Who is Jesus to You?

A conquering Messiah, a fiery judge filled with wrath against the evils of humanity, a stone that would crush all opposition, a ruler who would firmly defeat all other authorities on the earth, especially Rome...this is what John the Baptist, and others, expected to see in the Messiah. This is what they had been taught to expect since they were young. This is the image, the idea, the belief about the coming Messiah that they had put their hope in.

The mission of Jesus was to bring the “Kingdom of God” to earth. John based his understanding of the Kingdom of God on the Old Testament. Through prophecies like Daniel 2:31-35, the Kingdom of God was viewed by Israel as a time when “God’s reign will displace all other reigns, kingdoms and authorities. He will break the proud sovereignty of evil people that have dominated most of history...will sweep away every opposing rule. God alone will be King in those days,” (George Eldon Ladd). Based on this understandings, John, along with the nation of Israel, was looking for a Messiah who would crush Roman rule and rescue them from its oppression; a Messiah who would reign over all the earth with Israel at his side.

When Jesus began His ministry, He did not fit this expectation. Born to humble means and living a life of obscurity for 30 years, His arrival on the pages of history was not accompanied by shouts of war, wrath and judgment, “He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets,”
(Matt. 12:19). He entered the synagogues and began to preach “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
near,” (Matt. 4:17). He healed the sick, cast out demons, showed compassion to the downtrodden and
walked from village to village, telling the people of God’s love for them.

Where was the takeover of the Roman government; the punishment of those who practiced evil; the
establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth...his palace, throne, armies and wealth? None of this
happened...at least not in the physical realm.

It’s no wonder that even John, the one sent by God to walk in the way of Elijah and announce the
coming of Jesus, had his doubts. Jesus didn’t meet his expectations at all. Maybe John had gotten it all wrong. Maybe he had misunderstood God and His plan.

Thankfully, instead of turning away and trusting in his own expectations rather than God’s truth, John
was bold enough and humble enough to ask the question...”Was I wrong? Did I have the wrong
expectations? Are you really the Messiah even though you don’t seem a bit like a Messiah? Or should I wait for someone else?”  (see Matthew 11:2)

Jesus understood his doubts. He didn’t harshly chastise John for his unbelief and questions, “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out,” (Matt. 12:20). Instead, he challenged John to change his expectations; to rethink who the Messiah truly was and what the Kingdom of Heaven truly meant. He asked John to form a new paradigm, to bask in a new revelation of God’s character. He is a God of mercy, compassion, gentleness and incredible love for His people.

Jesus came, not to judge, but to “proclaim justice to the nations...till He leads justice to victory,”
(Matt. 12:18, 20). He brought compassion and concern to the outcasts of society. He battled sin in each individual, but it was usually done with love, compassion and gentleness rather than force. When dealing with demonic beings, He was every bit the conqueror, not allowing them any foothold but driving them out with power and force. But with most people He was gentle; a shepherd caring for His sheep; a suffering servant.

There were the exceptions. With the prideful, arrogant, unloving leaders of the Jewish faith, He exhibited more of the fiery wrath that many expected of the Messiah. But even with these individuals, if there were any who were willing to humble themselves and ask Jesus true, heartfelt questions, like Nicodemus, He did not turn them away but showed them compassion and concern as well.

When Jesus’ time on earth was done, at least for now, He left behind a group of men and women who
embraced the Messiah as He truly was and were willing to share that truth with those around them, even to the point of death. History has proven, time and again, that the gentle way of Jesus, when practiced by His Church, calls many to follow Him. But history has also shown that when the Church tries to spread the Gospel with force, when it “breaks the bruised reeds” and “snuffs out the smoldering wicks,” great damage is done.

A good example of this is the Crusades. The Church called thousands of men and women to journey to the Holy Land, following the “will of God,” and take it back from the Muslim “infidels.” They did this not in love, compassion and understanding for the lost but through force. Thousands were killed on both sides. The cross was worn proudly by those with bloody swords in their hands. The legacy of this quest still weighs heavily on the Muslim world of today and has hurt the name of Jesus in immeasurable ways.

In contrast, there have been many, including men and women like St. Patrick, Columbo, William Carey, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot and so many others, who brought the cross of Christ with compassion, sacrifice, gentleness and love. They did not come in fiery wrath but in humility and concern. Their legacy is quite different. Many were won to Christ through their compassion, and the name of Jesus became a name in which the “nations will put their hope,” (Matt. 12:21).

We, the Church of today, must follow the example of Jesus rather than our own expectations. Our
human nature desires judgment, a powerful takeover by Christ and expulsion of the enemy. This will
happen someday, at Christ’s second return, but it is not yet time for this. Our mission, like Christ’s, is to show the love of God, not His judgment. We are to show the world the love of Christ so that “in His name the nations will put their hope,” (Matt. 12:21).

Today people still have trouble with their expectations of Jesus. If I’m a Christian, than why do bad things still happen to me? Why is the Church so greatly persecuted in many parts of the world? Why does Jesus let children suffer? Why do only some follow Jesus and not everyone? Why, why, why?

We search the Bible, our hearts, ask other Christians, read books and listen to sermons. Yet, when we ask Jesus Himself, I believe that, just like in John’s day, Jesus still says to us, “Pay attention to ‘what you see and hear: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’” (Matt. 11:4-5).

God is moving tremendously in the world, and He has been, since the beginning. Yet, instead of coming with mighty military power, His present Kingdom comes with quiet, gentle persuasion. Just as Jesus enters each of our hearts with love and patience, His Kingdom spreads in this world with love and patience...with persuasion rather than power.