Was Jesus an “OUTLAW?” Did he act as a “RENEGADE?” Did “others” view him to be “UNCONVENTIONAL,” “REBELLIOUS” and dare we say, “RADICAL?”
Some maybe even viewed him as being a “FUGITIVE.” I tell ya it is complicated…very complicated!
It depends greatly on WHO you TALK TO. Some said he could do no wrong. Others, disagreed a LOT.
An “itinerant preacher” – Yes!
Traveling from place to place…making circuits here and there…doubling back when he thought it was necessary…
Jesus was known for staying in a place only for a short period of time…and then, moving on…seldom if ever, did he stay in one place, for too long. He was always on the move…keeping basically to villages and small hamlets.
Which is where we are today, that is “our setting!”
The Story of the Ten Lepers gives us insight into the “DANGER” that Jesus posed for “the Religious Authorities…”
On the one hand, Jesus follows the rules. He did. Well, sometimes, if the SPIRIT MOVED HIM. …And at “other times” – not so much…
If you will recall, he did send the Ten Lepers off to see the priests – AS THE LAW REQUIRED.
There, they would have each been examined with a great deal of scrutiny making sure there were no blemishes or skin defects of any kind.
After they “showed themselves” to the priests – it would have been a “YEA” or “NAY” decision. …Clean or unclean…
Because he did as was expected of him, he could NOT be branded as an “OUTLAW” – pure and simple.
Yay, Jesus, you got this one right!
If Jesus were an outlaw, a renegade, unconventional and rebellious – the case against him would be as clear cut as the nose on your face.
But as we know, Jesus walked pretty “footloose and fancy free” with the laws of his day. He did his own thing.
If, he were condemned by the powers that be, he would have been “STONED TO DEATH” under Hebrew Law.
If, he were to be condemned by the ROMANS as a “SEDITIONIST” again it would have been pretty clear cut.
He would be crucified, as any other OUTLAW, with no muss, no fuss, like any other RENEGADE or seditionist was crucified by the Romans.
On the other hand…and there is ALWAYS an “OTHER HAND,” Jesus clearly breaks some rules.
Jesus ALWAYS breaks some rules.
Rules were meant to be broken…(sometimes!) Apparently!
Your rules are not my rules…God has his own set of rules, different from yours!
So for example: he HEALED “an OUTSIDER!” That was something – THAT just wasn’t DONE! WHY, would he do that? And, not just any OUTSIDER, but “a whole group” of RITUALLY UNCLEAN “LEPERS…”
Anyone, in their right mind, stayed away, far-far-away. But not Jesus! He heals them. He gets involved…
Nor did he ask for any identification before sending them off…
And apparently, out of the group of TEN LEPERS, “9 were Jews,” but ONE – was a hated and despised SAMARITAN.
Yep, Jesus was “breaking rules” right and left. Sometimes, he followed them, sometimes he didn’t!
Jesus actually had the audacity, the “intrepid boldness”…and the “arrogance” to call a Samaritan FAITHFUL!
Be still my fainting heart.
And then, to top it all off, Jesus had the gall to “DECLARE the Samaritan “WELL.” Your “FAITH” has made you well, he said to him. Faith and a Samaritan, unheard of…
Get this, by speaking those words – Jesus was assuming for himself the AUTHORITY of the TEMPLE PRIESTS.
By so doing, he was making the statement that he had every bit of the authority that they had and held.
This would have made him an OUTLAW, plain and simple. But at the very same time, he would have been a law-abiding-one! Ouch! Not so plain! Not always so simple! Actually, very complicated!
I hope this has been “a little helpful” as to why – they repeatedly kept trying to entrap him. He was “slippery” alright. He walked “a very thin tightrope.” And he apparently knew just how far he could push the envelope…
BUT THEY WOULD KEEP WATCHING HIM. Very Closely!