I am a Jesus pusher!!! Joseph calculated his position of righteousness and came to an acceptable compromise.  Mary is with child.  Joseph is deeply aware that he is not the father.  He will give her a private divorcement. It is the best answer in light of the fact there is no right answer.  How can this situation be “undone?”  There is no way out.  This is the only thing his “righteousness” can tolerate and justify.  It is the righteousness of the Old Covenant.  If he forgives and marries her, he admits his guilt in her sin.

If Joseph is to follow the call of God from an angel of the Lord in the night hour, he must set aside his concept of the Old Covenant righteousness.  He must embrace the New Covenant righteousness of love.  Can he simply love Mary and accept her as she is?  Can he embrace the child to be born as his own?  Can all walls of prejudice and bitterness be broken down? Can he be redemptive through obedience to God’s call? Jesus cannot survive in Joseph’s life in the Old Testament righteousness.  If Joseph maintains the Old Testament righteousness, the plan of God for redemption will be aborted.  To respond to the Christ child is to respond to righteousness on a new level.   It is the mind of Jesus!  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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I am a Jesus pusher!!!  Joseph was a “just man” (Matthew 1:19).  This indicates he lived according to the acceptable requirements of his present religious age. Within the structure of this righteous observance, Joseph is struggling with how to respond to the coming of Jesus in Mary’s womb.  According to proper Jewish law, she should be stoned to death.  To the other extreme, he could marry her; however, Jewish righteousness would never allow such a thing.  Joseph would be admitting to everyone that he is the one who committed sin with her.  There was no way his righteousness would allow him to embrace her in marriage.

But there is a new righteousness that comes with Jesus.  His arrival marked a fulfillment of the law.  This fulfillment is “love!”  What argument is there against Paul’s great statement:  “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this:  ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’” (Galatians 5:14).  Has not Jesus come to take us beyond the righteousness of the Old Covenant and bring us into the love rightness of the New Covenant?  Laws would not accomplish this; love cannot be legislated.  It must come from a changed heart.  Is this why Jesus came?  Can He change my nature from a legalistic and judgmental individual to one who embraces the total will of God, love!  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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I am a Jesus pusher!!!  Luke describes the early church as  “having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47).  Persecution would come soon enough.  However, the ordinarily normal Jewish person found the lives of the believers blessed and attractive. The Greek word (charis) translated favor means “grace.”  They shared the abundant grace of Jesus experienced by all believers within their community.  They were guilty of crucifying Christ; but the resurrected Jesus filled them.  They experienced total forgiveness and the fulfillment of their lives.  This same grace was expressed in their daily lives to the extent it affected all of their surroundings. 

In the Greek language there are two different Greek words translated “good.”  One Greek word (agathos) describes a thing as good.  However, the Greek word (kalos) means something is not only good but it also looks good.  It has a winsome attractiveness about it.  The indwelt presence of Jesus brought loveliness to the lives of the believers.  There are many people who are good but they are hard.  They would never do wrong or hurt you, but they do not draw others to them.  As this new body of Christ was formed, the presence of the Spirit of Jesus drew the community to them.  Only Jesus can do this in our lives.  I want Him to affect my family and community through me.  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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I am a Jesus pusher!!! Luke describes the atmosphere expressed in the fellowship and unity of the early believers.  It is significantly compounded when one thinks of the increasing numbers involved.  They went from one hundred and twenty (Acts 1:15), to three thousand one hundred and twenty (Acts 2:41), to an abundance of more than eight thousand (Acts 4:4).  It is a marvelous testimony to the power of Jesus within the believers. 

They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people (Acts 2:46-47).  These words occur only in the language of the Bible and the Church.  Luke describes a joy encompassing the whole person and radiating from him.  The Greek word (aggaliasis) translated gladness is a forceful word.  It contains the idea of inner joy, but also carries with it the outward expression.  It might be translated “exultation” which is “to rejoice greatly” or “to be jubilant.”  The Greek word (aphelotes) translated simplicity is only used one time in the New Testament.  It carries the emphasis of “smooth.”  It is the picture of a plowed field with no rocks or obstacles in it.  In our passage, this description is connected to the hearts of the believers.  There was no obstacle in the inner lives of these believers.  It has to do with purity of intention and sincerity.  Jesus alone can cause this.  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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I am a Jesus pusher!!!  “The believers were together, and had all things in common,” (Acts 2:44).  “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple,” (Acts 2:46).  Let me remind you of the Greek word (homothumadon) translated with one accord.  It is a combination of two Greek words.  The first Greek word (homou) means “together.”  The second Greek word (thumos) means “passion” or “heavy breathing.”  There was an attitude of passion and enthusiasm for Jesus permeating all of their personal relationships.

Let me remind you the Greek word (koinos) translated common is used here in the sense of what concerns all.  The believers were together in a community.  Their attitude and practice was not based on economic theory.  There was no legal socialization.  Their partnership in the enterprise of Christ expressed their loving fellowship and renouncing ownership in order to help others.  No one can give without relinquishing the right to keep.  Only one thing can break the bondage of ownership in any area of our lives.  We must experience His enterprise.  What a church this must have been!  But the focus is not on activities; they are a byproduct of their involvement in Jesus. All of these activities of the early church were about their passion for the heart of Christ.  Or was it the very heart of Christ who gave them this passion? We must come back to Him!  He must capture us!  He is our new location!  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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The apostle Paul illustrated the unity of the believers as the “body” of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:1-16).  One member of the body does not reject another member of the body.  The foot is not the hand and yet it is part of the same body. The ear is not rejected from the body because it is not an eye.  Paul cries, “That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.  Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:25-27).

Luke described the early church as continuing daily with one accord in the temple (Acts 2:46).  Keep the focus.  This is a state of being; they were drawn together due to this state.  They linked together seeking the revelation of the resurrected Lord.  They focused their energies on the enterprise of the heart of Christ.  They poured out their lives through their relationship in the cross style.  They were continually practicing His presence.  Why would you not be drawn to this?  The entire reason behind Paul’s illustration is the oneness of each member of the body under the control of the head.  Jesus is our Head.  The unity, enterprise, and passion all come from Him.  Because I am intimate with Him and you are intimate with Him, we are intimate with each other.  This draws us together (Acts 2:44).  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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I am a Jesus pusher!!!  The statement “with one accord” is used ten times in the Book of Acts.  It is an emphasis on unity.  The believers were together (Acts 2:44). The Greek words (epi, to, auto) translated together is proceeded by the Greek word (en) translated were. It is a verb of being. This verb is the imperfect, third person plural of “eimi.” The disciples were in a state of being placing them in a location.  They were constantly coming together.  They were not drawn to a religious service of entertainment or to a series of fun activities.  It was not organizational loyalty; they did not come together out of tradition or family upbringing.

This is not a message to create guilt because you do not come to the services of the church.  The issue is not “if” you come; the issue is “why” don’t you want to come?  What is lacking within you?  Why don’t you crave the worship, corporate moving of the Spirit of God, linking with other believers, and the revelation of the Word?  Why would this not be a high priority?  Why would this not be your first choice?  It is not a physical activity issue; it is a “spiritual fellowship with Jesus” issue.  He brings us together!  I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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