Some of the details of their lives may be different from your life and mine, but whoever has been confronted with Jesus or some aspect of Jesus, has stood where they once stood - meeting Jesus from across the fence. Regardless of what we might claim about serving God, meeting Jesus from across the fence reveals what our hearts truly treasure. If you have ever been aware of standing across the fence from Jesus, then you know just how deeply revealing this can be. You also know that it can cost you a lot to cross over that fence in order to stand with Jesus.

Bethany and Jerusalem

Like you and I, they were dedicated to God. But then something happened making it both a wonderful and a terrible time. Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead! This was wonderful news; Jesus of Nazareth had power to overcome humanity's ultimate barrier! A dead man had been raised to life. News about the events at Bethany spread like wildfire from house to house and soon had even enveloped all of Jerusalem. But it was also a terrible time because of the Sanhedrin's decree that whoever confessed that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. John 9:22

Although Jesus always meets us for the first time from across the fence, the message of the Sanhedrin had placed a penalty upon crossing over. Perhaps you can imagine and appreciate what it would have been like to have chosen to have joined Jesus. It would have cost you a lot. For those in Bethany and Jerusalem, the drama of decision had arrived and the questions that decision raised were intensely personal and disturbing: "Which side of the fence will I stand on? What am I willing to pay in order to stand with Jesus?" Whatever the final decision each one of them chose then or what you and I might choose today, it reveals our deepest devotion.

Chief Priests and Pharisees

The chief priests and the Pharisees faced Jesus from across the fence. In their understanding of what it meant to serve God, there was no place for Jesus. John 7:47-48 But then Jesus rose Lazarus from the grave! How could anyone argue that Jesus was not the Messiah? How could anyone deny that God was at work through Jesus? To change and follow Jesus would have cost them dearly in this world. Their encounter with Jesus at the fence revealed that they loved their power and position more than they loved the truth which is found in pursuing God's ways. John 11:47-48

As the message of both Lazarus' resurrection and the warning against confessing Jesus spread, there were others who found themselves standing on the other side of the fence. What would it have cost them to cross the fence? They would have been expelled from the synagogue; doubtlessly people would look at them differently and whisper behind their backs. What did they value most? There is always a strong desire to hang onto the old wine, the familiar and comfortable rather than embrace the new, even if it is the truth. The Gospel of John reveals that for many of them, their hearts were devoted to maintaining their social acceptability rather than seeking God's approval. John 12:42-43

Saul of Tarsus

Throughout history, people have stood at the fence. Saul of Tarsus was one of those who has stood at the fence. He had been positive that he was faithfully serving God by persecuting Christians, but then on the road to Damascus he discovered that he was wrong. Paul chose to cross the fence and stand with Jesus. Did it cost him? Yes, he lost all of the power and prestige he had acquired, but this was OK with Paul in order that he might gain Christ. He now considered those things as rubbish. Philippians 3:4-8

Nicodemus

Undoubtedly, encountering Jesus at the fence is hardest when you are convinced that you are already following God faithfully. As a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus was certain that he was on the right path. But his curiosity led him to check out this person called Jesus, but only at night so to prevent rumors.

As Nicodemus walked to where Jesus was staying that evening, there were many things he would have known for certain. It seems almost certain (John 3:10), that Nicodemus would have been aware of the language and the hot theological discussion which surrounded proselytism at that time. Everyone agreed that a Gentile became a Jew through proselyte baptism. The big discussion in Nicodemus' day was the degree of cleanliness. Was he immediately clean as "a little child just born" (Yeb. 22a; 48b; 97b*) and a "child of one day" (Mass. Ger. c. 2*) such as rabbi Shammai claimed and thus could immediately partake of the Passover? Or was he unclean until evening like one who had been defiled by a grave (rabbi Hillel) and thus could not eat the Passover until the following day? Cf. Pes. 8:8, Eduy. 5:2*

When Nicodemus finally entered the house where Jesus was staying, Jesus met him from across the fence. Jesus told him that no one could enter the kingdom of God unless he was born again. Nicodemus could not believe his ears, Jesus was placing him outside of the kingdom with the Gentiles and requiring him to be born anew to God! John 3:3 How this message must have stung. Unless he was born again, he would not see the kingdom of God.

When Jesus put Nicodemus across the fence from God, it seems that a self-defensive mechanism kicked in as Nicodemus feigned ignorance. John 3:4,10 So Jesus made it perfectly plain. "No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the spirit." John 3:5 There it was in plain language. Nicodemus had to be baptized and to have a change of spirit if he would see the kingdom of God. How hard it is to hear a message like this when you are convinced that you are already serving God! Meeting Jesus at the fence can be painful.

*References are to the Mishnah

Struggles at the Fence

What are the values people struggle with at the fence? Although the choice can be shrouded in such decisions as: "Should I go with this new and more clear understanding of the Gospel verses what my family tradition and heritage has been?" Or "since I was only sprinkled as a baby should I be baptized now (immersed) instead of rejecting baptism because grandpa was not immersed," etc. it ultimately boils down to "who am I going to serve?" The struggle at the fence often takes the form of a choice between truth and what Self wants to believe (e.g. "it really doesn't matter," or "I'm OK as long as I am sincere," etc.).

History is strewn with examples of those who have chosen to pay the price in order to cross over the fence at Jesus' invitation in order to stand with him. Unfortunately, there are also many examples of those who have loved something within this world more than they did Jesus.

If you have come to know Jesus and his claims, or if you have come to a more accurate understanding of the Gospel, then you have stood or are standing at the fence. Will you pay the price to cross over to Jesus? What do you love most?

Other Articles of Interest Might Include:

Jesus is Good News

Children of God by Faith (Understanding salvation by faith)

Is Sincerity Enough? (Title: "But I Thought It Was OK")

But What About the Thief on the Cross?

Barry Newton, Copyright © 1999, 2000

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