BIBLE 101: FREEING JESUS

FREEING JESUS

by Neil Christians (neilc@lordoflife.org)

In Acts 9:3-5, a man named Saul had an encounter with the risen Christ. Saul was soon to be known as the Apostle Paul who is responsible for many of the writings in the New Testament. In this encounter, Saul is blinded by a great light and he hears a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul responds by asking, “Who are you?” Interesting question. Saul doesn’t ask, “What are you doing?” or “Why are you talking to me?” Saul asks, “Who are you?” In a new book by Diana Butler Bass called FreeingJesus, she notes that this question of “who” is a relationship question. It is the question we try to answer whenever we meet

someone new. We want to find out “who” is sitting across from us. It Bible 101 invites us into a relationship. This invitation into a relationship is for all of us. We must all ask ourselves, who is Jesus? I encourage you all to pick up this book, FreeingJesus. It explores this question of who Jesus is as friend, teacher, savior, Lord, way, and presence. Rooted in biblical passages, it explores who Jesus is and what this might mean for our daily lives. The chapter that captivated me was Jesus as savior. Bass writes about Mark 10:17-22 (see full text on Page 7) where a man ran up to Jesus and asked

him what he must do to inherit eternal life. We find Jesus isn’t concerned about following the rules or jumping through hoops. Jesus cares about how we live our lives in response to a God who loves us. Like this man, we are called to follow Jesus. We are called to follow Jesus’ example of living a life of love for God and for each other. Jesus saves this man from a life of rule-following and box-checking. Jesus saves this man so he might live a life of love for God and others.

Jesus saved all sorts of people before he died on the cross. When Jesus healed, they experienced God’s salvation. They followed him and their lives were transformed. Children, slaves, soldiers, peasants, fishermen, farmers, prisoners, soldiers, the sick, the blind, the lame—when they encountered Jesus, they found salvation, the wholeness, the healing, the oneness with God that had only been the stuff of longing. Every miracle, every act of hospitality, all the bread broken and wine served, everything that Jesus did saved people long before Rome arrested and murdered him. Jesus was born a savior, and he saved during his entire life.

Following Jesus can bring this to your life as well. All you need to do is start by asking, “who is Jesus?” Who is Jesus for you?

reflection questions

• If someone asked you, who would you say Jesus is? • What does following Jesus mean to your life? Your choices? Your actions? • What is one way you can follow Jesus today?