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Jesus all about Life sneak preview of TV adverts


Date Posted: 23-Sep-2009

The Jesus all about life TV campaign has started. Here is one of the adverts you will be seeing.



Shortcut to this page http://tinyurl.com/JAALadverts

The first TVC was aired on Sunday September 27. The advertisements raise paradoxes to help begin conversations. Included below are some points to consider with your conversations.

More Jesus all about life blogposts

Pastors praying on Sydney Harbour Bridge
Jesus all about Life - The good and ugly bits of life video
Jesus all about Life - TV Commercials
Jesus all about Life - Campaign is coming to Sydney
Jesus all about Life - City to Surf 2009
Why choose a Christian School
Bible Society Yarrabah Mission Trip

Hey Jesus, thanks for the sunshine, but what about sunburn? (Luke 6:20–26)
Jesus has answers: Sunburn is good.

We all want to live in a world where it is all positive and we don’t want to deal with negative consequences. We want sun but no sunburn, we want to buy whatever we want now and not have to worry about credit card debt, we want to eat and drink anything we feel like but have no health effects.

Look how Jesus put it:
 "Blessed are you who are poor,  for yours is the kingdom of God.   Blessed are you who hunger now,  for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now,  for you will laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you,   when they exclude you and insult you  and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how  their fathers treated the prophets.” Read more (Luke 6:20–23)

Although it’s counter cultural, Jesus is saying that it’s better to be dissatisfied because those who are dissatisfied know that there is more to life than this life — there’s a better life ahead. In the Kingdom of God (heaven) there will be no more sunburn, hunger, thirst, poverty, sadness or hatred.

Jesus promises to give those dissatisfied, sunburnt people satisfaction, laughter, joy and ultimately a reward in his Kingdom.
In contrast, Jesus also has something to say to those who are satisfied now and who think that this life is all there is.

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.  Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.  Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."(Luke 6:24–25)

In Australia, where many of us have what we need, are well-fed and full of laughter, it’s easy to think that this good life is all there is.

It would be tempting for me to say Jesus has come to make us rich, comfortable, well-fed and full of laughter now. But according to Jesus that would make me a false prophet. Jesus says woe to those people, for their future is hunger, mourning and weeping.

Sunburn wakes us up in order that we can start to recognise that there are problems in this world and problems within ourselves. It causes us to look to Jesus — who’s all about life — as an answer to these problems.

How do you react to this message? Jesus’ answer is for us to accept his take on things — recognising that the world as well as you and I have a problem. But in order to accept Jesus’ answer, we first have to recognise that we need God and that we have not made it on our own.

 
Hey Jesus, how come the more I have, the more I want? (Luke 12:13–21)
Jesus has answers: It’s impossible to find complete satisfaction through material possessions. Why not  look beyond to heaven for ultimate satisfaction.

It is an odd thing about human nature, but no matter how much we buy it never seems to last. The latest phone, the newest computer, even the trendiest outfit or shoes seem to date quickly and we are on the lookout for the next new thing. There’s an increasing recognition that looking for happiness in materialism is a wild goose chase.
On greed and materialism, Jesus said:

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;  life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'  his is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
(Luke 12:15–21)

Jesus’ point is that the foolish person (1) lives greedily for money; (2) ignores God; and (3) ignores death and accountability.

I hear Jesus, but I can see the fool in me. There’s part of me that used to think that all my life’s problems would be sorted if I just got a push-button garage door opener. But with a tax return we bought one. Now I think everything would be fine if only there was a heating lamp in the bathroom for me to stand under when I come out of the shower.

And sometimes foolishly I go through the day ignoring God, just like the rich man in the parable: ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself ...’

And I foolishly forget that I will die, meet God and be held accountable.  In recent times, the world has heeded a strong warning after the hit to superannuation as a result of the Global Financial Crisis. But more foolish than not having your retirement superannuation sorted is not having one’s eternal superannuation sorted.

In contrast, Jesus says the wise person: (1) is on guard against greed; (2) honours God; and (3) is ready to die and meet God.

Jesus says the answer is not to live greedily for oneself, but rather to live a life honouring God.
In Jesus’ view, someone who is prepared to die and meet God is someone who acknowledges the foolishness in their own life.

Jesus demonstrates the ultimate life of wisdom, in that he doesn’t live greedily for himself, but rather puts his trust in his father in heaven.
 

