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Who is Jesus? (Or "Why all the fuss over Jesus?")
Week 4
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Introduction: From the article "What are we to make
of Jesus?" Lewis gives us four choices. Either Jesus is a liar,
lunatic, legend or He is Lord. But the most common reaction to the
claims and proclaims of Christ is lethargy (most people don't care).
What is the opposite of love? It is not, as many suppose hate.
It is indifference. An example many unsaved (I was going to use
"non-Christian" but that is an euphemism that we use in
our indifference) people present is the annoying relative, or neighbor
or coworker who is always "getting them down" by telling
them they are "going to hell." I wrote an article in college
once whose premise was simply "if you love someone tell them
they're going to hell."
Discussion: How does your belief in Jesus make you different
than non-believers? If it doesn't then are you doing something wrong?
Jesus never fit in and He said we wouldn't fit in. We're supposed
to be the square peg in the round world.
Time for a brain burp: Consider these questions when you
read the following verses. Are these verses to be taken literally,
figuratively, neither way or both ways?
• "For in Him we live and move and have our being."
Acts 17:28a.
• "This is my body given for you..." Luke 22:19b.
• "And if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the
dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead is living
in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to
your mortal bodies through his spirit, who lives in you." Romans
8:11
• "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed
him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (emphasis
added). Ephesians 1:22-23
Deconstruction 101: All matter is made of molecules. All
molecules are made of atoms. All atoms are made of electrons, neutrons
and protons. Physics tells us that there is much more space between
these parts of the atoms then the parts themselves. What gives atoms
their shape and "substance" are the forces that are created
by the movements of these parts. The scary thing is that scientists
also tell us that these parts are themselves made up of quarks.
AND a current theory put forward claims that the quark itself is
basically made up of forces and nothing else. What does that mean
if true? It brings a new dimension to existentialism and the Eucharist.
It also brings a new dimension to many Christians own experience
when they first receive Christ ("it's like a void in my life
was filled," or "it all just clicked," etc...) or
when we are in deep fellowship with Him. Something makes our body
shiver. Like a divine current.
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