This time of year and Easter approaching makes me think of the different responses to Jesus. Some recent, some in the past. Some positive, some negative. But there is one thing all responses to Jesus have in common.
Responses are triggered by various things, such as even a movie or a work of art. For some it is a good experience. For some it may be bad. And it’s amazing how different the continuum can be on those experiences, a surprise as to how much one loves or hates something. Sometimes to the complete opposite of your own.
But all have an experience.
But there is one thing all responses to Jesus have in common.
Responses to Jesus (3×2): Stott and Lewis
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:6-11 is thought to be an early hymn of the church. A statement of what they believed about Christ from the very early days of the church.
In it, we find some pretty extreme assertions: Jesus being in the nature of God, going from godhood to being human, and, in that humanity, experiencing the most awful and shameful of deaths.
There was no “half-way” in Jesus’ life.
Similarly, when you read about people who meet Jesus there was not a moderate response to him. As noted by a longtime pastor and author, John Stott, in his little but powerful book Basic Christianity they either:
- Hated him and wanted to kill him.
- Were afraid and tried to run away.
- Drawn to him and tried to give their whole life to him.
But no one had a middle-ground response to him. There was no apathetic response.
This is understandable. In fact, if one takes Jesus at his word in such ways as “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6), it is hard not to land on one of those responses. It can be a very offensive claim.
Or, at the very least, in a world flavored with good influencers there are also the unhealthy narcissistic ones, both online and in the flesh. And he can seem like just another one.
But what if his claim is true?
C. S. Lewis, a Christian author and apologist, whose deepest preference was NOT to follow Jesus, brings an interesting observation. His life was drawn to Jesus, in many ways despite himself. (A good story to read if you are struggling with who Jesus is.)
Lewis is credited with another trinity of responses to Jesus, now often-quoted. The three possibilities:
- Liar—He knew he was not what he claimed.
- Lunatic—He thought he was what he claimed but he was not that.
- Lord—He was who he claimed to be.
The One Thing All Responses to Jesus Have in Common
It’s not hard to see how Lewis and Stott’s responses align in defining three views of Jesus’ identity.
The reality is that we must each come face-to-face with who Jesus is and come to a conclusion. And, even more accurately, repeatedly decide who Jesus is.
But whatever you decide about Jesus, there is only one choice for your response — strong. A strong response is the only option to Jesus’ extreme claims. Whether Stott or Lewis’ list, whether the positive or the negative ones, they have this in common: very little “gray” area.
Whatever you decide about Jesus, there is only one choice for your response — strong. A strong response is the only option to Jesus’ extreme claims.
And if you decide to trust and follow Jesus, not surprisingly, it is a call to a full devotion. He challenges us that if we are to follow him it is to be wholly committed (Luke 9:61-62).
If you feel against Jesus, take another look. Get to know him. Read one of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). Take some next steps. Go deeper and see what you find. And invite others to join you or help you.
If you are a follower of Jesus, does your love and devotion reflect what you believe about who he is? He is always gracious to help us grow toward a fulfilling life (John 10:10) that comes from him.
Hope your Easter season is filled with a refreshing sense of seeing who Jesus is! Enjoy!
So…what will your (strong) response be to Jesus?
Photo by Kevin Sequeira from StockSnap
