. Caring for others is not secondary but the primary concern of Jesus. If you horizontal relation is the pits so is your vertical.
Pray Jesus bless your days with His JOY.