The very unique thing about the Christian faith that is so different from other religions is the claim that in Jesus Christ, the eternal God revealed in the Hebrew scriptures wrapped himself in flesh and walked this earth as a full human being. That was and is a pretty outrageous claim, and in fact it got Jesus crucified. But, if true (and I believe it is), this act is the one thing that gives me hope – more than hope, a reason for my existence and a place to anchor my soul in the world.
Although I believe this happened, it can still be hard to immerse myself in the reality of God taking on humanity and experiencing life as a human, just like me. Recently Andrea and I have started watching the series on Jesus called “The Chosen”. It isn’t on Netflix or TV but you can download the app from the app store and watch the episodes for free. It is a dramatization of the events in the gospels with extra back stories woven in which are plausible based on the characters in the gospels and the time in which they lived.
It isn’t everyone’s thing and you have to take it for what it is, but one thing that has stood out for me in the drama is a fresh insight into Jesus humanity and the way he would have interacted with ordinary people. This has helped me then engage better with Jesus when I pray and read through scripture. The first episode of season 1 relates to his healing of Mary Magdalene and it is very moving and real. God in Jesus is portrayed as so personal and gentle and caring, yet powerful and full of life and love. The drama may not be something we all find helpful, but as a different entry into the gospel narrative I have found it quite refreshing.
I am challenged by the mystery and the wonder of God being born, growing up, learning to speak, developing coordination, engaging with people but also being able to say “before Abraham was born, I am”. Sometimes we can just go through the motions of “following Jesus”, but his call to us individually and as a community today to “follow me” is as real and present as it was to Peter on the shore of the lake 2000 years ago. God stepped into our time and space in a way that we probably couldn’t have even made up as a story in our wildest imaginations. He was both so ordinary and extraordinary that some fell on their knees in worship while others wanted to nail him to a cross.
Whether it is through a new drama or other ways, my prayer is that we would continue to get a fresh perspective of Jesus in a way that moves us to worship him, to offer our lives to him, to engage him more authentically in prayer. His call is still to “follow me” and we all like Peter and the other disciples and women need to respond to that call in Adelaide in 2021. And as we do that may God use us to be his presence in our world in our time and place.
Grace and Peace - Garry