Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph… (Luke 3:23)
Plenty of people made plenty of assumptions about Jesus 2,000 years ago.
“Is not this Joseph’s son?”
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
“Master, we already toiled all night and took nothing!”
“No one, absolutely no one should ever touch a leper.”
“Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
“Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
“Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”
“He’s nothing more than a glutton and a drunkard.”
“If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
“Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume those Samaritans?”
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?”
“He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.”
“Jesus has no time for little children.”
“Teacher, your disciples ought to be rebuked.”
“Away with this man!”
“Once he’s dead and buried, we’ll be through with him.”
Plenty of people made plenty of assumptions in the first century, but the fact that people assumed things about Jesus did not make those (as was supposed) things true.
Plenty of people make plenty of assumptions about Jesus in the twenty-first century.
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Jesus would want me to be happy.”
“My Jesus would affirm and celebrate everybody, whatever their lifestyle.”
“As long as I’m sincere, that’s what matters most.”
“If I enjoy it, Jesus must enjoy it too.”
“I know the Bible says… but that was a long time ago and we’ve moved beyond that sort of primitive thinking.”
“Jesus doesn’t care about the church, so I don’t have to either.”
“Just as long as we love Jesus, it doesn’t matter how we worship.”
“Jesus is just one of many equally valid ways.”
But the fact that people assume things about Jesus doesn’t make those (as was supposed) things true. So let’s be careful with our assumptions. Let’s not be content with, “I’m sure it’s in the Bible somewhere.” Let’s not simply take someone else’s word for it. Let’s examine the Scriptures to see if what we’re hearing on podcasts and seeing on YouTube is actually so. Let’s most certainly avoid exalting our self-centered preferences above the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Today is a good day to open a Bible and actually read for myself what the real Jesus said and did. “As was supposed” is no foundation for any relationship.