My two boys understand John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
On the other hand, I think of a theologian by the name of Karl Barth. Arguably one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century, he is said to have singlehandedly stopped classic liberal theology in continental Europe. In addition to a commentary on the book of Romans, he penned a thick series of theology called "The Dogmatics." I don’t agree with many of Barth’s conclusions, but I admire him.
Someone once asked him what he considered to be the greatest theological insight. He responded by saying, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
Every year there seems to be a throng of writers who seize upon the Easter season to advertise their controversial works. Most of them could not be considered Christian because they don’t follow Jesus, but they seem intent on gathering fame and fortune from Christianity. I find the constant barrage a little overwhelming because its hard to keep up with all of the "latest theories." Most aren’t new, however, nor are they good scholarship, but they create a sensation.
Jesus once asked his followers, "Who do you say that I am?" He continues to ask in the 21st century.
We can’t get away from this question. Why is he so important that even after more than 2000 years we are still talking about him? We might think that fewer people would be interested after so long, but it seems that on a world-wide basis more people are interested than ever. Its only in the "sophisticated" Western world that Christianity is in decline.
Who is Jesus? My nine years of university added a lot of letters to my name: B.A., M.Div., M.A., I’m capable of defining, describing and discussing the various biblical doctrines regarding the fall, sin, atonement, redemption, salvation, and a hundred other aspects of theology which end in "...tion" or "..ology."
But I keep coming back to a very simple idea. When I was a lifeguard and swimming instructor, I was a good swimmer (kind of makes sense, doesn’t it?). But no matter how good I was, if I wanted to cross the Atlantic, I’d better have a boat or airplane. The distance is too far. My boss at the pool in Summerside PEI swam the English Channel, but this is minuscule in comparison to the Atlantic (and she took the airplane to get there).
That’s the way I was in relation to God. I was on one side and God was on the other. But then I heard about Jesus. His death and resurrection made it possible for me to bridge the ocean that existed between me and God. It was as if Jesus stretched his arms wide on the cross so that I could cross over.
I was on one side, strong but not strong enough. Jesus made it possible to cross over. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
Simple enough for a child to understand, but deep enough to occupy the theologians. Amazing.
Share the Good News. Be OnFire.
Troy----------------------------------------------------------------
ON FIRE is a weekly letter of encouragement by Troy Dennis. This letter published April 17, 2006, 2006.