My mental picture of Jesus is influenced by numerous movies and paintings. In my mind's eye, I see a calm, serene man, whose feathers are never ruffled and whose dander is never up. That's not the profile of the Master described by John.
...a deep anger welled up within him.... Now Jesus wept....the anger again welling up within him.... Then he shouted, 'Lazarus, come out!'.... He withdrew into the country...and secluded himself there with his disciples... (11:33-34, 38, 43, 54)
In the next scene, Jesus is sitting at the dinner table with Lazarus and Martha and unashamedly has a very intimate encounter with Mary,
Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. (12:3)
These glimpses into Jesus' life paint a picture of a real human - emotional, relational, vulnerable. No stoicism or guardedness here. Someone who lived and loved recklessly.
Jesus answered, '... anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.' (12:25-26)
And what does this look like - to let go and love recklessly? Again, movies and paintings do not portray the true picture. It's not just releasing myself to live out my passions. It's not doing only what feels good and right to me (
read: comfortable or laudable). It's not being missional so that I can proclaim that I am serving God.
"To really live is to release My Son's life through yours, in any circumstances, no matter what you feel, to relate as He related, giving when no one gives back, loving when no one returns love, forgiving when no one deserves forgiveness, suffering in the place of those who should suffer." (66LL)
2 comments:
Fascinating words you chose to highlight, Staci. They hadn't stood out to me when I read this morning, but after reading your post I'm struck with the sensuousness of Jesus.
But using that word, "sensuous," to refer to Jesus seems wildly inappropriate. And so does "fleshly". Is it heretical to like this version of Jesus, this 3-D, flesh and bones, always Holy version rather than the flat, felt-board version with girly features?
What does it do to my view of my Savior to envision him experiencing and expressing real emotion? How do I respond to a flesh and blood, unpredictable Jesus?
Thanks Staci for your words of confirmation. My world paints a picture of a benevolent Christ that leaves little room for pain. A God Who makes it all good. Wonder why we can't talk of the Christ we truly see.
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