The baptism of Jesus marks that end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
All through the next 12 months we will be hearing about Jesus, especially as we focus on his mercy in the YEAR OF MERCY. So I want to give you seven things you need to know about Jesus.
[Various people have been assigned to stand up and read their statement about Jesus.]
1. Jesus grew up poor.
Jesus grew up in the tiny village of Nazareth (which is near the Sea of Galilee). This town had only 200-400 people. Like most boys, he would have learned the trade of his father. The gospel says he was the son of a “tekton” (a Greek word for handyman or day laborer, which we usually translate as carpenter.) Being a carpenter was even below being a peasant, such as a peasant farmer, because laborers didn’t have the benefit of a plot of land. His family would be considered the “working poor.”
We can imagine that Jesus grew up as a hard worked just trying to eke out a living. So he would not have had lots of “things” or possessions. But he would know wealth, for about an hour-and-a-half walk from Nazareth was the booming town of Sepphoris, which had about 30,000 people and beautiful homes, banks and theatres. So probably Jesus knew about those things.
2. Jesus had close friends.
Of course Jesus had the disciples and many followers, but in the gospel of John it says Jesus loved Mary and Martha, and then later it says he loved their brother Lazarus. Remember, Jesus stayed with Martha and Mary, when he says “Martha, you worry too much.” I would like to imagine that Jesus needed people to laugh with, share stories and simply be friends with.
3. Jesus instructed his disciples not to judge.
He says it plainly, but somehow we interpret it as “well, sometimes we need to judge others.” Jesus says, “No.” Instead live a moral life and lead by example. Judging is for God, not us.
4. Jesus always reached out to those on the margins.
In all the gospels, if a person shows up whom everyone else looks down upon as an “outsider,” Jesus reaches out to them. There are so many examples . . . the woman at the well; the Roman centurion whom Jesus does not convert to become a Jew but instead heals his servant; the tax collector, the woman caught in adultery.
Jesus continually models for the disciples (and us) reaching out to them . . . accepting them, often eating with them and loving them.
5. Jesus really did perform miracles.
Today, some people will question whether the works of Jesus were miraculous or explainable by science. Most of Jesus’ best sayings came in the context of a miracle. So the miracle supported the saying. Notice that even those who didn’t follow Jesus’ teachings acknowledged that he did miracles (for example, doing these on the Sabbath). They don’t question the miracle, but question the source of his power. All the big religions of the world acknowledge that Jesus was a miracle worker.
6. Jesus struggled, even in prayer.
Jesus was fully divine. But he was also fully human. That’s a basic Christian belief. It’s also a mystery, that is, something not to be fully understood, but pondered. An example was in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he prays the night before his crucifixion. Jesus asks God the Father to “remove this cup.” He is saying, in essence: “If it’s possible, I don’t want to die.”
Eventually, Jesus truly trusts God. But even on the cross, he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” This is not a person who does not struggle . . . Jesus someone who understands our fears and struggles.
7. Jesus rose from the dead.
There is a new movie coming out about the soldier who guarded the grave. This one aspect of Jesus is the most important. Because in believing this, a person becomes a Christian.
Recall that prior to the resurrection, the disciples were awful . . . they ran away, Peter denied knowing Jesus, they all hid out of fear. Then they became transformed, even to risk their lives for what they believe. If the resurrection didn’t happen, the sayings and works of Jesus weren’t enough to empower them. The resurrection changed them forever.
So, that’ what the bible says about Jesus. Now here comes the challenge . . . what do you say about Jesus? I believe that is it our own encounters with Christ that will help others in their own fears, struggles, poverty and sinfulness.
When you share your story of knowing Jesus or of how Jesus has changed your life . . . you will change the world.