I’m currently doing a
series with my church called “His Name Will be Called.” It’s based on the 4 names of Jesus in Isaiah
9:6. This Sunday is “Mighty God.” I wonder; how do you picture Jesus? I suppose
when I ask that, the first thing that might come to mind is how he looks. There’s no shortage of depictions of Jesus in
this world. Unfortunately many of them
are overly effeminate, often with gaunt cheeks, and I swear some of them look
like He’s wearing makeup. I’ve also had enough of those flowing blond locks of
hair and the blue eyes. And why do they
always seem to show him holding a lamb or with little children around him?
I know those sorts of
pictures were meant to honor Him, but I almost find them to be sac
religious. They don’t sit right with me,
because I think they are a poor depiction of our Lord and Savior when He walked
this earth.
When you think about what
we know of Jesus from scripture I think there could be far more accurate depictions. Instead of Jesus having a little lamb on His
lap why not show him holding some wood working tools? Why not show him fishing on a boat with a couple
of His disciple buddies? Speaking of His
disciples, I see them for the most part as pretty manly themselves; especially
His closest three, Peter, James, and John.
We know them as fishermen, and James and John as “sons of thunder.” Those are the guys Jesus chose to hang out
with and call as His disciples. He
probably looked a lot more like the blue collar rugged men they were, then most
the pictures we see now-a-days.
Appearances are one thing,
but I’m also wondering what you think Jesus was like?
What do you think his
personality and demeanor were? If you think of Jesus as being meek and humble,
you'd be right. The Bible certainly describes Jesus in this way, but we need to
remember that being meek is nowhere near the same as being week. A common
description for meekness is actually power under control. And we know that Jesus was humble too, but
that doesn't mean he was a wimp. That became obvious on a number of occasions.
For instance, a few months before his crucifixion, as Jesus was making his way
to Jerusalem knowing full well what was in store, a group of Pharisees warned
him of King Herod's plot to take his life. Jesus told them, "Go tell that fox ... I
must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day." With the steely
determination of a warrior, Jesus told them he was going to carry out his will
and purpose, namely, to die on a cross and take away the sins of the world. No
one would stand in his way. A few months
later, on Monday of Holy Week, just days before his death on the cross, Jesus
went into the temple. He found merchants and money changers who had set up shop
there, preventing worshipers from having access to the temple. And he angrily
drove them all out, overturning tables and scattering coins in the
process. That’s hardly wimpy. Or what about one of his more famous rants
against the Pharisees. He called them
hypocrites, hopeless, blind fools, frauds, white washed tombs, and brood of
vipers. He’s not exactly sugar coating
it is He? He always spoke the truth and
wasn’t afraid to do so.
I suppose the really sad
thing is this; not only do many people picture Jesus as having been weak and
wimpy during his days on earth, they still picture him in that way, and nothing
could be further from the truth. Jesus was our mighty God on earth and now He’s
our mighty God in heaven. The Bible may call him the "Lamb of God,"
but it also calls Him the "Lion of Judah." In Zephaniah 3:17 He is
referred to as a Mighty Warrior who saves.
Yes that’s right; Jesus saves. It’s
more than just a bumper sticker saying. He
saves us from our sin and He saves us from death, but He also saves us FOR some
things. He saves us for an abundant life
on earth. He saves us for the joy of our
salvation. I don’t know what your
Christmas season holds this year. I know
for some it’s not always an easy season to get through. Wherever you are at, I hope you will take the
time to consider your Mighty God Jesus Christ who saves, and I pray that in
turn will bring you the true joy of Christmas.
