Who is Jesus?

This is one of those modest titles that may well qualify as hyperbole. Everybody knows, duh! And if somebody else titled their post this way I would probably also look for something else to read. I am sure I have heard the name Jesus, or at least the word Jesus, every day of my life to date including the formative, the trucker years and the churchy years. And now it is front and center each day almost all day in this old thinker. 

Why so much attention to this old topic? There are libraries already full on this, so why bother? For me, it's just something that must be shared (Acts 4:20) even if it never goes into the annals of time.😏 The source is probably twofold; I still have a bit of social life, and I still enjoy reading. Social life? It’s expected of me, a lot of ‘visiting’ which includes considerable b*s* and also some good focus on what's right or wrong or an occasional WWJD - what would Jesus do. Reading? I have always been a reader, but now in these latter years find it ever more important - even if my eyesight is protesting - because the other option is the digital world, gamers and movie buffs now addicted to AI characters and creatures mostly at war with one another – including some almost credible attempts to identify a spiritual force (as explained to me by my grandson the other day).

This is not to say reading is the good (or better) alternative – lots of junk available here too. Yesterday, clicking the headlines of New York Times, I discover that Eric Trump, second son of the Donald has just published a book entitled Under Siege, his own memoir which assigns almost messianic qualities to the work and accomplishments of his father. [I do not plan to read it] Definitely there is reason to be selective in one’s reading material, deceptive best sellers available even when one is reading religious material. Do we remember Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey? [i] He wrote thirty-some books on end-times apocalyptic theme, and died at age 95, a very wealthy man. Who was, who is Jesus in this passage of time? This is what has sparked the title of this post. 

Who is Jesus? I wish I might have been in the audience on that occasion some 2000 years ago when John the Baptist encountered Jesus standing before him at the Jordan river, wishing to be baptized, and with that rite came the voice from heaven, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). I claim this Jesus my Savior and my Lord and, no news for most people who know me, have been making that reference increasingly in these last several years. To me Jesus is exactly that – the Savior who has provided my access to God via his body broken (e.g. 1 Peter 2:24), and also Lord whose help I need daily for attitude and behavior as a born again Christian (e.g. Luke 9:24).

It is in context of today’s day, today’s multiculturism, however, that I posit the old question “Who is Jesus?” There are many answers to that question clamoring for attention, and in this environment, even after my years of preaching, still find the question compelling and not at all boring. Many contemporary Christians are in grip of right wing extremism, claiming more aggressively than ever a need for a pure “Christianity of the saved” which must include only those who adhere to narrow minded fundamentalism including Zionism (special place and rank for Israel), which must be protected by ascribed political and religious leaders who ignore the lordship mandate of all us ‘saved’ beings.[ii] There is an equal pushback from many Christians who claim that this ‘narrow mindedness’ is a complete denial of the Jesus who was promised and recognizable by his loving presence in the gospels. That open-minded progressivism – woke faith – is often devoid of any attention to a relationship with Jesus.[iii]

Let’s move beyond this conservative liberal dichotomy. Believe you me there is more, and it’s interesting. The Four Vision Quests of Jesus, written by Steven Charleston, a Choctaw Episcopalian minister, interprets four key events in Jesus’ life – Wilderness, Transfiguration, Gethsemane, and Golgotha as spiritual journeys inspired by the Native American vision quest tradition. My experience with this book has been like many books one reads – kind of interesting but… – until I think about a friend I have, an Indigenous United Church Minister, a born-again fully committed Christian very active in this city’s Interfaith Council, providing endless pastoral services here as well as among his people in nearby reservations. There’s nothing like knowing someone who lives what they believe.

A second example not uncommon to many. The Mormons, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are a faith community who have been around for a long time, in fact right here among the explorers, the Puritans, etc. who ‘discovered’ America. In 1832 a young man named Joseph Smith, in upstate New York experienced a divine instruction from an angel Moroni to find certain golden plates hidden near his home and to translate the text inscribed thereon. This holy find would eventually become book of Mormon (verified to varying degrees by 11 witnesses). 

