Why Jesus was more radical than you think
The unparalleled uniqueness of Jesus and why it matters
Jesus was fundamentally different from any other leader, past or present. He was fully God and fully man. He lived, died, and rose again from the dead.
Yet other things about him strike me as radically different and absorb me at this moment in history.
He did not rape, torture or kill anyone
He did not abuse children
He did not lie, cheat or steal
He did not manipulate, control or coerce
He committed no acts of terrorism
He placed no one at risk to protect himself
He raised no military armies
He did not incite anyone to violence
He had no political or state sponsors
He did not curry favour with the rich, famous and influential
He did not accumulate wealth and possessions to protect himself and secure a way of life
He took the lowest place in public and private, washing feet and befriending outcasts
He crossed over religious, ethnic, age and gender barriers
He honoured women and children and demanded the protection of their dignity and bodies
How completely and utterly different.
He was all of this and more, and he called those who would follow him to be the same. No matter what happens to me and around me, His way of life is available to me. This Jesus captivates me. This is the Jesus I am consumed with. Knowing he is this and more has only one response.
It demands my soul, my life, my all.
It seems so obvious, doesn't it? Yet too many people have either forgotten these ways of being, or simply choose to ignore them completely. I am grateful that we have Christmas and Easter every year, bringing Jesus to mind in a public way. We must regularly confront his counter-cultural life and message and make a daily decision about whether or not to follow His Way.
Thank you for this simple, powerful post.
Thank you for this reminder, Jason. Our Lord is truly worthy of honor!
What beautiful art, as well.