We’ve got more friends, but less friendship! (Luke 10:25–37)
Jesus has answers: Be a neighbour
The internet and online social networks have become a everyday communication tool – they have allowed us to become a part of a global community at the touch of a button. Facebook, MySpace, twitter and YouTube mean we can have a presence on the internet and make friends locally and internationally, but often they are ‘virtual’ friends, people we can’t see or touch or enjoy real time with. Yet it seems the more we communicate electronically the more isolated we can feel. Electronic communication can only go so far in building relationships.

Jesus has an answer in one of his most famous stories, the parable of the Good Samaritan, where his punch-line is quite simply: ‘Be a neighbour’.
 
What’s less well-known about that story is that Jesus told it in answer to a lawyer’s question. The lawyer asked Jesus, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ When Jesus pushed the lawyer to answer his own question, the man came back with the statement: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.’

While the lawyer’s answer was correct, it is also impossible. All of us know that if this is God’s standard, then none of us will see life in heaven. Looking for a loophole, the lawyer debates with Jesus ‘... who is my neighbour?’
Jesus had the answer:
Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

The priest and the Levite in the story represent official, pious Judaism, which fails to love.

The mood totally changes in Jesus’ story when a Samaritan comes on the scene.

But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

In Jesus’ story, the person who is a real neighbour is the most unlikely person — the one despised by official Judaism — yet who sees the half-dead man’s need and acts concretely to meet it.

At the end of the story Jesus challenges the lawyer, ‘Go and do likewise’.

But here’s the twist — and this will come as a surprise.

First, Jesus says, see yourself in the story not as the hero but likewise — as half-dead, needing to be rescued. We are also to look to the most unlikely person in the story — the one despised by official Judaism, who sees the half-dead man’s need and acts concretely to meet it.

Look to Jesus, who in his death on the cross, pays for our real need — the forgiveness of our wrong before God.

 
More convenience. Less patience. Luke 6:27–36
Jesus has answers: Loving one another takes time and effort.

If you are like me you stand in front of the microwave saying “Hurry up”. We are a community that don’t like to wait. The more convenience we are given it seems only to feed our impatience rather than cure it. Most things that are worthwhile in life actually take time. I always think about this in relation to coffee. We can make instant coffee in no time but we often choose to wait for and buy good coffee because we like the outcome. We appreciate good coffee so we don’t mind waiting. Impatience works against some of the important areas of life. Things like relationships, character, parenting and caring for others all take time and all require patience.

There was one incidence in Jesus’ ministry where he made people, those he actually loved, to wait and it had seemingly disastrous results.

Read more

Jesus’ friend Lazarus was very ill, and his sisters Mary and Martha asked Jesus to come quickly as they believed he could help. Jesus actually lingered where he was and made them wait. The worst result ensured which was the death of Lazarus and the family and  the were broken by his loss. Even Jesus was moved, this is the incident where it is said that “Jesus wept”.

By there was actually a deeper purpose here, Jesus did not rush off to Lazarus because as he says

“… for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe” (John 11:15)

Jesus had something more important on his mind than Lazarus’ health, it was the belief of his friends and the faith of all of humanity, even for us two thousand years later. Faith and belief take patience and time. It is not instant and it is not easy.

Just like great coffee, the things that are worthwhile take time.

    But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
We have bigger hopes, but more uncertainty Luke 12:22-34
Jesus has answers: Jesus provides certainty

Our biggest hopes are heaven on earth, health, wealth and freedom.  Our big fears are hell on earth ending up poor, sick and powerless.

We left school trying to take on the world with hopes of lives of purpose, a home, health, security and love.  

At a ten year reunion everyone from high school was comparing how they were going at seeing their hopes realised.  The winners were the big job people who also had families and were living in expensive suburbs.  

Meeting together twenty years out of school they  had discovered that heaven on earth was not possible.

Harry Chapin put it well.

You see, she was gonna be an actress
And I was gonna learn to fly.
She took off to find the footlights,
And I took off for the sky.
And here, she's acting happy,
Inside her handsome home.
And me, I'm flying in my taxi,
Taking tips, and getting stoned,
I go flying so high, when I'm stoned.
(Harry Chapin,Taxi)

We're dealing with our fears: mid Life crisis, parental deaths, unemployment, alcoholism, repossession and divorce.  

