Were Jesus to appear before a Christian today, that person would probably fall to their knees in joy and praise. But that didn’t happen in Jesus’ time, despite the supposed virgin birth and his get-go status as son-of-god.
In his adult life Jesus preached to thousands (if such a person did exist, which is question far from fully resolved — at least to impartial biblical scholars and historians). The Bible writings relate that he performed miracle after miracle. The countless doves Jesus pulled from his sleeves notwithstanding, he acquired only a rag-tag band of followers. The vast majority of those who came in contact with Jesus walked away unconvinced. His church would take hold only many years after his death when stories of his feats were recounted by men who had never met the guy.
Jesus performed miracles to prove his divinity. And yet in our times people are told that they need only to “have faith.” Why has the bar been so drastically lowered?
Without resorting to conspiracy theories, how can the believing Christian explain why stories of Jesus proved more persuasive than the man himself?
[Statue of Jesus in Sicilian house of serious make-believe. Myth has it that he suffered "for us" so that if we don't follow him he can send to us a fiery eternity of torment. Or something. If you ask me, his heart bleeds in an odd way.]
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Tags: religion, Sunday Un-Sermon
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