Jesus

Last weekend I was voted into an interim pastoral role in the local church I’ve been attending.  I’m pretty excited to be involved in the work of God in my local community in this way.

As part of the meeting where the vote happened some conversation emerged around a book AccessTheStory is selling on our website, and apparently it led to a bit of a kerfuffle (I wasn’t in the room!)

As a consequence I’ve been asked to share a statement with the church on what I believe about Jesus.

As I consider making a statement,  it’s likely to be a response to a different question.  I’m not so much concerned with what people think about what I believe about Jesus.  My priority is the question that Jesus (through his interaction with Peter) is asking me: ‘Who do you say that I am?’

And my response to his question is more far more than mental assent, it is a whole of life desire that goes like this:

I yearn for my life to reveal you as the ‘Anointed One’. That you are the ‘Son of the Living God.’

I yearn for my life to reveal you as God the Son, existing before time, intimately involved in the establishment of creation, and heartbroken by the fracture of that creation brought about by the first human’s rejection of your loving rule.

I yearn for my life to reveal you as Jesus the human son.

Born to a teenage virgin and identified as the promised Messiah.

Known for a ministry of radical and miraculous compassion for people, and a message to return to your loving rule.

I yearn for my life to reveal you as a servant who willingly suffered for others, and —  under the hand of a cruel empire — you were executed for no other reason than being a threat to power.

I yearn for my life to reveal you as the defeater of death — the first one resurrected.  And the one who has returned to your Father, sitting by his side and poised to announce justice to our fractured world.

I yearn for my life to reveal you as the only builder of your church. The ultimate person to be able to bring peace and communion among people.  The ultimate means through which true and total forgiveness can be experienced.  The only means through which resurrection and life everlasting is possible.  The ultimate means through which I can hope to be fully loved, and to love in return.

“You are the Anointed One.  You are the Son of the Living God.”