LayGuy

I have an issue with the modern view of Jesus. Most Christians make our Messiah look like a complete wimp. Take a look at the many pictures of Jesus and you will see a soft skinned, air brushed version of Jesus with product in His hair – ready, willing and able to grace Himself on the pages of trashy magazines.

Guys, let’s get real for a second here. Our Christ looks like a Lamb that was slain. In His resurrection body, even His own disciples didn’t recognise Him. The only man made things in heaven are the scars our early version of humanity gave to our Lord. Our Christ has a battered image because of you and me. Don’t believe me? Read on…

“Just as there were many who were appalled at him his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness” Isaiah 52:14

In His resurrection, did our Lord get an “extreme makeover” from all His scars? I don’t think so..

“Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ” John 21:12

Even His own didn’t recognise Him is His resurrected body. Why? Because His resurrected body carried the scars you and I placed on Him. To the point that those with Him for over three years didn’t recognise Him when they saw Him. And if you think for one second that when He returned to heaven He was given a body without blemish, think again..

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. ” Rev 5:6a

Our Christ is eternally marked by us. The only man made things in heaven are the scars of Christ. As humans we have made an impact on the eternal. Next time you see a “made in China” label, I hope this resonates with you.

I know that many of you NT only Christians will throw the “love” chapter of 1 Cor 13 at me right now. Don’t bother, here it is..

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” 1 Cor 13:4-7

And I agree that this is the love of God. But it’s a completely different love to the soap driven, shallow love that we as humans profess to have. Have a look at the following verse to see the climactic expression of this love..

“Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer” Isa 53:10a

Love caused our Father to crush Jesus. Love hurts – and love has its revenge. Remember our God is a jealous God. Why? Because of love. Real love. Raw love. True love. A love which is foreign to you and me. So let’s not make our Jesus look like a Barbie doll. Let’s view Him in the light of scripture and the kind of love that resonates in His heart and not our depraved version of love.

When He returns, I think most “lovey dovey” NT only Christians will be shocked…

“For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the LORD.” Isa 66:16

He will have His vengeance.

jesus, resurrection, scars, christianity

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63

Have you ever given serious thought as to what “flesh” means? Seems as if this “flesh” of ours doesn’t mean much at times. And yet Christ came in the “flesh”. And anyone who denies this is an “anti-Christ”.

I wonder if “denying yourself” is the same as denying your flesh. As I look at my hands typing away at my keyboard, I can’t see why actual physical flesh is wrong and counts for nothing. I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” – and that includes my fingers typing away.

I have a different understanding of flesh. I see “flesh” as a mind thing. A lot of my friends in the blogosphere have been commenting lately on physical lust and sexual sins. Even the bible talks about the “thrilling” side of sin. The carnal desire inside all of us. This is what I see as flesh – our carnal desire.

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15

My brother is a psychologist and I have pursued a career which deals with the human mind. I have a keen interest into what happens – on a neurological and chemical level – in the brain with each activity we do.

For example, serotonin is a chemical which affects mood – a lot of you would understand this due to depression. Dopamine is another chemical – mental stability is greatly affected by this chemical. What about pleasure? People would explain that all kinds of endorphins are released into the brain and body whenever we feel pleasure.

I was listening to a sermon the other day on porn addiction where a psychologist explained the chemical reactions as a person pursues porn in secret and the chemicals released in the brain as this happens. And if a person reaches climax, the additional chemicals released in the body are the equivalent of a person on crack cocaine and heroine.

Sin. Is very much a chemical addiction. An addiction we crave for. And like any addiction, it gives extreme pleasure at the time, but when coming off the drug, there are consequences. In our world, the consequences are guilt and shame and conviction.

The enemy likes to put the boot in at this time and accuses us to ourselves and to God. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and prompts us to lead to repentance cause he understands the devastating effects sin has in our lives.

And us? Well we feel like crap. This is our flesh. This is the part of us that needs to be crucified to the cross. Our addiction to the “pleasure” of sin. I am not saying that sin is purely a chemical addiction, but it is the part our flesh deals with.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:1-5

I strongly believe that ONE of the ways God sets us free is by enabling us to be free from the chemical addiction of sin – i.e. what we so crave for physically. Look at the above verse. The sinful nature craves to satisfied. But the one set free by God is empowered to live a life free from the addiction of sin and death. I believe this happens on a spiritual and physical level. Remember that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood (Eph 6:12) but we wrestle with powers we have no idea about – spiritual powers.

Look at some of the healings of Jesus: A person suffering from epilepsy – a demon cast out. A person is dumb and mute – another demon is cast out. The physical manifestations of evil are explained away by a spiritual source. And yet the healing is evidenced physically.

We are carnal people. Most of what we conclude is based on physical and chemical input – i.e. – our flesh. Instead of being lead spiritually, we are lead physically and chemically. No wonder we are “fallen” and are short of the Glory of God. But Christ has set us free from this. We just got to claim it! And make it real in our lives.

Flesh, Fallen, Human Depravity, Atonement, Freedom, Jesus