|
Why Jesus Matters
By Bert Ghezzi
When asked why Jesus matters, many people say such things as “Jesus was a good man,” a “great teacher,”
or “a great moral example.” All these views express some truth, but they are grossly inadequate. If Jesus were
merely a good man, like my wonderful neighbor Mr. Lam, we would not be talking about him. If he were merely a great teacher,
we would be ignoring him just as we ignore most of the world’s great teachers. And if Jesus came only to give a good
moral example, we would be despairing of measuring up to his high standards, just as Saturday golfers may despair of measuring
up to the high standards set by Tiger Woods.
Jesus matters to us for something he did that was far bigger and more important than any of these mere human callings. In
his public ministry that climaxed in his death and Resurrection he changed human history forever with an accomplishment of
eternal significance. Jesus launched his work by announcing the coming of the kingdom of God (see Mt 4:17) He was declaring
that in his person God himself was already overthrowing the forces of evil and setting things right in the world. God was
acting through him to release all who were imprisoned in the kingdom of darkness. In short, God was in Christ rescuing his
creation and restoring it (see Mt 4:23–25).
For proof that God was on the move to reclaim and renew all creation, Jesus went about healing people of all diseases and
delivering people from evil spirits. He also showed that he was acting with divine authority by exercising control over nature
by calming the winds and sea, raising the dead, and even forgiving sins (see examples in Mt 8:23–25; Mt. 9).
Jesus invited men and women to collaborate with him in building the kingdom of God. His followers would be a light to the
world, advancing with him God’s great rescue project (see Mt 4:18–22). He taught his disciples to live in ways
that would manifest the presence of God’s kingdom. He charged them to set their hearts on serving God, to depend on
God for everything, to forgive all offenders, to work for peace, and to accept persecution in his name. He also taught them
to love their enemies, give generously, respect women, live chastely, and respond to evil with good (see Mt 5–7).
Finally, Jesus established the kingdom by his death and Resurrection. He destroyed evil not by violence, but by absorbing
its full force in his death on the cross, thus permanently robbing it of its power. And he launched God’s kingdom—God’s
great restoration of all things—by his resurrection to new life.
This cosmic revolutionary transformation of all creation is why Jesus matters to us. Whether we realize it or not, as human
beings caught up in what the Lord is doing to rescue creation, we are already involved in his effort. But Jesus wants us to
choose to work with him to establish God’s kingdom. He wants us to give our life to God and use our gifts to overcome
evil and injustice. He wants to make us a light to the world.
How will you respond to his invitation?
© Copyright 2009 by Bert Ghezzi
|
