I'm currently taking a course called Jesus in Fiction and Film. The class only meets once a week for 3 hours, so we read a ton of fiction on our own, then meet up to discuss and watch a film. Before this class I really didn't know that there were that many movies or books out there that build around the story of Jesus. We've talked about the reasons that people would create works about Jesus – to try and fill in holes left by the Gospels, to harmonize the four Gospel accounts, to provide an alternate account of Jesus, or to relate the character and story of Jesus to a larger theme.
As we've now watched 16 movies (dating from 1905 to 2004) and read over 10 literary works, I have seen so many different pictures of Jesus presented. In one movie the actor who played Jesus was the same guy as the Green Goblin from Spiderman 1. In another, Voldemort's actor played the character of Jesus. I know that shouldn't really make a difference, but it was just a little odd, you know? In fact, I had a lot of trouble liking any of the Jesus characters because of their appearance. Most (not all) had blue eyes and a beautifully trimmed beard. Their tunics were usually dazzling white, their hands were smooth and their hair was always neatly parted. Lots of camera angles would look up to Jesus and stay focused on his face while showing some illuminating light behind him. Besides turning over the tables in the Temple, Jesus was a relatively easy going guy and most of the films and books mentioned little about the Judgement.
For me, I just don't see Jesus as always having pretty hair and a perfectly clean tunic and sandals. Jesus and his disciples were homeless travelers, teaching and preaching on lakes and hillsides. He hung out with fishermen who probably smelled of yucky fish. I don't see Jesus as having pedicured feet or smooth hands, rather as a weathered man who had been out in the sun often, with dust on his feet and the edges of his garments from all the walking he did.
Moviemakers and authors have done a lot to try and display the story of Jesus. Some tried to stick to biblical accounts, others were straight up heretical, but all had some sort of bias in the way they directed or wrote. There were authors and directors from several denominations of the Christian faith as well as some who were atheists. In one film, Jesus is emphasized as a great healer with magical powers who brings comfort to many, yet doesn't show much emotion at all. Several accounts show Jesus casting out demons, while some never even touch the subject. Many show the political and social setting of the day and tie Jesus in as a teacher going against the power of Rome. One foreign film showed Jesus as a harsh teacher who rarely smiled and seemed to be on a mission to preach as many people as he could so that he could be done with his task. Yet another movie showed Jesus as inconsistent and contradictory while Judas was one of the better characters; he was a misguided martyr – an innocent puppet. Jesus was seen as one who was overwhelmed with the demands of the sick and poor – he was tired of people always coming to him for healing. Still another film interpreted Jesus to be a kind of hippy, "love everybody and be happy always" kind of guy. Another shows Jesus as a religious figure with mindless followers who create miracles and elevate an ordinary man to be their leader and messiah. Some of the books and movies have suggested that Jesus had committed sins, even if they were small and seemingly insignificant while others were huge.
Another account paints Jesus as a philosopher who preaches discovery and acknowledgement of the light within us to be saved. One book emphasized Mary as an outspoken woman who bossed Jesus around for most of his life and pushed him into performing miracles. Other books and movies suggested that Jesus had no idea who he was until he was much older and that he didn't know if the voice inside him was from God or Satan.
Many of the character portrayals of Jesus were unbelievable. Few of the Jesus characters that I saw were authoritative or could be taken seriously. (Some films, however, like The Jesus Film and The Gospel of John followed very closely to the Gospel accounts). Most of the other Jesuses were very meek and almost dainty with a spiritual, holy air about them. He was usually painted as either a mere man or as the Son of God – most people seem to have a hard time grasping that he is both.
For the record, I really enjoyed this class…even with all the weird interpretations and unusual scenes. It helped me to think about what I believe about Jesus and why.
So what does all of this have to do with us? Why does it matter what the media says about who Jesus is?
