In most churches, the preacher stands in the back to greet everyone as they exit. Manners seem to dictate complimenting him, with “good message” being a go-to for many. This can be a little funny coming from someone who spent half the sermon in the restroom or who struggled to keep their eyes opened, but the desire to encourage is undoubtedly sincere. It does make me wonder, though: what makes a “good message”?
Is a good message one that everyone in the audience easily understands? Jesus didn’t seem to think so. “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matt. 13:13). Jesus fully expected that some in His audience just wouldn’t “get it”. Others would, though. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear,” Jesus said to His disciples who came later to work out some of the more difficult things He said (Matt. 13:16).
Do easy life applications make a good message? “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him,” Jesus preached – offending many: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:56, 60). Imagine the talking-to He’d get today after attendance numbers cratered (cf. John 6:66)! The Twelve stayed with Him, though: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68).
Yet even believers sometimes resist what Jesus says. His famous quote, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” received a very negative reaction from Jews who believed in Him (John 8:31-32). “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is that you say, ‘You will become free?’” (John 8:33). Just because we believe in Jesus does not mean we are truly putting our faith in and giving our loyalty to Him as Lord. The challenge to their identity led those believers to try to stone Him (cf. John 8:59).
Jesus’ version of a “good message” expects something of us. It stretches us, challenges us, and makes us think. It is meant to be applied – Jesus didn’t lecture on abstract concepts for knowledge’s sake alone – but the applications are not “easy.” They require a complete reordering of our lives to truly and freely live for God. We need to seek and to preach more “good messages” like that.
Jesus didn’t just preach the most famous sermon of all time: He practiced it every day of His life. That is what He wants for us, too. Learn to Practice What You Preach with us.