LayGuy

More than 2000 years ago, God, in the Person of Jesus, was on planet earth – walking, breathing and feeling life like you and me do.

He was born into a time and culture we have little understanding of.  Think rural, primitive and, compared to our huge metro cities, tiny.

Compared to the lives people live in the Western world in 2009, the period of time Jesus entered into humanity is massively different to what we experience day in, day out.  If we are dumb enough to demand that Jesus should have lived His life in our day in order for His message to be more “relevant”, then the following passage should put that thought to death..

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” – Gal 4:4a

God saw it fit to unleash Jesus onto earth 2000 years ago as, in His understanding, it was the “fullness of time”.  Now I know that this passage is steeped in prophetic fulfilment and it was in fact time for Jesus to enter into humanity.  The Law and the Prophets had been screaming for this for hundreds of years and finally God said, “OK – we’ve reached that place where Jesus – You need to go!”

Jesus left the culture of Heaven where He shared unity and fellowship within the Trinity and the adoration of heaven as He sat enthroned as King and found Himself on our dusty ball as a mere human – born into a poor family in Israel.  As He grew and took in this new experience, He was exposed to a predominantly rural and primitive culture.

He grew up as a carpenter and probably noticed the other main trades of agriculture and fishing in His upbringing.  When He started His ministry, it was His experience in this culture which helped shape His teaching and parables. As a result, many of His teachings have this “slant” and “flavour”.

And this is where I begin to wonder.  Imagine if Jesus’ first visit to earth was in our day.  As a 30 year old, He begins His ministry raised in a western culture.  A product of society as you and me are – yet perfect and fully divine. 

I wonder how different His slant and flavour would be compared to what is recorded in Scripture.  I wonder what His parables would be like?  I wonder what kind of job He would have held before starting His ministry?

I wonder what His travels would be like?  I wonder how He would have dealt with the massive media attention a person like Him would generate.  I wonder if He would have an “online presence” to supplement His ministry.

I wonder if He would blog, or tweet or have a Facebook account (OK I admit the last few are a bit far fetched – although the vast majority of you reading this are doing exactly the same).

And what about how He would die to pay for our sins?  Crucifixion is a thing of the past.  What false trial and capital punishment would He endure in our day? 

In a nutshell I wonder what His ministry would have looked like if He did it in 3.5 years in the “naughties” that we find ourselves in.

The one thing I am certain of is that no matter which point of history Jesus entered onto the scene, the crux of His message would still be the same and He would still only convey what the Father asked Him to convey.

Perhaps it was the “fullness of time” – even if we simply look at it from a chronological perspective.  The culture Jesus found Himself in still has aspects in our day.  Agriculture and trades are still things people can relate to.

In our technological age, where fads come and go so quickly, establishing parables based on contemporary culture would seem “so yesterday” in a few short years. And yet, I still sit here and wonder how Jesus would have interacted in my culture and society as I strive to find answers in my day and age.