So who is Jesus?

Wednesday, 06 April 2011 08:12

There are those who, despite fairly convincing evidence do not believe in Jesus. They do not believe he existed at all. They will, however accept the existence of other, even obscure historical figures on much less evidence. Funny that!

There are those who accept that Jesus existed, who say he was a good man but no more than that - a good man who was deluded about who he was. They believe Jesus was a real historical person but they do not believe that he was the Son of God. like Moslems, for example, who believe Jesus was a prophet but not the Son of God.

C.S. Lewis says we have to make a decision about Jesus of Nazareth. He writes in his book 'Mere Christianity',
‘I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God." That's the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level of a man who said he was a poached egg - or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.'

Lewis puts it simply but, you know, this question has occupied the minds of theologians and philosophers and doctors of the church since the first century who have wrestled with question exactly what was the nature of Jesus Christ. If you have a mind for it many many books have been written on this subject which the academics call Christology. Sadly wars have been fought over it and individuals and even whole churches have been excommunicated for holding what was considered the wrong opinion. Of course all this seems rather incredible to a generation that doesn't even really believe in God.

Buti it was a very real issue when Saint John wrote his Gospel - a hundred or so years after Jesus walked in Galilee. In our Gospel reading this morning, we have some of Jesus words. And they are words about relationship.

Firstly Jesus lays down his identity with God. The fundamental truth about Jesus is that in him we see God. The mind of Jesus is the mind of God; the words of Jesus are the words of God; the actions of Jesus are the actions of God. Later in John’s Gospel we read:

Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14.8-10)

Secondly, this identity is based on obedience. Jesus did what God - who Jesus called his Father- wanted him to do. It was because his will was completely submitted to his Father's will that we see God in him.

Thirdly, this obedience was based, not on power but on love. The unity between God and Jesus, or between the Father and The Son is a unity of love. There is such complete identity of mind and will and heart that Father and Son are One, joined in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews says no one has ever seen God. If we want to see God we need to see Jesus.
'He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word' (Hebrews 1.3)

At the heart of the Christian Gospel is the teaching that true and lasting joy is found in us seeking that same relationship with Jesus Christ as he has with the Father.

I often use the word 'relationship' but it is a human word and has its limitations but it points to a spiritual union with God which is the ultimate salvation of the human soul, the source of all happiness, the fulfillment of all striving.

As the disciples said to Jesus, 'to whom can we go. You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Son of God.'