Bethany Bullet - January 19, 2011

As a young boy, Jesus would have been taught the ancient rabbinical proverb, “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.”

In Disney’s “Aladdin”, Jafar corrupts this teaching to, “He who has the gold makes the rules.”

Click on this link: YouTube - Aladdin Meets Old Man Jafar.
(If unable to open copy/paste this into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AEkLXkDgWI)

Jafar’s modus operandi, “Do unto others before they can do unto you.”

Jesus, who doesn’t go for half measures, completes the ancient teaching with the words, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In the case of Jesus those final words of Jafar, “Things aren’t always what they seem” are true.

On Calvary things are what they seem; Jesus though He is pushed and prodded and drug through the streets, stumbling under the weight of the cross, is Himself in charge of His steps. Though soldiers and religious leaders alike have compelled Him to go to His death, the cross is at the very same time the most poignant and glorious example of doing unto others, as God does unto Himself, in Christ, so that we are not done in. Things are not what they seem, Jesus is dying, so that our sin, including that of putting our own desires and wellbeing before everyone - no matter the cost – (as in the case of Jafar), or putting others solidly in second place that costs us little, as in the case of the ancient Rabbinical teaching, might be buried. “Not with gold or silver but with the holy and precious blood and innocent suffering and death of Jesus Christ we have been redeemed.”

Why does Jesus change the ancient instructions to us?
--> From: Not doing what we wouldn’t have others do.
--> To: Doing to others what we would have them do for us.
Isn’t the former enough? It would keep us safe, keep society in check, and reduce fear if it were fully lived out. Yet, the latter would enable us to experience selfless giving and unconditional loving – which are at the core of the actions of Christ and the heart of God. As we do unto others they receive and experience the love of God in Christ.

Pastor Kevin Kritzer