Picking Sides
February 03, 2019 | Mike Stancak
Passage: Matthew 12:22-37
This week we begin the next installment in our Matthew series, and we find Jesus in conflict with the religious establishment of his day. Jesus’ claims to authority are total, and the crowds continue to follow him at the expense of the Pharisees. While it is clear that the Spirit of God is backing Jesus’ work, they nevertheless double-down on their resistance to him, sending Jesus into one of his most demanding speeches, a speech that still has lasting relevance to us today. In the mind of Christ, you are either with the Kingdom, or you are against it. Neutrality is not an option. Jesus leaves us asking ourselves the question, “Whose side are we on?”
Series Information
Matthew 12:22 - 20
In the next installment in our Matthew series as we see conflict heating up around Jesus. As his ministry continues, it becomes clear that the values of the Kingdom clash with the arrogance, pride, and apathy of his day, and people start to polarize around him. I'm sure the same will be true of us. At every step we'll find that Jesus' grace is sufficient for the journey, as we learn the way of the Upside-Down Kingdom.