Jesus

I know - a blog entry about Jesus. It seems to much like Sunday school. Can't I come up with anything more compelling. The short answer - nope. I will add my comments in a minute, but for just a minute listen in to a fantastic clip from N.T. Wright about Jesus. Here's the link:

http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/index.php?ct=store.details&pid=V00934

A few weeks ago I went to take some courses at Acadia University. The first course was all about Jesus - and the most popular and challenging views of Jesus. Beyond the CS Lewis lord, liar, and lunatic options there are any number of opinions including notions that Jesus was an Aryan, (I know - that one took some work to appreciate), that he wasn't Jewish, wasn't divine, was a "cynic" in the classic/ cultural sense of the word, that he was disinterested in Scripture and was more of a rogue, that he didn't exist at all, that he was more like a magician than a saviour or teacher etc.

For a week we pored over the evidence, looked at the writings of historians - both secular and religious of Jesus' time - examined the manuscript evidence, poked around in archeological findings including Dead Sea Scrolls and Oxyrhynchus,  looked at extra biblical material - and read the accounts of the gospels themselves.

On one level the scientific and theological part of me was very compelled by the evidence, the data and the sheer volume of material that one has to consider is staggering and overwhelming in its import and impact. In fact, I could write a month's worth of blog entries about just these sorts of matters and in much more detail.  But more than that, can I simply say that apart from any religious convictions or heart matters - my esteem, regard, respect and honour for the teacher, person, leader and man that Jesus was and is - sharply up and to the right! I mean, even if you have issues and questions - a sheer investigation of what he said, how he acted, what it all meant in its original context - it makes him arguably the most compelling figure in human history.

Allow me to also add that in addition to my esteem going up - my heart simply grew in love for Jesus. It is simply impossible for someone to take serious what he said, did, taught and accomplished - and not be moved in some way. And by take it seriously I mean what Wright meant - read the stories, hear his words, imagine yourself there with him, understand the audacity, the courage, the humour and the power of Jesus' words and actions in their context - bet you can't do it and remain the same.

Go ahead, I dare you!