This past week a Christian university student remarked, “I’ve been reading the Gospel of Luke, and I keep wincing at how Jesus comes across in story after story.” After talking with thousands of followers of Jesus Christ, I think many are uncomfortable with some of the Gospels. Not because the vast majority doesn’t believe what Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote. But uncomfortable because of what Matthew and the others tell us what Jesus had to say and what He actually did.

First, many people feel the way Jesus talks with the crowds is all wrong. Second, many dislike how little we know about the three and a half years that Jesus walked, talked, and lived with the twelve disciples.

Worst of all, some aren’t comfortable with the way Jesus interacts with specific individuals. In their hearts, they’re thinking: Jesus, you’re doing it all wrong. Tell your story, explain the Gospel as clearly as possible. Jesus, they say, You were starting to get the hang of it with Nicodemus, but what a disaster when you talked with the Samaritan woman.

Imagine thinking like that, but sadly many do. It’s time to stop wincing, however, and let Jesus correct us—not the other way around.                       

This is Luis Palau.