It matters because Jesus already has an identity and we are not the ones who get to define him. Some people think that as long as you're sincere, you can have any belief you want to about Jesus. Simply put, that's absurd. If I think Jesus is simply a moral teacher, nothing more, and you think he's the holy Son of God sent to save the world from sin, we can't both right. In his book, Crazy Love, Francis Chan says this about God's identity: "A lot of people say that whatever you believe about God is fine, so long as you are sincere. But that is comparable to describing your friend in one instance as a three-hundred-pound sumo wrestler and in another as a five-foot-two, ninety-pound gymnast. No matter how sincere you are in your explanations, both descriptions of your friend simply cannot be true." This is so reassuring to me because it means that what I think or how I feel does not change who Jesus is. I can believe whatever I want to about him but his identity is already set and defined, regardless of my actions toward him or my thoughts about him.
That being said, here's who Jesus is. I know this because it's in the Word and the Word of God is true. With this as my foundation, I've also experienced Christ in real ways in my life. It's not that my faith is simply based on experience – everyone can have a religious experience, but my life is in Christ because he is who he says he is – he is Truth!
This next portion is based off of Dr. David Platt's teaching from "Secret Church" on Good Friday. I found this teaching to be so clear and extremely helpful. It is neatly organized and easy to follow. I hope you find it to be a good resource as well. Info on this program can be found here: http://www.disciplemakingintl.org/secretchurch/resources.html.
Jesus is fully man.
- He was born of a virgin – Matthew 1:18-20, Luke 1:35
- He had a human body – Luke 2:7, Luke 2:40, John 4:6, Matthew 4:2
- He had a human mind – Luke 2:52
- He had a human soul – John 12:27, John 13:21, Matthew 26: 38
- He had human emotions – Matthew 8:10, John 11:35, Hebrews 5:7-8
- He is fully able to identify with us – Hebrews 4:15-16
Jesus if fully God
His Identity… John 1:1-4
- He is eternal – Hebrews 1:8
- He is Creator – Colossians 1:15-16
- He is Sustainer – Colossians 1:17
- He is omnipotent – Matthew 8:26-27, Matthew 14:19
- He is omniscient – Mark 2:8, John 2:25, John 16:30
- He is sovereign – Mark 2:5-7, Matthew 11:25-27
His testimony… "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." – John 8:58; "I and the Father are one." – John 10:30
Man's testimony – "Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" – John 20:28; Colossians, 2:9, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 1:8
Jesus is fully able to identify with God – The person of Christ on the cross was not Jesus alone, nor God alone, but God in Christ. – Colossians 1:19-20.
Consider the Purpose of Christ
- Jesus came to live a sinless life – John 18:38, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5
- He was obedient – John 15:10
- He was righteous – 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:1
- Jesus came to die a substitutionary death in the place of the disobedient and unrighteous – John 11:49-53, Romans 5:6-8, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24
Divine Sacrifice
Salvation through God's Son is achieved:
- The essence of sin: Man substitutes himself for God. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be.
- The essence of salvation: God substitutes himself for man. God sacrifices Himself for man and puts Himself where only man deserves to be. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Divine Satisfaction through divine sacrifice:
- At the cross, God expresses His judgment on sin.
- At the cross, God endures His judgment against sin.
- At the cross, God enables salvation for sinners.
I don't write all of this to just list off a bunch of points about Jesus that are backed up with scripture. I write all of this because I believe it fully. What you believe or don't believe about Christ determines how you choose to live your life. If Christ truly is all that he says he is (I believe he is!) then why would we not give him everything?
Jesus Christ gave up equality with God to come down and live a sinless life, die an excruciating and humiliatingly shameful death on an ugly cross and in doing so reconciled us with God to make us blameless before Him…why would we not give our lives to follow him relentlessly?
Lately I have begun to realize how short this life truly is and how quickly time slips by. I'm graduating college in 2 weeks. I'll be home from the World Race in a year. Then what? Grad school for a few years? Time on the mission field for a decade or two? What is 80 or 90 years compared to eternity? What is your purpose and what are you giving your life for? To me, the answer seems simple. I desire to follow after Jesus because I know that he is who he says he is and he's the only One worth giving my life to.
