Who is Jesus to you?

 

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Is this a difficult question to answer without resorting to slogans and catch-phrases like "He is my Saviour, my Lord, He died for me, The Son of God" and other descriptions.

Let's analyse this by first looking at Jesus through the eyes of His contemporaries; those who lived with Him. To them, He was a human born of Mary who was married to Joseph. They knew His parents and watched Him grow up as a child working in His father's carpenter's shop and become a man amongst them. But as He grew up they noticed something different about Him. He was knowledgeable, even at the age of twelve discussing scripture in the temple with the elders; although He had no formal education as such.

When He started His mission on earth He spoke with authority and conviction, and all that He said made sense. He lived on a higher moral plain than society of the time. He showed compassion for the sick, the destitute and those forgotten by society. He cared for the hungry and the poor and showed kindness for everybody. The people witnessed His many miracles, and this really set Him apart from the rest of society; especially when He claimed that He was the Son of God. This upset and scandalised many of them, but a few believed He was Who He said He was. And this truth grew throughout the world after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on His followers.

Move forwards 2000 years. Who is Jesus to people today?

Many don't believe in God or Jesus. Some have heard of Him and consider Him a wise man, a teacher, healer, preacher or prophet. Others profess that He is the Son of God and worship Him as they do God His Father and our Creator.  

But  WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

There is a great difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. We could have heard about someone and read about someone extensively but not know Him personally. The distance between the head and the heart is only about 18 inches but it could be the longest journey we ever make. Do we really know Jesus?

In my case, it happened suddenly at the age of eight. I remember it as if it was yesterday. I was on the bus on the way to school when I suddenly realised that there must be a God, and Jesus is His Son. All I had been taught by my parents and teachers seemed to make sense. Somehow, I knew it was all true. 

Since then, I have felt His presence and guidance and help many times in my life.

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

(The video at the top of the right hand column entitled Time for Reflections may be of interest to some readers).

Who is Jesus?

Recently I attended  a Christian group meeting. The discussion centred on the question: "If you were stopped in the street by those opinion polls people and you were asked 'Who is Jesus?' what would you say?"

Surprisingly, people were hesitant to say outright that He is the Son of God. They hesitated. Even though we in the UK are in a supposedly Christian country. Even though right now people in other countries are being persecuted and killed for being Christians. The group hesitated. They felt they would admit in private to other Christians that they believed Jesus is the Son of God; but would not necessarily say so publicly in the street, or at work with colleagues, in the pub or whatever.

They were asked, "if your children, who believe what you say, asked 'Who is Jesus?' what would you say?"

Again, there was hesitation from most of the group.

In an ever secular country, it seems Christians are a little reluctant to profess their belief in Jesus. It seems as if they are ashamed to admit publicly, to non-Christians, the existence of God and His Son, Jesus.

They say instead that He is a wise teacher, a philosopher, a great healer.

It is said you can judge a person by what they say and do. So let's examine what Jesus said and did.

Time and again He taught His listeners to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength and love your neighbour as you love yourself. There is no other commandment more important than these two.” Mark 12: 28-31. So He re-affirms, clearly, that there is only one God and our duty, and responsibility, is to love Him and to love all other people. 

On another occasion He taught His followers how to pray to their God, whom He calls their Father. And He assures them that their living Father God is listening to their prayers regardless where and how they pray. They do not need to make a public show of it. 

Often He taught about forgiveness and the duty to love everyone, including our enemies.

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18: 21-22

"Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way as you judge others, and He will apply to you the same rules you apply to others." Matthew 7: 1-2

"Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too." Matthew 5: 39

His actions throughout His life seem to mirror what He taught and preached in that He showed love and caring for the people He met by healing them, consoling them, feeding them, and often raising some of them from the dead. 

Always it was on a one-to-one basis, like He taught us to relate to God His Father. 

When the crowds came to Him He could have just clicked His fingers and all who needed healing would be healed. But He did not do that. He treated each individual case personally. He touched the deaf man's ears, He put His hands on the blind man's eyes, He let the old lady touch His cloak, He went to Jairus' daughter as well as to Lazarus' tomb. And all these, as well as many others, were healed or raised from the dead.

He claimed time and again that He was the Son of God. A claim which led to His cruel death on the Cross. His Father in Heaven confirmed this claim on at least two occasions. At Christ's Baptism and at the Transfiguration. And of course, by raising Him again from the dead.

So ... the question is asked again.

Who do you think Jesus is?

What would you say publicly if asked this question?