Nessa wrote:I have always been more drawn to the OT.
Partly cos I struggle with the NT. Ironic since it seems its usually the other way round for alot of Christians.
One main reason is cos of Jesus.
Although Im a Christian, I find it hard to know who he is. Not as God but as a man.
I read about him in the bible and see him almost as robotic or indifferent though I know he showed at least some emotion. I guess I would have liked to see more personality...long indepth conversations he had with others to really get to understand him more. All the conversations he had in the bible were short and he talked monotone or without much, or any, emotion - at least in my head. I just feel like I cant relate to him and it saddens me alot
I mean not just indepth stuff but does he have humour? I would like to have read of him telling a joke.
He always sounds just so proper like. I want to see him smiling, laughing. Having fun too.
I want him to be relatable to me...yes, I know the scriptures that describe him. That tell me he understands completely.....
Im not really after pat answers like go pray or read the bible. I can tell myself that
Im after your personal insight, how you have learnt to see Jesus - the man.
I know we are suppose to be Jesus hands and feet but I still don't see it. Maybe a glimpse here or there, a fleeting shadow.
I want to know Jesus, all of him but I don't.
And Im also just as interested to hear how atheists see jesus too.
So, shoot from the hip
It would have been awesome to know Jesus as His disciples did.
Not taking anything away from the spiritual relationship we have but I think it would for sure give a different perspective to what we have.
Scripture gives us a great insight but it is not the entire picture. Literature about a person can paint us a canvas but it doesn't encapsulate them in their entirety.
The Holy Spirit adds to that in the most tangible of ways, a spiritual understanding.
One day we will know Jesus in a way that pales in comparison to what we know now.
The Apostles spent years with Jesus. No one really knows exactly how long but a few years. It says in scripture somewhere, I can't recall right now but that there were many more 'stories' and things to share but it is impossible to convey it all.
We have the central and most poignant teachings that Jesus spoke. Lessons that are essential to spiritual growth, understanding and salvation.
But within that I think there was so much more.
Scripture gives us glimpses of it.
Nessa I think he did have those in depth conversations and friendships. I think he was witty and funny. Scripture gives us glimpses of it. How He dealt with the Pharisees, the boring, religious types was often with tongue in cheek and wit.
Jesus was known to 'hang out' with all types. Eat meals with them. He was criticised for doing so.
I don't think it would be so different than what we know now, when a group get together and have a meal. There is always laughter and banter. I don't think Jesus would ever have been able to garner the people's support and admiration if he wasn't a people person.
He was criticised for being a glutton and drunkard. Which he was neither but it shows a glimpse of a guy who lived life. Had nice meals with friends and drank wine.
That was hat made him so detestable to the religious types. He didn't fit the mould.
He was too free, too liked, too smart, too improper of what was expected.
In the eyes of the religious He was the friend of the misfits, He hung out with them.
I am para phrasing probably poorly but Nathaniel said, in regards to Jesus, "what good ever came from Nazareth?" To me that is like the friendly banter we have on here when we pay each other out about where we are from. It was a bit of a dig at Him. And Jesus said 'here is an Israelite where there is no deceipt". That always makes me laugh. I can just imagine Jesus laughing when he said that. He didn't take offence but pretty much said I like you, there's no Bullcrap.
I think sometimes the humour is lost on us, much like when I say Aussie stuff and your like what!!??? And check Wikipedia
. The language and time barriers have lost the depth of the humour and wit.
I think Jesus was witty, and fun and sharp witted. Along with what we know, compassionate, humble, loving and divine. That is what made Him and makes Him so wonderful.
The Son of Man.
He experienced everything we know. The good and the bad. The funny and the tradegic.
That is why people loved and followed him in the thousands.
Because He was a truly remarkable person in everyway!