This interesting and entertaining story is a little less convincing than vision quests of Jesus. My hesitation must be tempered, however. I am fully aware there is a seeming 400-year lull (lack of reporting?) between the Old and New Testament of our Bible. Yes, the apocryphal writings are there, but did not seem convincing enough when the canon was somewhat established in 325 CE (yes, after the earthly time of Jesus). [iv] So, who’s to say that God did not provide further revelation to those seeking faithfulness, even if they were already across the ocean during the time of Jesus? The Mormon story is two-pronged, first the Jaredites who departed for America already at time of the Tower of Babel, and then later the Nephites and Lamanites, descendants of a prophet Lehi, who eventually also opted for an ocean crossing rather than the Babylonian Captivity as experienced by the people of Israel and Judah (587 BC). The Book of Mormon presents the Americas as part of God’s plan, alongside the history of the Israelites in the Old Testament, with the prophets in both narratives testifying of Jesus Christ. Fast forward to many of our present-day LDS neighbors. The celebration of Jesus the Savior and the involvement and participation of whole families in Church life and ministry is an inspiration to all of us trying to raise families these days.

Seventh Day Adventists adhere to the evangelical gospel message of Jesus, looking for his second coming as promised. I have received and read articles in their Ministry magazine during all my years as pastor, and aside from their somewhat idealistic  requirement of church leaders to spend hours and hours in prayer (considerable challenge to this workaholic Mennonite), I do appreciate their emphasis on Sabbath rest. Someday I will ask Jesus about this, as he did not hesitate to perform healings on the Sabbath.

Sikhs, Unitarians, Bahia’s, Hindus, and a number of other faith communities honor Jesus as teacher and exemplar, but not as God. Muslims list him among the prophets, also with clear understanding that a prophet can never be God, that reserved for Allah alone. Then of course there is Creator, non-doctrinal but very generously acknowledged as the One above all humans, animals, and plants.

This brings me back to my opening observation of liberal Christians emphasizing mostly the love of Jesus rather than his divinity. As an Anabaptist Christian fully committed to the peace teachings and social implications of Jesus, I also heartily agree with the evangelical stance so clearly stated at beginning of the Gospel of John, "He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:10-12). To varying degrees there are evangelical groupings among Indigenous, Unitarians and also Anglicans, Catholics, Mennonites, Quakers, and other non-declarative traditions who fully adhere to this text. To me this is testimony of the Savior’s ongoing transcendence beyond denominations and traditions, an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.  Praise the Lord.

The invitation to relationship with God through Jesus needs more emphasis these days. Too many progressive Christians are explaining Jesus away as a good teacher but one who must be held at distance, lest perhaps we impose pressure on someone to accept him as Savior. The call to follow Jesus is not an imposition; it is an invitation.

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[i] Hal Lindsey, Late Great Planet Earth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, first edition 1970). Of note, multimillion dollar estate at time of his death in 2024. Four wives and three divorces during his lifetime. https://en.wikipedia.org.

[ii] See recent blogpost reference to funeral of Charlie Kirk, “Crowd Addictions”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/.

[iii] An awareness of this reality clearly depicted in “Church for Young Adults by Young Adults” Canadian Mennonite, Vol 29, no 9, September 2025, p.19.

[iv] “Biblical Canon”, https://en.wikipedia.org.

Crowd Addictions

Whether news headlines or social media or city traffic, there seems to be a competition going on somewhere. Just yesterday driving up one of our longtime congested thoroughfares, Macleod Trail, I was passed by a noisy smoke-rolling diesel pickup truck. Only a moment later at the next light we sat side by side, light turned green and immediately in mid-intersection he changed lanes at full acceleration to get around the car in front of him, about 100 meters later back into my lane, and then one lane over. At next red light I sat quietly smiling, again in the lane beside him! The young man in this truck, in a hurry to get somewhere, was making about same progress as all the rest of us. This morning’s newspaper has an article, “Step up reckless Driving Crackdown.” Our city (and province) is providing increased funding for digital speed signs, intersection upgrades, etc. but a concern is raised that “vehicular violence” needs more personalized attention, like more police officers with speeding tickets. 

