Why I am a Christian (11)

Jesus’ Persona Is Absolutely Compelling

In 2012 I jotted down all the reasons I could think of why I am a Christian. I found 26 so I decided to serialise them in a blog every fortnight for a year.

The first four explained why I think belief in a creator is reasonable and credible from what I have learned from science. The next two examined the human condition and show that the way we are wired is entirely consistent with what the Bible says about us. The three after that explored theological themes that either ring true in my experience or present the disturbing alternative to faith in Christ.

This is now the second of five posts that delve into Christology. Firstly, Jesus clearly fulfilled so many Old Testament prophecies.

And secondly, by common - almost universal - consent, his persona is utterly amazing. Without ever being flashy, loud or gimmicky there is something undeniably compelling about Jesus.

Just picking out a few incidental details from the four Gospels, it is clear to see how charismatic Jesus was when he walked the Earth.

• It seems he only had to say “Follow me” and fishermen dropped their nets and tax collectors deserted their booths at once.
• People would travel for miles and press into crowded buildings to get anywhere near him.
• Yet he would stop everything to give his undivided attention, for however long it took, to one poor soul down on his or her luck.
• Children absolutely loved him and he rebuked his minders when they tried to impede their access to him. 

No one in all history has a personality anything like his. As John Stott put it in The Contemporary Christian, “It would be hopelessly incongruous to refer to him as ‘Jesus the Great,’ comparable to Alexander the Great, Charles the Great, or Napoleon the Great. Jesus is not ‘the Great,’ he is the Only. He has no peers, no rivals and no successors.”

Jesus defies categorisation. What Myers-Briggs personality type would he be? Surely a man who was constantly surrounded by crowds would have to be an extravert. But wouldn’t a man who went to a solitary place all night to pray be a natural introvert? On all four Myers-Briggs scales I’ve found that it is impossible to label him.

He is above political pigeonholing as well. In the parable of the talents there is strong criticism for the servant who hides his savings under the mattress instead of investing it in projects that give a return. So he was a consummate capitalist, surely. But he had no possessions of his own, scolded the rich and had a particular concern for the underprivileged. So he was a proper socialist.

All through the Gospels his guilelessness is unmistakable. There is no trace in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John of a Jesus with a hidden agenda or any motivation for personal gain. At his trial nobody could get a single charge to stick. Even his judge and executioners knew he was innocent and stated publicly that he was blameless.

His wisdom is indisputable. Every attempt to trap him flopped spectacularly. His poise and natural authority in such situations are breath-taking. The episode in John 8.1-11 (the woman caught in adultery) is a classic example. The agility with which Jesus effortlessly turned an impossible snare for him into a devastating exposure of his opponents’ shabby hypocrisy - without trivialising the seriousness of adultery – is sensational. His brilliant reply “Let the one who is without sin throw the first stone” is so stunning in its effectiveness, so satisfying in its justice, yet so simple in its logic. It is flawless. 

There is so much more that could be said. Historian H. G. Wells was once asked: “What single individual has left the most permanent impression on the world?” Wells immediately said “Jesus of Nazareth. It is interesting and significant that an historian like myself, with no theological bias whatever, cannot portray the progress of humanity honestly without giving him foremost place.”

This is undoubtedly true – and all the more remarkable given that we only really have information on about three years of his adult life. Jesus wrote no books, commanded no army, ruled no nation, left no monument, owned nothing, lived rough, died young and was given a hurried, unceremonious burial in someone else’s tomb.

They say you can tell how big a ship is by the size of the wake it leaves behind it. Similarly, Jesus' supreme importance is undeniable from the unparalleled impact he has had on the world. His profound influence on history is commensurate with his unique personality. (Of course it is the significance of his death and resurrection that account for his impact on history more than anything else and I shall come to that in Reason 13 and Reason 14).

I find it frankly depressing that so many people dismiss Christianity citing a few carefully selected misdemeanours or attitudes of some of its adherents as the reason. “What about the crusades?” “What about the Spanish Inquisition?” “What about all those wars that religion is responsible for? (Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod in their Encyclopedia of Wars put the figure at 7%). “What about all the church’s wealth when millions are starving?” “What about paedophile priests?” “What about those hateful fundamentalists who picket funerals?”

No matter that in each case those people brazenly flout Jesus’ teaching which specifically prohibits violence (Matthew 26.52), rejects the love of money (Matthew 6.24), demands a bias to the poor (Luke 14.12-14), warns of serious consequences for those who harm children (Matthew 18.6) and calls for the love of one’s enemies (Matthew 5.44).

To those who raise such objections I always want to say “Forget Christendom. Look at Christ and tell me what you find wrong with him.”

Being a Christian is about following him. It seems to me not only foolish but manifestly unfair to judge a movement by the actions of those who violate the plain teaching of its founder. Never has a baby been so unjustly thrown out with the bath water.

Part of the reason I have put my trust in Jesus and want to be like him is that the unequalled gravitas and attractiveness of his personality adds real weight to his perfect fulfilment of messianic prophecy (Reason 10).

There’s quite a lot more I want to say about Jesus in the next three posts; his teaching is unique (Reason 12), his death changed everything (Reason 13) and the evidence for his resurrection is surprisingly sound (Reason 14).

But I want to end this post by quoting from a gravel-voiced, old-time African-American Baptist preacher and civil rights activist called S. M. Lockridge (1913 – 2000). Lockridge once came up with the following magnificent word picture of Jesus. (I have edited out the repetition in the original but  you can get the full thing here if you want).

When I say that Jesus’ persona is absolutely compelling, this is what I have in mind:

He's the King of the Jews. He's the King of Israel. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.

No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supplies. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.

He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful.

He's God's Son. He's the sinner's saviour. He's the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's august. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent.

He's the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He's the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion.

He's the miracle of the age. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's guards and he guides.

He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

Well, my King is the key of knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory.

He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislators. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

I'm trying to tell you that the heaven of heavens can't contain Him, let alone a  man explain Him… You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.

The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.

He always has been and He always will be. He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him. You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign.

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever… and ever… and ever… And when you get through with all of the forevers, then... Amen!

That’s the incomparable Jesus I know and love.

And that’s the eleventh reason I follow him and have the honour of being called a Christian.