This semester, we are exploring the book of Mark with our youth and trying to delve into the question of "Who is Jesus?" From what they know, they mentioned he was the Son of God, a friend, the person who died and rose again, someone who performed miracles, and a teacher. Was there more to this or was that it? Through the Gospel of Mark lens, the book begins with this - The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1 ESV). For Mark, Jesus Christ is God's Son, which was quite a strong declaration. Within the same chapter, John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as this:
“After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John the Baptist was preparing people the way for Jesus by having people repent to the Lord through the act of baptism, yet he had a posture of great humility when describing Jesus. Though John was making way for Jesus, Jesus was and is indeed the "way, truth, and the life." (John 14:6 ESV)
In contrast, other views of Jesus could include a martyr, a man, a prophet, or a character in a story and those examples make him detached from reality. If Jesus Christ was a mere man, we are doomed to the brokenness of our own sin. How many animal sacrifices, baptisms and cleansings would we need in order to be right with God, only to have fallen short a few seconds later?
Jesus is the bridge and truly the way between us and God. A righteous, holy, loving God and broken sinful people. How would that work? If there was a distance between us and God, God closed the gap by sending His Son Jesus to dwell amongst us as fully human and fully God. Christ sought out the sick, the rejected, the poor, and the unfavourable. He lived a perfect life submitted to God the Father, yet was also tempted and tried. He died a death we deserved to die, yet taking on the sins of humanity past, present, and future. If he stayed dead, there would be no hope, but he rose again conquering death. By his death and resurrection, we were and are redeemed for eternity. Because he died on the cross for our sins, we are finally right with God with him as the mediator.
In the Christian view, Jesus can be described and explained in a multitude of ways - many facets. Christ can be your everything, your saviour, a healer, a prophet, and your righteousness. But for me, Jesus Christ is the redeemer and Son of God, the bridge between us and God. Because of Christ, there is hope. The hope is for our youth to understand and experience why Christ is necessary and to make their relationship with Christ their own.
Who is Jesus to you?