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REFLECTION
Jesus stirs up trouble is the theme for our reflection. To stir up trouble means to cause an unpleasant emotion or problem to begin or grow. It also means to rebel against the existing order or authority. Jesus stirs up trouble means His speech or actions caused unpleasant emotions or agitation among some groups of leaders. We shall reflect on the fact that speaking the truth to hypocritical and prideful leaders stirs up trouble.

Beloved in the Lord, speaking truth to power may either bring about transformation or may cause agitation or resistance from those in power. God-fearing and humble leaders listen when their shortcomings or weaknesses are being spoken about or exposed but arrogant or prideful leaders react with unpleasant emotions, antagonism and vindictiveness. Jesus demonstrated His boldness in exposing the hypocrisy and pride of the Scribes and the Pharisees. “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them…The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-4,11-12). Jesus was hated by the Jewish leaders because His teachings directly confronted or exposed their hypocrisy and pride. Indeed Jesus and many other servants of God who came before Him and after Him were regarded as trouble-makers by the corrupt, hypocritical, arrogant and ungodly leaders of Israel. Jesus, however, assures us that “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

In a morally corrupt and unjust society, the servants of God are perceived to be people who stir up trouble because in preaching the Word of God, the ills and rots of society including that of leaders are exposed without fear or favour. “For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. (Mark 6:18-20). John was eventually killed because he was seen as one who stirs up trouble. Unfortunately, many pastors and Christian preachers fear stirring up trouble that will bring about moral and spiritual transformation because they are in bed with politicians and their integrity has been compromised. Some pastors or Christian leaders openly show their allegiance to political parties and refuse to speak against the government in power if their appointees abuse power and mismanage state funds. Many church leaders and preachers in our era are more hypocritical than the leaders in Jesus’ time. Many of us preach what we do not practice.

When our church members or congregants point out shortcomings we retaliate by using the pulpit to insult and curse them. We see some of our church members as enemies and people who stir up trouble in our tenure of leadership. Upon careful reflection, all they are persuading and encouraging us to do is to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ in teaching and living by the truth thereby becoming light in the darkness. Jesus admonishes us, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23). We are greatly encouraged as leaders and above all, disciples of Jesus Christ to do the will of God in speaking the truth and living according to the Word of God.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Jesus stirs up trouble.” We have discovered that speaking the truth to ungodly, hypocritical and prideful leaders stirs up trouble.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to follow the example of Jesus Christ in speaking the truth without fear or favour. Grant us the boldness of Jesus to do the will of God in speaking truth to power even in the midst of vindictiveness, antagonism, and resistance from arrogant, and hypocritical leaders. Amen.