Many of us are familiar with the quote “with great power comes great
responsibility.” We attribute it to Stan Lee in Amazing Fantasy #15,
August 1962 (the first Spider-Man story) and from "Uncle" Ben Parker, in
the Spider-Man (2002) movie. Actually the quote originated from Voltaire
in France in 1832. This quote tells of the moral obligation of great
power.
In Matthew 11:20-24 and Luke 10:13-15 where Jesus
denounced/upbraided/cursed Chorazin, along with Bethsaida and Capernaum
because the people rejected him in spite of the fact that in these
cities Jesus spent a lot of time teaching and performed most of his
miracles. The moral implication of receiving more revelations of God is
to repent. Coming closer to the Holy God will bring to light our own
sinfulness and should lead to repentance. Yet the people of Chorazin,
Bethsaida and Capernaum did not repent. Before we make excuses for them
that a prophet is not recognized in his hometown, these are not Jesus’
hometowns. Jesus is from Nazareth.
Many of us, as Christians, think that as long as we are saved by the
redemptive work of Christ on the cross, we are okay. We have the ticket
to eternal life. Why do we need to please God anymore? Why do we need to
go out of our way to live a life of holiness? Is it not enough to turn
up in church now and then, tithe a little and continue living the life
we enjoy? It is hard to be countercultural as kingdom living is. Much
easier, comfortable and be part of the in-crowd to be living as the
non-believers do. In some ways, we are similar to the ancient Jews in
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. They are God’s chosen people as
evidenced by the Temple in Jerusalem and they have the Torah. What else
is needed?
For the basis of what else is needed I will like to coin a phrase “with
great revelation comes great accountability.” Yes, we have averted the
eternal wraith of God but we have a moral impetus to become holy or like
Christ himself. There are two judgments by God in the Bible. One is for
non-Christians and the other is for Christians. Everyone has to be
accountable for their own actions. For non-Christian, the Great White
Throne judgment is found in Revelations 20:11-15. For Christians, the
judgment at the Day of the Judgment Seat of Christ is not for the sins
(which Jesus have redeemed) but for our actions (1 Cor. 3:11-15).
11 For no one
can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus
Christ. 12 If any
man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood,
hay or straw, 13 his
work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to
light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality
of each man's work. 14 If
what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
15 If it is burned
up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one
escaping through the flames.
God has not ceased to reveal himself to us. As revelation in Jesus’ time
should lead to repentance, revelation in our time will cause us to
become more like Christ. In other words, revelation will help to
strengthen our faith and make us holy (sanctification). The impetus is
for us to live holy lives so that Jesus will not
denounced/upbraided/cursed our actions on earth on that fateful Day. May
he instead say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
