We have a long and infamous record of facing God-in-the-flesh and telling him that he is either mistaken or wrong. The hubris of the human soul surely causes the heavenly audience to gasp is horror on a regular basis. For my part I can only shake my head in shame as I remember the numerous times I have unjustly challenged people much wiser than I and I tremble at the thought that I have been so bold as to consider myself “counsel” to God.

The gospels bluntly witness to this hellish phenomenon. Take a look at Luke’s list of all the people who decided the position they held was right and righteous even if it opposed Jesus.

2.48-Jesus’ Parents: Jesus treated them wrongly by worrying them.

4.20-Jesus’ Hometown: Jesus was just “Joseph’s son” and not the fulfillment of scripture.

4.28-Jesus’ Hometown: Jesus did not speak from God, but was a blasphemer worthy of death.

5.21-Pharisees: Jesus cannot forgive sin.

5.30-Pharisees and Scribes: Jesus can’t keep company with tax collectors and other social outcasts.

6.1-Pharisees: Jesus and his disciples have no right to labor (even for basic food) on the Sabbath.

6.11-Scribes and Pharisees: Jesus was not allowed to heal on the Sabbath

6.30-Pharisees and Lawyers: Jesus testimony about the “Baptism of John” was incorrect, John’s baptism was not of worth

7.39-Simon the Pharisee: Jesus is not a prophet because he allowed himself to be touched by a sinful woman.

7.49- Dinner guests: Jesus has no right to forgive sins.

8.37 -Garasenes: Jesus had no right to deprive them of their pigs.

8.53- Mourners of Jairus’ daughter: Jesus has no power over death

9.13- Disciples: Jesus cannot work though ordinary people to feed thousands of people.

10.29 -A Lawyer: Jesus’ definition of who is a “neighbor” was incorrect.

10.40- Martha: Disagreed with Jesus allowing Mary’s to sit and learning at his feet.

11.15-Members of a crowd: Jesus casts ort demons by Satan’s power not God’s.

11.27 A woman: Disagreed with Jesus regarding the veneration of Mary.

11.45- Lawyers/Pharisees: Disagreed with Jesus regarding the condition of their souls.

13.1- Unnamed: Disagreed about the righteousness of desecrated Galileans.

15.2- Pharisees and Scribes: Disagreed with Jesus hanging out with, and loving, sinners.

16.14- Money-loving Pharisees: Disagreed regarding serving money and God simultaneously.

18.9- Ones that trusted in themselves for righteousness and viewed others with contempt: Disagreed with Jesus statement that God loves the penitent heart.

18.15- Disciples: Disagreed as to the importance of children coming to Jesus.

 18.39- Crowds outside of Jericho: Disagreed with Jesus’ care for blind Bartimaeus.

19.6-Citizens of Jericho: Did not think Jesus should be visiting with a person like Zaccheus.

19.39- Pharisees: Did not believe Jesus was worthy of praises as he entered Jerusalem.

20.2- Scribes and Elders: Believed Jesus to lack the proper authority to teach the Scripture.

20.27 Sadducees: Disagreed with Jesus regarding the reality of the resurrection.

21.5 Temple admirers: Disagreed with Jesus regarding the permanency of the Temple.

22.24. Disciples: Disagreed regarding how to be truly great and what was the measure of greatness.

22.33- Peter: Disagreed with Jesus regarding his ability to be faithful.

22.50-Disciples: Disagreed with Jesus about whether or not to use force to protect him from arrest.
22.70-Council of Elders: Disagreed with Jesus’ assertion that he is God.

23.39-Thief: Disagreed that Jesus was the means to salvation.

One gospel record, thirty-five disagreements with Jesus, thirty-five assertions of the will of humans against the revelation of God’s perfect love and wisdom.

The most disturbing disagreement I find people currently hold today is regarding how to become a follower of Jesus. The range of opinion is far too diverse to record in one blog entry. Consider what Jesus said about being his follower:

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26, NLT)

Would you agree?