Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

by Pastor Larry Sorrells, Rockville, Trinity UMC

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They gave many answers, much like we do today. However, we need to keep in mind that the correct answer was given by Simon Peter who said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Here are some views of the modern day Jesus I recently came across:
There’s the Republican Jesus—who is against tax increases and activist judges, for family values and owning firearms. There’s Democratic Jesus—who is against Wall Street and corporate billionaires, for reducing our carbon footprint and equality for everyone. There’s Therapist Jesus—who helps us cope with life’s problems, heals our past, tells us how valuable we are and not to be so hard on ourselves. There’s Starbucks Jesus—who drinks fair trade coffee, loves spiritual conversations, drives a hybrid, and goes to film festivals. There’s Open-minded Jesus—who loves everyone all the time no matter what, with the exception of those who aren’t as open-minded as they think they are. There’s Touchdown Jesus—who helps athletes run faster and jump higher than non-Christians and determines the outcomes of Super Bowls. There’s Movie Star Jesus—who was meek and mild, with perfect facial features, flowing hair, looking good, and walking around barefoot, rocking a robe and sash. There’s Old Hippie Jesus—who teaches everyone to give peace a chance, imagines a world without religion, and helps us remember that ‘all you need is love.’ There’s Yuppie Jesus—who encourages us to reach our full potential, reach for the stars, and live in prosperity. There’s Spirituality Jesus—who hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine, and would rather have people out in nature, finding ‘the god within’ while listening to ambiguously spiritual music. There’s Platitude Jesus—good for Christmas specials, greeting cards, and bad sermons, inspiring people to believe in themselves. There’s Revolutionary Jesus—who teaches us to rebel against the status quo, stick it to the man, and blame things on ‘the system.’ There’s Guru Jesus—a wise, inspirational teacher who believes in you and helps you find your center. There’s Boyfriend Jesus—who wraps his arms around us as we sing about his intoxicating love. There’s Good Example Jesus—who shows you how to help people, change the planet, and become a better you.
Though there are some aspects of some of these images that are worthwhile, Christ is not a reflection of the current mood or the projection of our own images and desires. He is our Lord and God. He is the Father’s Son, Savior of the world, and substitute for our sins – He is more loving, more holy, and more wonderful than we ever thought possible. Reach out to the real Jesus. He is always there for you. Blessings.