Issue 145
It’s risky to generalise, but it’s probably true to say that every one of us is in the business of supplying products or providing services. The focus of your supply or provision may be external to the public or customers or internal to your colleagues or employers but very few, if any of us, cannot see a product or service component to our work.
There is an ambition built into many strategies which is designed to prosper individuals and organisations: it is the ambition to exceed expectations. For some, this is merely an option which, should they choose to take it, creates goodwill, but for others it is essential to the survival of the business. Either way, it is a good ambition to have and is likely to make work more satisfying and rewarding.
There’s no doubt that this ambition is a biblical one. The Sermon on the Mount is full of examples such as walking two miles when expected to walk one, turning the other cheek when expected to retaliate or giving more than the requesting person expects. These principles work when you know someone’s expectations and strive to give them a pleasant surprise by exceeding them.
If you stand back for a minute, you will realise that the Old Testament is full of expectation for a coming Messiah. With the benefit of hindsight we now read the Old Testament through the filter of fulfilled prophecies, recognising that in Jesus of Nazareth the expectations came true.
Why was it then that most of the first hearers of his message rejected him? Why did they not see through the same eyes as those of us who now believe? I would suggest to you that the reason is because they had different expectations. They were looking for a leader to liberate the population from occupation and establish a powerful national freedom – a strong and independent state. Military, political and financial power was part of their expectation. When Jesus of Nazareth came preaching peace, suffering and simplicity, he did not fit – he still doesn’t. The challenge today for you is that many people still have false expectations of Christ and Christianity. For some, their expectations are very low but for most, they are simply inaccurate.
On a day to day basis we are challenged to surprise those around us by delivering what they do not expect. Painting, stroke by stroke, a picture of Christ that is accurate and probably completely contrary to the expectations of others is our task. Even more challenging is that as you paint the real picture, there is no guarantee it will be admired. The original Jesus surprised people so much that they couldn’t bear the mismatch between the dream they had and the reality they encountered. Their surprise turned to anger and violence and rejection. It still does.
The good news, however, is that for many, then and now, the surprise is so positive that they will decide to come back to him time and time again and give their lives to him. Their expectations have been so exceeded that it is Jesus of Nazareth with whom they want to deal, time and time again. So it will be as you paint your picture – extreme reactions to a surprising Messiah. What do you expect from this Christianity business?
Luke 7: 24-35
24After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31“To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ 35But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
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Geoff Shattock
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