Rausch\\\'s Description of Jesus Ministry

Using ONLY Rausch (not one of the gospels), describe an aspect of Jesus ministry that seems difficult for people living in our culture to understand.  Why is it important for people to encounter this aspect of Jesus's ministry?

The Bible was written roughly two thousand years ago. As such, it is sometimes hard to assert and prove that the lessons taught and employed at that time can be applicable in modern times. However, it is most certainly possible to prove that point and this is true regardless of the specific point that is being discussed and used. Using the facets of Rausch's teaching, one particular teaching point will be selected and compared in terms of the culture and living at the time of its authoring as compared to the same facets in modern times. This is being done to prove the applicability of the teachings and also why it is important to size and focus on that part of Jesus and his ministry. While a lot has changed since the days of Jesus and his ministry, there are other things that are ever-enduring and unchanging.

There are so many directions and angles that one could take when speaking of Rausch and his words. However, there is one particular angle and idea that the author of this response has chosen to use. Indeed, the third point noted in Rausch where it says that there needs to be an "immediate response" per the beckoning and request of the Lord and/or Jesus is something that is commonly needed and compulsory in today's society but it seemingly not forthcoming a lot of the time. Rausch concedes that there are some translational differences in what word is used. Some say "repent" while the Greek says that one needs to change their heart to truly be changed and for the repenting to mean something. In looking at the way that people react nowadays to being caught doing or saying something wrong, this is a lesson that many people fail to truly absorb and internalize. After all, the Greek have a point because even if someone apologizes, that itself does not mean that anything will remarkably or obviously change. The full statement as given by Rausch is that one must "think again, to change one's heart, one's mind, one's way of life, to assume a new standpoint" (Rausch,

The modern issues and challenges that people face today are obviously fairly unique as compared to what happened in the time of Jesus. However, the lesson above from Jesus and the Bible as explained by Rausch is not hard to apply in modern times. Indeed, there are many people that waffle or otherwise contort themselves when it comes to making good on something wrong that they have done. Often times, there is a clear indication that the person is trying to deflect blame or minimize what they did. For example, if someone is supposed to be apologizing for hurling insults, it can be seen as a disingenuous, and it should be, when the person uses phrases like they "apologize if others were offended" rather than simply saying that what they did was wrong. That same person is also being a little wishy washy if they focus at all on what the other person did "first" rather than simply come clean about what they did personally. Even if the apology is seen as genuine and complete, it does not mean much if the person recidivates and does it again as this clearly indicates that they could not have been too serious about their initial apology. Only if the apology is complete and is followed up by renewed and different actions afterward does it truly ring true. This is an important aspect and part of Jesus' ministry to take hold of because it is important to recognize when one does wrong, say so out loud when apologies are made and then truly act differently after the fact so as to prove that a lesson was learned from the actions and aftermath.