I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the different ways we imagine Christ, trying to understand who he is. Our physician, our shepherd, our king. His disciples called him rabbi, teacher, and he certainly speaks like one with wisdom. Throughout these weeks of Lent, however, Jesus has been showing us different colors. Maybe these are his true colors, as a prophet of God? Yes, yes – that must be the right way to think of him, as God’s chosen and anointed messenger. But then last week, as I was contemplating Mark , I decided Jesus’ anointing was actually that of a martyr, a witness to God – after all, what else could it mean to give yourself as a ransom for others? This week, I’m neck-deep in Hebrews, and I discover, clearly, I was wrong. Jesus’ anointing is as the high priest. Or as the perfect sacrifice. Or both.
In a few weeks, we will be talking about Christ as the victor over sin and death, which he is. But how does he save us? Is it that he relived our experience as human beings, but got it right this time? That’s what Paul’s talking about when he calls Jesus the new Adam. Perhaps he’s our trailblazer to heaven? – he found the way through, and so we can follow. Or it may be that he’s the intercessor, who can put in a good word for us because, strangely, he loves us. I even have to entertain the thought that Calvin might have been correct – perhaps we are bound to Christ by the Holy Spirit – kind of like super glue? – and when we stand before the judge, all God sees is the beloved Son he loves. Is this the way we are saved? If we stand close enough in Jesus’ cross-shaped shadow, the only way God can see us is through the prism of Christ’s pure light?
We seem to haggle a lot about how Jesus saves, and miss the miracle. He is all these things, and much more.
It’s the “much more” that gives me such deep hope.
Read Full Post »
