Which Jesus Do You Worship?

• Christian Evidences
• Christian Living
• Christianity
• Dr Eliezer Gonzalez
• Gospel
• Jesus
• New Testament
• Revelation

Apr 28, 2014 2008

We all reckon that the Jesus who we worship is the right Jesus.

The truth is that real Jesus lived around 2,000 years ago on this earth.  The truth is that to some extent, we cannot help seeing Jesus through our own culture, society, and religious traditions. All of these things determine the aspects of Jesus in the gospels we emphasise, and how we interpret the gospel texts.

So, which Jesus do you worship?

Do you worship the political Jesus – the Jesus who supports your political views, because of course that’s what he would have done.

Do you worship the social Jesus – the homeless Jesus who slept under bridges, and who dedicated his time to the oppressed and downtrodden of society?

Do you support the national Jesus – the one who supports your nation against the rest?

Do you worship the denominational Jesus – the one who agrees with your particular church but who wouldn’t really be comfortable worshipping with other Christians?

Do you worship the Hollywood Jesus – he of the blue eyes, impeccable hygiene, and wavy hazel salon hair? Yeah… right! Jesus was probably quite short, with dark and short curly dark hair – and very Middle-Eastern looking.

Do you worship the conservative Jesus? The liberal Jesus? The apocalyptic Jesus? The teacher Jesus? The Jewish Jesus? The miraculous Jesus? The meek and mild Jesus? The powerful Jesus? The man Jesus? The divine Jesus?

Get the picture?

Some of these dimensions of Jesus may be right. Others aren’t. We have to be careful about which Jesus we worship.

In the end, the New Testament refuses to give us an exclusive single perspective on Jesus. Because who Jesus is, and why he should be worshipped is not as simple as that.

We can’t help, as human beings, focusing on some aspects of who Jesus is. Most times there’s nothing wrong with that.

The New Testament challenges us to know the reality of Jesus by experiencing him, and what a personal relationship with Jesus will do for you. Because Jesus is not a concept, not just something religion has made up, not just dry words on a page. He is the living, risen Lord. He is alive today, and he lives to be your greatest friend.

In the end, the picture of Jesus that the New Testament finishes with is of a cosmic and universal Jesus, who is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” ([tippy title=”Rev 19:16″ class=”myclass” showheader=”true” href=”http://www.biblestudytools.com/tniv/revelation/19-16.html” width=”auto” height=”auto”]16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.[/tippy]) – a Jesus who transcends all labels and concepts that we so often use to confine him and his action in this world. Yet at the same time, his is a Jesus who is pleading with you to let him come in to your heart so that he can be part of your life ([tippy title=”Rev 22:17″ class=”myclass” showheader=”true” href=”http://www.biblestudytools.com/tniv/revelation/22-17.html” width=”auto” height=”auto”]17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let those who hear say, “Come!” Let those who are thirsty come; and let all who wish take the free gift of the water of life.[/tippy]).

Don’t let your society, culture, or religious ideas stop you from accepting that invitation. Because then Jesus will show you what he’s really like, and you’ll find out that he’s better and greater than you ever thought possible.

Eliezer Gonzalez