Jesus, Unhook Us from the Crazy!
It was the final week of Jesus’ life—the week we now call Holy. Two days before the Passover meal, three days before He would be crucified, Jesus sat with His disciples on the Mount of Olives. The world around them was chaotic, oppressive, and uncertain. They came to Him, seeking reassurance, asking, “Jesus, unhook us from this crazy!”
We know that feeling. Life can feel overwhelming, full of hardships and uncertainties. We’ve described it as:
- Life on rocky ground
- Life in the cracks of the pavement
- Life in the crevasses of suffering
In times of hardship, we face a choice: Will we allow trials to deepen our character, or will they harden our hearts? Will we choose holiness or hardness? The difference is in our response.
The Call to Stay Awake and Be Ready
The disciples wanted answers—When will this all end? What will be the signs? But Jesus didn’t give them a timeline. Instead, He urged them to stay faithful, to be ready, to keep watch.
He spoke of signs—nations at war, false prophets, love growing cold—but also of hope: “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find faithful when he returns.” (Matthew 24:46)
Then Jesus told a story—the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). It’s a powerful, unsettling message. In this vision of the final judgment, Jesus, as King, separates the righteous from the wicked based on one simple standard: How did they respond to the needs of others?
To the righteous, He says: “I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” They are surprised: “Lord, when did we see you?”
And He replies, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.”
But to the others, He says: “I was in need, and you did nothing.” And their fate is sealed.
Seeing, Caring, and Acting
Jesus measures our discipleship by how well we love. The judgment is not about religious knowledge or church attendance—it’s about action. Both the sheep and the goats called Him Lord. The difference? One group saw, cared, and acted. The other did not.
What keeps us from seeing?
- Political divisions
- Economic status
- Appearance
- Busyness or complacency
Jesus calls us to break down these barriers. Every human being is made in the image of God. Every hungry, thirsty, sick, or imprisoned person is precious in His sight. This truth should shatter every excuse we’ve ever made for looking the other way.
The Challenge: Abide and Serve
Abiding in Jesus isn’t just about prayer and Bible study—it leads to action. If we truly abide in Him, we will ooze Jesus in our daily lives. If we spend more time abiding in negativity, division, or selfishness, we will reflect those things instead.
Jesus measures our faith not just by our belief, but by our love in action. So, until He returns, our mission is clear:
- See the needs around us.
- Care as if we were serving Christ Himself.
- Act with compassion and justice.
Let’s live the compassionate life. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world. And let’s do it not just because it’s good—but because when we serve the least, we serve Him.
