We’re in the book of Matthew (now chapter 16) and yes, he’s gone and done it again.  Jesus went and messed up people's perception of him.  So many people think that Jesus was basically a tame pre-incarnation of a sit-down protestor who roamed the Galilean countryside in a flowing gown while saying really deep socio-religious-political stuff of the same caliber as 60’s peace, love, and rock-n-roll songs. Or at least they think that he was a moral teacher who went around putting unrealistic demands on people.

And he goes and messes it up.  When the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other self-righteous religious folk get in Jesus’ face and try to put the burden of truth on him (like we so often do) by demanding miracles and playing doctrinal trivia, Jesus doesn’t respond by nodding his head and squinting his eyes gently with a grin akin to a pot-induced stupor and say, “Wow guys, you really have some good points.  I understand that miracles are really important to your world-view.”  No, he pretty much gives them another theological punch in the nose, calls them wicked, gives them a quick answer and gives the first century Galilean version of “Jesus, out.”

And this is not the first time he’s done this.  He’s done it before.  In chapter 15, he called them hypocrites and said they would be uprooted.  He said that they are blind guides – like a blind person who, needing someone to guide them, reaches out and grabs another blind person.  The disciples were so worried that Jesus had offended the important religious people, but Jesus just kept walking.

Then, for the third time in Matthew, we see Jesus look out a crowd of broken, sinful, jacked up people and for the third time we hear it recorded that Jesus “had compassion on them.”  Why the difference in reaction?  Why did he go Biblical Krav Maga on the Pharisees but respond with compassion to the sinful, messed up people?  Why did he offer such grace to loose women and thieves yet leave the Pharisees standing (in my mind’s eye), wringing their hands, rocking back and forth chanting with an American-like mantra, “But I’m a good person.  I’m a good person.   I’m a good person.  I’m a good person.  I’m a good person”?

And to top it all off, he then proceeds to say that he is going to die and rise three days later. This is no tame Jesus.