What is it that might satisfy the loneliness or need for attention? Is it people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who are acting out? Lots of that also in our public school system. Student aggressive behavior one of the issues in a possible teachers strike coming up. Increased ADHD may be here, but is it realistic to solve education things only via medical diagnoses or teachers' wages? Not only kids and young people; a middle-aged man comes to mind, a friend at the swimming pool. Recently he kicked and swore and raged at his locker door which was not working properly. Then I think he recognized his own lunacy and was awkward and embarrassed about it, but I can't forget. What was he looking for?😉

Another example, Christian gatherings - large worship assemblies - somewhat akin to media melees. Services begin not with organ preludes and silent prayer, but with a band or piped in stingray music as people come in sipping their coffees. Is it the crowd or the  caffeine which is the draw? Another example, this one at even larger scale. In the last several days everybody has seen news clips of the public appearances of one Charlie Kirk, a right-wing Christian activist whose funeral a few days ago was aired from a football stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Killed by an assassin’s bullet while performing one of his evangelical God and Country right wing crusades, Kirk was cut down in same dramatic style as the noisy confrontive services he had starred in. Included in this funeral crowd and participant in the service was one of his bigtime supporters, U.S. President Donald Trump!

Crowds, a place of security? Politicians and religious egomaniacs need the crowd. I too confess my preference for a full house rather than a few people in the seats. But crowds can also be demonic. Jesus, the infamous teacher, healer, Son of God (Matthew 3:17), encountered the about-face of the many who had followed him. At the end of each gospel account is this grizzly crowd narrative, They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ (Mark 15:13). Not as gruesome but also chilling, I recently heard story of a huge crowd of ‘fellow churchmen’ who showed up on the farmyard of a Mexican Mennonite who was choosing to send his children to a school other than the village designate. It was an occasion which led him to leave that version of church.

So what purpose the crowd? I am a member in a low-church denomination. Our origins and our theology is a very basic belief that the presence and the blessing of God is available whenever, wherever “two or three are gathered in my name" (Matthew 18:20). No need for officially sanctioned liturgies and no need for standardized preacher qualifications. Our Calls to Worship claim the presence of almighty God every time we meet! This theological stance nonetheless falters especially among today's urban Mennonites who also get nervous when a gathering does not provide the numbers security. Many in their spiritual search (comfort search) will opt for the crowd. This is no different than political rallies where the goal is to incite momentum, always in opposition to viewpoints espoused by other candidates or political parties. The occasion and the words seem to need the assurance of many likeminded.

These days it is a common malady. The comfort of full churches or political rallies with lots of ‘rah rah’ has a similarity to restless traffic. Something exciting is needed but we know not what. Especially ironic is the complicity of us peace churches in that very same societal trend. Today’s morning devotional provided considerable food for thought for my wife and I.[i] We read about crowd following which was also evident in pre-WW2, a sad reminder of European German Christians, including some Mennonites no longer the radical pacifists of the 16th Century, joining the Nazi regime under dictatorship of Adolph Hitler. Some members of the Confessing Churches, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, were executed for their troubles. Denominational affiliation; is it becoming meaningless as time moves on? Another question; how important is it?

"Times, they are a' changing", so crooned Bob Dylan back there in the 1960s, critiquing his country's involvement in the Vietnam war. Have the times changed? 

Yes, earthly seasons come and go, not the least of which is current U.S. self-discovery (self-denial?, e.g. government shutdown) of its new place in a multicultural multilingual world. Americans today are divided on whether they need to be great again.

In another sense, No, nothing has changed. Our eternal citizenship still available, "God so loved the world" (John 3:16), is best acknowledged (and experienced) by all who will humble themselves and, in gatherings big or small, worship that One. And having worshiped we will be in a good state to go home gratefully, graciously, quietly, peacefully in whatever means, be it a pickup truck or hybrid or minivan or public transit or bicycle or walking or.... It's an eternity thing.

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[i] Byron Rempel-Burkholder, “Trust Your Word”, Rejoice! , Mennomedia, Vol 61, no 1, 2025, p. 38.