Who is Jesus … To You?
Over many years of life, one question has remained central: “Who is Jesus?”
There is not a time I remember when I did not know of Jesus
or of God’s love for me. I was raised in
a Christian home. My father was a pastor
and my mother the daughter of a pastor.
Both my parents were very thoughtful Christians. They taught our family and their
congregations to consider who Jesus is prayerfully, from the witness of
Scripture, from the witness of the Holy Spirit working in our lives and in the
life of the communities in which we worshipped and served.
My answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” has changed over
time. I always felt comfortable having
the “Sunday School” Jesus, graphically pictured as the Good Shepherd, looking
over me. I accepted Jesus as Lord and
Savior when I was 11 years old after a powerful experience of God’s Spirit
conferred during a youth musical. The
Jesus I understood at this age was rather moralistic. Jesus would not want me to cheat or argue
while playing “Foursqare” at recess, so I didn’t. By the time I was fourteen, I hid from this
Jesus as I knew my life could never live up to God’s perfect standards. Guilt drove me further and further away from
Christian practice, but like Jonah, I could not escape the presence of
God. At about 17, I got in some trouble
early in the morning on a Sunday. I ran
home, hid under my covers, and prayed, “God, I know I haven’t followed you, but
if you can help me out of this jam…” I
got in trouble still but there was a distinct presence of Christ during the
ordeal and I knew that God answered my prayer, even when I didn’t deserve
it. In other words, I experienced God’s
grace, God unconditional love. This
didn’t instantaneously “convert” me to right living, but it was powerful and
unforgettable. Jesus was and is a
present help in times of trouble.
During college my life tanked for awhile. I became depressed and quit going to work and
school. I stayed in my dorm and wrote poetry and felt sorry for myself. I become angry and I even envisioned myself
kicking and hitting the foot of a being that represented Christ. I wanted Jesus to leave me alone. What I felt flowing down from a face I could
not fully see was love. Everlasting
Love. I surrendered to that love that I
knew would never go away. Again, I wish
I could say my life changed immediately, but the reality is that I am still
surrendering … and taking my life back… and surrendering again. Yet the Jesus I understand today is rich,
satisfying, complex. To me, Jesus is a Shepherd,
Healer, and Comforter. He is Lord of my
life, my Savior, who has moral claims on my behavior, yet is gracious and
accepting. Jesus frees me from the ultimate consequences of sin and desires my
growth, as I surrender and we take steps together on the journey of life.
Who is Jesus … to You?
I can’t wait to hear your story … and perhaps tell you more of mine!
Blessings,
Tim
