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The message of Jesus has been obscured by almost two millennia of collected opinions. Some say it's all about being religious, finding your inner potential, or just about being a good person.
If we were to strip away all these ideas and simply look at Jesus, what would we see?
Firstly we see that Jesus was God and a real human being. People saw him with their own eyes, heard him and lived with him. They were expecting Jesus to be a national hero but were quite perplexed when he kept saying and doing things that were more fitting for God. Like healing the incurable. Forgiving the detestable. Touching the filthy. And teaching like he really knew what he was talking about.
Secondly, everywhere Jesus went he called people to follow him. No sacrifice was too great. Job, family, friends, life-savings. The only way to have life was to believe what he said about himself and follow.
Finally, he sacrificed himself on the cross. No anaesthesia, no private and dignified hospital ward. This was the price for our own wrong doings, and he lovingly took our place.
That's a nice story, but it doesn't end there. He rose from the dead, so his offer still stands: believe in me, follow me and I will give you life.
Why don't you read the bible and look for yourself at who Jesus is?
Sentimentality is the belief that emotional feelings are more valuable than reasoned judgement That is, we should follow our heart, and do what makes us feel happy. For most people, sentimentality plays an important part in how we interpret our happy experiences and how we value the people we love.
But is it sensible to say that if it feels right then it must be the right thing to do? Or that if you love some one then they can't be a bad person? These are things that Sentimentalists often say. God is a feeling that makes you feel nice, if you love some-one then you must act according to your emotions, and above all you must be true to your heart.
However, a direct link between pleasant feelings and right decisions is questionable. Most of us have had experiences where we did what felt right, but later regretted it. Some of us have had experiences where people who treated us nicely ended up harming us. Also, we are capable of loving people who do detestable things. Have you ever seen news footage of a family who claim their son is nice person who would never hurt any-one, yet who is guilty of violence?
The Bible says that humans are corrupted, and this includes our emotions. Follow our feelings and we are hostile to God and will destroy ourselves. Because God is loving and truthful, he will not lie to us to make us feel nice.
The most profound way that God showed his honest love to us was when he became a human. Jesus Christ came to Earth, healed, and taught the people saying: turn your life around, and believe that I am God. To those who refused he told the sad truth; that they wanted to kill him. Then, in a love that was not sentimental, but was honest, he died a violent and painful death. In that act of love Jesus served the death sentence we all deserve. And it is by that act of love that those who believe in Jesus and follow him are given God's spirit who will inhabit our lives, and guide us.
Do you think emotions alone are a good way of making decisions or judgements?
If God is nothing but a nice feeling, what hope does this offer us?
If human character is fatally flawed, what are the implications for us?
Will you accept God's only solution, by believing and following Jesus?
THE MEANING OF EASTER.
Easter.
Most of us know that Easter has something to do with the death of Jesus, but we don't often consider what took place.
What happened.
Jesus was an historical person who lived in Israel and was tried and convicted for claiming to be God.
He was publicly executed in around 30 AD at the time of year we know as Easter.
After being dead and buried for three days in a sealed tomb, he came back to life, just as he had predicted.
What does this mean?
Since the beginning of history mankind has rejected God. Because God is perfect he could not simply ignore this, and so we have been separated from God. But because of his love for us, he provided a solution.What does this mean for us?
The death and coming back to life of Jesus means that you, I, or any one can be forgiven of every wrong thing we have ever done, and have a fulfilling closeness with God. All we need to do is give up living life our way and accept God's free gift.
What should I do?
Perhaps you think about God, or strive to be a good person, but are troubled about your relationship with God.
Articles by:Steven Fussell, President 2001- July 2003
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