If you missed part one of this, go here.
The second biblical example of this phenomenon actually happened many, many times. I will just pick one at random for us to take a look at.
I’m talking about the ‘high places‘ of false worship that became an ongoing struggle for God’s chosen people throughout the entire Old Testament.
Here are a few examples…
“I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you.” Lev. 26:30
“drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.” Num. 33:52
“The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD.” I KINGS 3:2
“They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.” I Kings 14:22
Pay extra attention to I Kings 3:2. What this verse tells us is that the Israelites mixed worship of the one true God with pagan worship and empty trappings simply because they were too lazy to do it right. This is key to understanding the deadly compromise of Jesus junkin it and how easy it is to exchange real worship for worthless imitation.
- It takes less effort
- It brings less scrutiny
- It makes most people happy
- It’s tolerant of other religions
- It’s inclusive of even pagan methods
- It’s a fast track to success
- It will fill the building in no time flat
Let’s face it, sometimes (not all, but definitely ‘sometimes‘) God’s ways are not too popular. Jesus was good at drawing a crowd and even better at driving them away.
Here’s a great example:
“58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”
66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
Many left? How many? Well, most scholars see anywhere from 70 to several hundred disciples loosely following Jesus to this point in His ministry. Let’s assume there were 150 or so. Since the text tells us a few verses later that only the 12 remained, we know that at least 138 called it quits that day.
But wait, it gets worse–far worse!
Jesus was actually teaching upwards of 20,000 people that day (including women and children). And the end of chapter 6 tells us that this mob wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him their king. But Jesus would have none of it.
Why not? Didn’t Jesus come to be the king of kings? Here’s His chance right here and He blows it? Just walks away and rejects the offer?
Yep.
And the reason has to do with ‘Jesus Junk.’
They didn’t want Jesus, they wanted the happy meal dispensing, feel good, kick Rome’s butt, heal all that ails me, make me wealthy and prosperous Jesus–and someone who could take one little boy’s lunch and turn it into enough fish and chips for 20,000 seemed like a great place to start!
They wanted temporary stuff–junk compared to getting Jesus Himself. Of Him, they just weren’t interested.
Give me the junk!
But Jesus? No thanks.
Now, back to the high places real quick…
In the Old Testament these high places were set up to worship all kinds of false gods from other cultures. And it was a constant problem for God’s chosen people. They were far more attracted to the junk than the God who loved them and took care of them. A poor trade if you ask me. And it went on year after year, decade after decade, century after century and millenia after millenia. In fact, it still goes on today for believers unless they keep a careful watch on it.
Which are you into?
Jesus? Or the junk we often adorn Him with?