Day 7: Jesus

When I was a teenager, I used to wear two bands on my wrist: a yellow “Livestrong” band that benefited cancer research and survivors and a blue band that had “W.W.J.D.” imprinted on it.

Standing for “What Would Jesus Do,” it was a simple reminder to act with love- always.

Well, the years have past and I wonder if that message needs a revival- with a clarifying point of exploration of which Jesus are we referencing.

Is it the Jesus of the Gospels, who sought out those on the margins, held up hypocrisy to religious leaders, and taught his disciples unconditional love and a different way to live.

Or is the Jesus who has been hijacked over the past 2,000 years to fit our political and personal agenda. How many have died in the name of Jesus? The spread of Christianity in the 4th century is rooted in the dream of the Emperor Constantine as he saw a cross before battle. This game changer allowed Christianity to become the official religion of the Roman Empire, and suddenly, priests dressed in royal robes and the religion was less about love and more about power.

This Lent, may we come to know the real Jesus. The Christ who entered our world in human and divine form to reveal a different way:

·      Let us learn from the mistakes of our past and present.

·      Let us be cautious when political leaders use Christianity to exclude and sort between the haves and have nots.

·       Let us be skeptical when religious leaders fall into self-righteousness, or when their “wisdom” leads to division, financial gain, or anything that is not love for all.

May we seek the Jesus who healed, who forgave, who lived simply, and loved deeply. This is the Jesus worth seeking and following.