When the Homily is about Immunology

Will the REAL Jesus please Stand up?

Well, here we go again folks.

Jesus: The Complete Story

Oh yes, every Easter and Christmas we start seeing such programs and articles being circulated with all of them purporting to reveal the REAL Jesus. Usually what is revealed to us from all the quoted and interviewed “scholars” coincidently falls right in line with the maggot infested fecal matter (Am I wearing my feelings on my sleave here?) being shoveled by the folks from the Jesus Seminar. Basically what we have here is simply a complete capitulation to “science” and "reason" as well as modern self-apologetic thinking (you know: No one is special, I sin and therefore everyone else sins…even Jesus….ahhhhhhhh I feel better now). Consequently: no virgin birth, no resurrection, no miracles, and the default position on any tradition (including SCRIPTURE - take heed all) is skepticism or just flat out denial. And so thus they create Jesus in their own image. Well, okay, they can have him.


What I’m more interested in, is how us normal Christian folks (outside the Jesus Seminar) tend to create Jesus in certain images that appeal to us. Isn’t it interesting that so many people who claim to have a “personal” relationship with Him each somehow see Him differently?

Here are a few of the Jesus’ I’ve come across:

The Revolutionary Radical Anti-Authoritarian Jesus.
My Jesus was always kicking the verbal-shit out of those self-righteous and pompous religious leaders. I love that my Jesus made it so clear that we don’t need authoritative leaders. And by example He showed us not to bow to their traditions

Uh-Oh!
Matthew 23:2-3
Jesus said: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

Uh-Oh!
Matthew 18:15-18
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”


Uh-Oh!
Here is Jesus’ example in regards to Jewish tradition: he participated in and/or supported MANY Judaic traditions such as circumcision (Luke 2:21, John 7:21-23), customarily attending synagogue (Luke 4:16), pilgrimages to the Temple (Luke 2:41 and many others), allowing Himself to be called Rabbi by His disciples and others (John 3:2; 4:31; 6:25; 20:16) , encouraging people to keep the Law (Mat. 19:17), encouraging a young man He healed to go to a priest and make an offering according to the Law (Mat. 8:4), wearing the traditional Jewish tzitzit (tassels) (Luke 8:43, Mat. 14:36), He observed numerous traditional Jewish holidays including Passover, Succoth, Hanukah, and probably Rosh Hashanah (John 2:13; 7:2,10; 7:14; 5:1)


The Healer and Forgiver Jesus
My Jesus is such a cool guy…always full of forgiveness and love. He doesn’t judge me, He loves me and forgives me. I’ve no need to worry, no need to work, no need to struggle…I am redeemed just like the woman caught in adultery whom Jesus saved and in doing rebuked the self-righteous crowd.

Uh-Oh!
Jesus’ often forgotten last words to the woman “Go and sin no more.”

The Jeans and T-shirt Jesus who just “related” to people and would likely hang out at Starbuck’s if Starbuck’s weren’t an evil corporation bent on taking advantage of the poor.
My Jesus was a contemporary guy who just kinda hung out with people and related to all people on their level – wherever they were. He spoke simply and plainly and was a man for all people

Uh-Oh!
John 6:53-66
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."
These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

I’ve often wondered why He doesn’t call them back to say: “Dude, I was just speaking metaphorically… what I mean is…”


Everyone has his or her own little REAL Jesus, all based on what is plainly seen in Scripture…right? I think I can honestly say that I do NOT have a so-called “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ…I don’t even know what that means anymore…can someone send me a tract or something?