Sacred Cynicism

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I have never been much of a fisherman. I just do not have the patience for it. Yet I know that most families have someone who is devoted to the activity. Perhaps that family member is also one who likes to stretch the truth, so the fish from that fishing trip in 1999 keeps getting bigger year after year. Maybe it is not the fish that was caught that keeps getting bigger, but the fish that got away. He was the real River Monster, if only he could have reeled him in. I wonder just how close the actual fish was in size, to the fish of stories that keep being retold.

I wonder if Christians do that to Jesus. We tell the stories so often, I wonder if the Jesus from our stories bear much resemblance to the real Jesus from 2,000 years ago. Believe it or not, this is actually the subject of quite intense debate today. Is this Jesus a figure of make-believe, or was he an actual person who said the things the Bible claims, and did the things it describes? It seems to me this is important, and we should have some answers for any who ask this question. I don’t think I could actually adequately cover this topic, but I can at least fill in some details – in case you were wondering.

Around the time of the first century, Palestine was a restless place. The Jewish inhabitants, already a proud and restless people, were growing increasingly frustrated with Roman occupation. There was a small segment of the Jews who were a devout, pious group who waited for a leader to deliver them from Rome. This group was waiting for this long awaited leader, whom they called the Messiah. This group was distinct. In a country where names like Jesus, Judas, Barnabas, and Cephas were Common, they named their children after the heroes of the Old Testament. They named their children names like Isaac, Joseph, or Mary, and lived around the town of Nazareth. It seems this Jesus was born into a family who were waiting for, and praying for this deliverer.

Jesus in all likelihood received a religious training in Nazareth, and it would have been the strict, pious view of the area. He may have even been taught in the strict Pharisee school that existed in the town of Nazareth at that time. So when Jesus began to show signs that he was something different, and perhaps special the people around Nazareth would have been expectant and excited. But they were looking for a Messiah and leader who would deliver them from Rome, lead them in a military conquest, and set up a new, Jewish kingdom. Imagine their dismay when this Jesus started questioning their teaching, associating with impure people, and saying things like “blessed are the peacemakers.” Their response, if we are to believe the gospels, was to expel Jesus from his hometown.

Instead of a military ruler, Jesus was a peacemaker. Instead of a political kingdom, Jesus said “my kingdom is not of this world.” Instead of delivering the Jewish few, Jesus seemed more concerned with opening access to the many. In short there was nothing, absolutely nothing that would connect Jesus to this title of messiah. He led no rebellion. He achieved nothing politically. And he died under the political hand of Rome. In the world of Messiahs – a complete and utter failure. There were many others who claimed to be the Messiah in the years around Jesus. They led rebellions, achieved some victories, had larger followings, and were revered for a time; yet their names have been lost to history. We must ask, “why has this title of Messiah stuck with Jesus if he would have been considered a failure back then?”

The answer is simple, but so simple that we may miss it. There must have been something so profound and so life-altering that the Title stuck even when all the pre-conceived notions were not met. What would cause that to happen? Why would this title be given to someone by people who were fiercely protective of that title? Perhaps Jesus actually did what these records claim he did. Jesus rose from the dead. The great victory was over more than an army, it was over the enemy that every dictator, and every disease has used as the ultimate fear tactic since then – death. These people then went out and told their story – even when it led to their own death. Perhaps this is not some fish tale. Perhaps the story that has been told to us is the one that actually happened. Let’s not let this One be the One who gets away.