Inside And Out (Luke 11:40)

 


Tuesday, March 11, 2025


Psalms 28; 29

Genesis 40

Luke 11:29-44


Inside And Out (Luke 11:40)


When it comes to offensive teachings of Christianity, we have plenty to choose from. But perhaps the most offensive of all is the fact that how we behave is a secondary issue. Moral and upright behaviour is important; don’t misunderstand Jesus when he refers to that which we ought to have done anyway (Luke 11:42).


It would seem, however, that this is the easy bit. Even the Pharisees wash the outside of the cup; even the wicked know how to give good things to their children. Everyone instinctively knows, to some broad degree, the difference between right and wrong when it comes to human behaviour. Even so, says Jesus, did not he who made the outside make the inside also?


The offensive bit about Christianity isn’t orthodox understandings of things like human sexuality, or politics, or economics, or anything like that. Those bits all flow downstream of the one big thing: a wellspring of human foolishness and divine wisdom, which is that we are, by nature, children of wrath. There are none who does good, no, not one, and no matter how clean we make the outside of the cup, the inside is so rotten that Jesus compares it to “unmarked graves”. Even so, says Jesus, did not he who made the outside make the inside also?


The most offensive bit about Christianity is also the most wonderful bit about Christianity. In spite of the fact that we are in this sorry state, the love of God is so great that he would come and clean us out. He who made the outside has taught us how have a clean exterior; and he who made the inside has cleaned out the inside also.


The sign of Jonah, which Jesus applies to his own death and resurrection, is the light for our eyes. His death on the cross cleanses our inside, so that the Holy Spirit may come and raise us to that place where only the holy God can dwell. As a believing Christian with a lively born-again faith, the inside has been cleaned as well as the outside, and God’s love has been poured into our cup, through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.


If you were a cup, what do you think needs a bit of cleaning, inside or out, or both? How does the fact that God the Holy Spirit is pleased to dwell within you help with this? Where is the love of God spilling out of you at the moment, inside or out, or both?


Light of the world, our means of salvation: bring to light a sense of our own clean state before your holiness, so that we may be bold to pursue an even greater holiness within ourselves, and be a sign of your holiness in our actions.

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