Who Is This Jesus?

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves on a spiritual roller coaster. There are days when our faith feels unshakeable, and others when we struggle to connect with our beliefs. This ebb and flow is a natural part of our spiritual growth, but it begs an essential question that has echoed through the ages: Who is Jesus?

This question isn't just a matter of historical curiosity; it's a deeply personal inquiry that can shape the very foundation of our lives. As we explore this question, we'll encounter four distinct views of Jesus that have persisted from His time on Earth to our present day.

1. Important, Yet Irrelevant

Many of us grow up hearing about Jesus. We celebrate Christmas and Easter, we know the stories, and we recognize His importance in history. Yet, for some, Jesus remains a distant figure, irrelevant to daily life. This cultural Christianity acknowledges Jesus as a good teacher or an important historical figure, but fails to engage with His radical claims.

Jesus didn't leave room for this lukewarm approach. He claimed to be God incarnate, the King of the universe. This leaves us with only three options: He was either a liar, a lunatic, or truly Lord. The idea that He was merely a good teacher doesn't align with His own words and actions.

2. Harmful and Oppressive

In Jesus' time, both religious and political leaders often viewed Him as a threat. Today, some still see Christianity as harmful to society, repressive, or even oppressive. This view often stems from what C.S. Lewis termed "chronological snobbery" – the belief that our current era is more enlightened than the past.

However, a humble look at history reveals that Jesus' teachings have largely benefited society. From the establishment of hospitals and universities to movements for civil rights and women's equality, the impact of Christ's teachings has been overwhelmingly positive. While there have been blemishes when people twisted His message for oppressive ends, the overall influence of Jesus' followers has been to uplift and improve culture.

3. A Means to a Political End

Many in Jesus' time, including His disciples, expected the Messiah to be a political and military leader who would overthrow Roman oppression. This misunderstanding persists today when people try to use Jesus or Christianity as a tool for political gain.

In the Gospel of Mark, we see Peter rebuking Jesus for speaking about His coming death, unable to reconcile this with his expectations of a conquering Messiah. Jesus' response is sharp: "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

This political view of Jesus often leads to a spirit of cynicism and hatred towards those perceived as enemies, rather than the love and gentleness that should characterize Christ's followers. We don't need more people metaphorically "chopping off ears" in Jesus' name; we need those who, like Jesus, bring healing and reconciliation.

4. The King of an Upside-Down Kingdom

The true view of Jesus, as revealed in Scripture, is that He is the King of an upside-down kingdom. Instead of overthrowing earthly powers, He came to atone for the sins of the world. Rather than climbing the ladder of success, He chose to serve in humility.

Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. It operates on principles that often seem counterintuitive to human nature: love your enemies, the last shall be first, lose your life to find it. This Jesus is far greater than even His followers initially realized. He came not just to free Israel from Roman rule, but to redeem the entire world from sin.

When we truly see Jesus for who He is, it changes everything. We begin to worship Him as King and follow His example of self-sacrificial love. We seek to bring healing rather than division, to serve rather than to be served.

The story in Mark's Gospel of the blind man being healed in two stages serves as a powerful metaphor for our journey of understanding Jesus. At first, we may see Him unclearly, like "people looking like trees walking around." But as we allow Him to touch our lives again and again, our vision clears, and we begin to see Him for who He truly is.

Consider the story of James Hawkins, a man who spent 20 years homeless and addicted to crack cocaine. James could have given the "right" answers about Jesus, but his life showed no evidence of truly knowing Him. It wasn't until James' eyes were truly opened to who Jesus was that his life was transformed. After encountering the real Jesus – not just an important historical figure, but the lover of his soul – James found freedom from addiction, joy, and a completely new life.

This is the power of truly seeing and knowing Jesus. It's not about having the right answers or following a set of rules. It's about encountering the living Christ and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out.

So, who do you say Jesus is? Is He just an important but irrelevant figure? A harmful influence on society? A means to a political end? Or is He the King of an upside-down kingdom, calling you to a life of radical love and service?

Your answer to this question has the power to change not only your life but also how others view Jesus. When we truly grasp who Jesus is and live accordingly – loving our enemies, serving in humility, following His example – we become living testimonies to His transformative power.

As you go about your week, consider how your view of Jesus impacts your daily life. Are you living as a citizen of His upside-down kingdom? Are you bringing healing and reconciliation to a divided world? May we all seek to see Jesus more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly, day by day.

This article used generative AI via Pulpit AI to transform one of Chris' sermons into this article. The content is original to CDM, with some help from Pulpit AI adapting it into article form.