Thoughts on the Modern Jesus

Thoughts on the Modern Jesus

Exodus 20:4

The Misconception

Who is Jesus? Or rather, who is the Jesus of the Bible? There is a big difference between those two questions, one being right, and the other wrong.

I have heard plenty of times someone say to another, “Jesus was a friend to all”, or something along those lines. This is often said to unbelievers by professing believers who are trying to win the other over to Christianity. However, this statement is entirely false. This statement, which is trying to win people over to a nice religion (rather than the Word of God), is made to lure people into believing that Jesus wants “you” to come to Him. He is a nice guy all around, and never hurt anyone. Yet, such a statement contradicts Matthew 12:21, Mark 11:15 and Luke 19:45, when He drove the sellers and traders from the Temple. He was not described as walking in softly; going to each individual and saying nicely “Could you please cease this? I’m not feeling good about it.” Quite the opposite actually, as He “…drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves” (Matt. 12:21). Nowhere does it mention that He knocked on the door and was gentle with the evildoers. He instead drove them out, pushed over their tables, and did so (as it seems) rather quickly. He didn’t pause, stumble or take the time to get anyone’s opinion. It simply says that He just walked in and did these things.

So, to say He was a nice guy all around is entirely false. If one takes away the anger of God, what have they lost? (See my Note on Hatred.)

People also say that He was joyous. He is often pictured as worry-free, never sad and always happy about everything. Well, my note above clearly deals with the “happy about everything”, plus they have forgotten the fact that He did in fact feel sadness and pain (John 11:35 and Luke 22:63).

And, although this seems to be overlooked quite often, He is often pictured as a guy wearing a white robe, with perfect hair (and beard, if you can define such a thing). Now, this view seems to stem from a lack of remembrance that He was a carpenter, and traveled a lot. And, such things don’t often have a good effect on clothes. Especially white clothes.

However, these images of Jesus often anger me, because they almost give up the idea that Jesus was a man. Nowhere does it mention that He magically cleaned His clothes, combed His hair and never picked up any dust. If Christ was as people often picture, would He not have stood out? He did stand out. But not with His appearance. In Mark 1:22, when Jesus began His ministry, “They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” They did not add, “and they said to each other, ‘Oh my! What clean clothes He has! And that hair! Hast thou ever beheld such a perfect head?” It was not His clothes or hair that stood out (whereas some [Osteen] are often described as “dazzling”), but His “authority.” Sadly, He also stood out because of His miracles (see my note on miracles). But neither His clothes, nor His looks (nor the miracles) saved anyone. And towards the end of His life, He was anything but clean and perfect (see Psalm 22, Acts 5:30, Hebrews 2:9).

Another modern idea of Jesus that often annoys me is the statement “Jesus came to save you”, not because of the statement itself, but how it is used today. They might as well gather a crowd and say “Jesus came to save you, you, you, you, you, you…”

He came to save those that believe in Him (John 3:16). Otherwise, there would be no Hell (which there is [Dan. 12:2-3; Matt. 25:46; Luke 16:24; John 5:28; Rev. 16:10; Revelation 20:14-15]).

Common Misuse

The “modern” Jesus has many places in society today. From language to propaganda. Yet all these places are mockery of the truth. The common misuses of Him are often to be expected (language for instance, because God said not to), but alas, the misuses have spread far and wide.

You’ll often hear “I want Jesus!” on TV, radio and in the modern “church”, and it is often what the person wants when they say it. However the “Jesus” they want is not the Jesus of the Bible, but one that has been remade by the modern “church” and is watered down to a level of uselessness. He is a little “helper” that one can bring into the life if they need a little comfort. I even had a man tell me that Jesus “came to heal the brokenhearted”, with his definition of “brokenhearted” being the people that are in bad shape. But such a thing is not of the Bible. He did not come to save brokenhearted people, but sinners. Those who were the ones that nailed Him to the cross. Nowhere does the Bible endorse a view of the brokenhearted as being the ones whom He came to save. Mankind is not broken hearted. He is happy as can be in his sin, and in and of himself, does not desire God. Nowhere is man sorry for His sin without Christ.

However, another misuse is that of the giving your life to Jesus. In reality, most people would say “Here Jesus, you can have my life if you want. I’ll let you control me.” Is that not a place of arrogance? Is it really just me handing my life to Him? Such a thing is to say He didn’t have control before you so kindly offered it to Him. Or is it not the Holy Spirit in us that brings us to Him (John 14:26, 15:26; Luke 12:12)?

Mankind is so quick to limit Jesus to the level of himself, or as he thinks perfection is. Mankind often pictures Christ as the “always happy guy in the perfect clothing (with perfect hair)” because there is a natural fear of God. If God is always nice and happy, He would never hurt anyone. But such is a contradiction to the Word of God. God does have wrath and hate, and He does bring it onto mankind. And man fears Him, thus the distortion of Jesus and His work.