Jesus says we won't find heaven on earth.  For the real hope of heaven we need to look to Jesus.

Following on from “the more I have the more I want” [link back to this section] Jesus told his followers

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Putting our trust in Jesus is a difficult thing because it is an admission that we can’t do it alone. We need the help of the One who actually made us. And why shouldn’t we trust him? He actually knows what is best, right and good for us. When we seek God and his ways, the things that concern us in this world take on a right perspective.

The criminal who was crucified next to Jesus realising his life was about to end, recognised that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and that He could provide certainty so he asked Jesus

     "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

The man didn't claim a right, he was clearly in the wrong. He knew itand was about to pay for it with his life. But he reached out in hope to Jesus that Jesus might remember him.  

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43)

Jesus gave an extraordinary guarantee of eternal hope. The criminal hoped for a crumb and was given a cake.  He hoped for a share and was given a company.  He hoped to be remembered and Jesus promised him acceptance and relationship in heaven. Complete certainty.

The criminal is the one man in the whole Bible that Jesus gives a personal guarantee to that there will be a room in God’s Kingdom (after death) with his name on the door.  

We fear hell on earth, being poor, sick, lonely and powerless.  But Jesus says that too is short-sighted:

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.
 (Luke 12:4-8)

So Jesus' answer is that the biggest hope that should govern our lives is look to relationship with him and God’s Kingdom.  We can know with full certainty that this is a reality when we take Jesus at his word.

 
A healthy body still isn't good enough. (Luke 19:1–10)
Jesus has answers: Love, acceptance and touch demonstrate our true worth.

We have better health care than ever before in history and at the same time record levels of anxiety and depression amongst men and women at every level of society.

We fear death so we worship youth. We have an unhealthy obsession with looking young. A recent magazine reported on an attractive young professional in her mid twenties. There was nothing medically wrong with her she was simply obsessed with image and wanting to be as young as possible for as long as possible, spending inordinate amounts trying to stave off the inevitable.

Jesus was talking to the religious leaders and said, Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” (Matt 23:27)

External image can help you in job interviews and impress people at a distance but it is who you are as a person that will determine the significance of your life. Jesus’ criticism of the religious leaders of his day is very instructive for us even today all these years later. It is not about how we look that matters most, whether this is our efforts to stay young or to look spiritual and religious. Faith is not an act, it is a internal change and an ongoing relationship with Jesus.

Jesus loves us as we are. He accepts us where we are and our relationship with him grows from that point.

In Mark’s biography of Jesus we’re told that Jesus dealt with a man who had leprosy. You couldn’t get something that created a worse body image. Jesus showed his love for this man by reaching out and touching him with all his imperfections.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man."I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. It is through a relationship with Jesus that we are set free from our fears about who we are and we can start to be real with him first and then as we grow in confidence with those around us.

How come the best things always have to end? (Luke 7:11–17)
Jesus has answers: They don’t.

Our existence is determined by time. Every moment of our lives are marked by the ticking clock that records the progression of time and marks the steps towards the end of whatever human endeavour we are involved in. Most humans living in developed, western and wealthy cultures resent that we can’t control all of our lives and that we can’t cheat the clock. We have technology, wealth and resources but the simple process of the ticking clock can’t be stopped. Sometimes we cheat it for short periods and there are even models and superstars that seem to defy time and the aging process but eventually it catches them. The last time any of us checked the mortality rate for humanity still stood at 100%.

The challenge is to look beyond the present and ask questions about what actually lasts, what goes on into the future, what will make a difference.

We know that the answer is not what we own, and as nice as our processions are they will eventually be outdated, lost or broken.

Jesus encouraged people to look beyond the present and into the future and suggested where we ought to invest our time and energy.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)

What will be free of moths, rust or thieves, only eternal treasures. What is it that makes it into eternality, not the material but the personal. This says that the only way to beat the ticking clock is to invest in the spiritual, to invest in people and make sure your investment is held by the only individual in human history that beat the clock and promised eternal security – Jesus.

Jesus said he came to give life and life in all its fullness. (John 10:10). He also said in John 5:24 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life.

Things in this life might die, but this life is not all there is. Eternity is a reality and without a relationship with Jesus we will not spend eternity in God’s presence.

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