Relationship with Jesus helps define Him

Religious Views, by Dr. Bruce Rowell

Who is Jesus? Is he Elijah or John the Baptist come back to life? Is He the King of the Jews? Is He a renegade insurrectionist? Is He the Teacher of Peace and Love? Those are just a few of the names and identities given to Jesus as the events of His Passion unfolded in the Judean capital city two millennia ago.

Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ has stirred conversation and critique from religious and nonreligious circles concerning what is undeniably the central figure in human history. Who is Jesus? Who did He say He was? Who did people say He was?

Relationship helps determine a person's identity. Depending on who you ask, I am a husband, a father, a pastor, a colleague, a teacher or one of many other identities.

When you seek to know who Jesus is, you answer that question from the perspective of your relationship to Him.

The gospel accounts tell us His identity from the perspective of those who lived in His time. For His disciples and followers who had decided to accept His teaching and the identity of Messiah he announced, He became all the world to them. He was Savior, Lord, Redeemer, Sacrificial Lamb of God. To the Jewish religious and political leaders of that time in history, he was a nonconforming rabbi, popular with the masses, a challenge to their beliefs and a threat to their role as definers of the Hebrew culture. To the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, Jesus was a man undeserving of death yet the victim of momentary civil unrest that threatened the tenuous peace of a troubled part of the empire. To God, Jesus was His beloved Son, the sacrificial lamb that would atone for the sin of the world.

As it has been for the past 2,000 years, The Passion of the Christ once again presents the question Jesus first posed to His Apostles -- Who do you say that I am? I viewed the film from the perspective of an evangelical Christian pastor. I accept the biblical account as true.

Certainly persons whose own relationship with Jesus and their personal trust in the truthfulness of the Bible will be swayed in their response to the film and their answer to that inescapable question -- Who do you say Jesus is?

Truth does not fear genuine inquiry. In our rapidly expanding era of information, knowledge, technology and worldwide connections, many people are genuinely seekers from the inner longings of the soul for truth and for God.

Genuine Christian faith and indeed Jesus, Himself, is open to those who earnestly seek the truth. Jesus and the gospels do not hide from questions and honest dialogue.

The Passion has ignited much conversation. People are asking, "Is the movie true to the Bible? Is it biased? What is the meaning of Jesus' suffering and death?" Ultimately, people will answer those questions about Jesus based on their relationship to Him. Depending on their religious persuasion, their moral convictions, their beliefs about God, persons will formulate an answer to the most basic of questions, "Who is Jesus?"

How can you come to the truth about Jesus? Read the gospel accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. Learn the total picture of His life and teachings. If you discover apparent discrepancies, speak to your local pastor or clergyman. If you want to know if Jesus has an impact on life today, talk to a Christian. Christians are persons who have invited Jesus to live in and through them by the Holy Spirit and have committed their lives to Him. Christians aren't perfect. They are forgiven. The passion and suffering of Jesus is all about forgiveness of sin.

Finally, attend worship in an evangelical Christian church. Find out for yourself about Jesus from those who know in their mind, heart and soul who He is.

Dr. Bruce V. Rowell is the pastor at First Baptist Church of Palmer. The church is hosting an open forum on March 7 at 7 p.m. entitled "Who is Jesus? A dialogue," which Rowell will host. There is no charge. For more information, call the church at 745-4483 or visit the Web site at www.firstbaptistpalmer.com.