The Countercultural Jesus May 7, 2026

Looking at this picture of trees reflected, it’s hard to tell which way is up. That’s the way things are sometimes. The bible upends everything, and we worship the countercultural Jesus.

The world tells us either that there is no truth or that you make your own truth. The world tells us that there are many paths to heaven. Jesus says, “No.”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

The world tells us that we are all good people. Jesus says that isn’t true.

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.Mark 10:18

The world tells us we can earn our way to heaven. The Bible says differently,

 ^{For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [a]this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.} Ephesians 2:8-9

The world teaches us to hate those who are different from us and to hate our enemies.  The countercultural Jesus differs.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …” Matthew 5:44-44

The way of the Christ follower will always be a path that conflicts with those who are not. The world hates Him and His message. They may well hate and reject us as well.

The path of the Christian leads to eternal shalom (peace with God and blessing). The path of the unbeliever leads to torment and turmoil forever.

There truly are, as the countercultural Jesus said, a wide path and a narrow one. I urge you to stick to the narrow trail.

Trust Him by faith and follow even when the path diverges from the ways of the world.

Be blessed

Kevin

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All contents, “Gleanings From the Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2026 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, “Gleanings From the Word.”

Scripture quotations are from the Legacy Standard Bible® (LSB®), Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. 

Following Jesus means embracing a truth that often runs against the values of the world, trusting that the narrow path of faith leads to eternal peace with God.

Three takeaways:

Jesus teaches absolute truth and declares Himself the only way to the Father.

Salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not something earned by human effort.

Christ followers are called to live differently from the world, even loving enemies and enduring rejection for His sake.

From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.