In a Sunday morning class, we were watching a Fr. Robert
Barron video in which he talked about the modern tendency to trivialize Jesus
as a very smart and very nice guy with a good philosophy of life and lots of
interesting stories. The fact is, he said, that Jesus was an unusual and
disturbing person who challenged those around him and created a lot of
discomfort.
He mentioned the question Jesus asked of his disciples, “Who do the people say I am?” and suggested
that great teachers and spiritual leaders, Deepak Chopra, Buddha, Mohammed,
Confucius, for example would explain a way of thinking and living but would not
be concerned about who people thought they were. I could add Tony Robbins, Zig
Ziegler, T. D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dale Carnegie, and Norman
Vincent Peale to his list of folks who wanted or want to show us a different
way (some perhaps making a lot of money in the process) but don’t express
concern about who people think they are and don’t use a lot of first person
singular pronouns.
It made me think about the extensive use of the first person
singular by Jesus. Here are some examples:
"Come, follow me,"
Jesus said, "and I will make you
fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19
But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own
dead." - Matthew 8:22
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow
me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. - Matthew 9:9
"Everyone
therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my
Father in heaven.” - Matthew 10:32
Whoever loves father
or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and
follow me is not worthy of me. - Matthew
10:37-40
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for
I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” -Matthew
11:29
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me
scatters.” - Matthew 12:30
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take
up their cross and follow me.” - Matthew 16:24
“Whoever welcomes one
such child in my name welcomes me.” - Matthew 18:5
“For where two or three are gathered in my
name, I am there among them." - Matthew 18:20
Jesus said to him, "If
you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." - Matthew
19:21
“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Mark 1:1
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the
Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'" - Mark 14:61-62
“Listen, I am casting
out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I
finish my work.” - Luke 13:32
"I am he
(Messiah), the one who is speaking to you." - John 4:26
"I am the bread
of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty.” - John 6:35
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." - John
8:12
He said to them, "You
are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.”
- John 8:23
Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am." - John 8:58
“I am the gate.
Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find
pasture.” - John 10:9
"I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me.” - John 10:27
"I am the
resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will
live” - John 11:25
Jesus said to him, "I
am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.” - John 14:6
"If you love me,
you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15
"I am the true
vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” – John 15:1
Christians read the words “I am,” the most fundamental first
person singular declaration, coming from Jesus, especially in John 8:58 above, as
hearkening back to the words of God when Moses encountered him in the burning
bush in Exodus 3 and, upon being challenged to step up and lead the Children of
Israel out of Egyptian bondage, asked God who he should say told him to do such
a foolish thing. God replied, "I AM
WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus
you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
Jesus was certainly loving in his encounters with many
people but doesn’t seem to have been a “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild” as
suggested by a once popular hymn (based probably on Matthew 11:29 minus the “yoke”
issue) except perhaps in his dealings with children. With followers and
potential followers, he was confident and direct with such imperatives as, “…sin
no more,” “sell your possessions,” and “keep my commandments.” His teaching challenges us to focus our own use of the first person singular to statements
such as, “I believe,” “I confess,” “I pray,” “I forgive,” “I love,” and “I
will.”
We may be in danger of trivializing Jesus by asking a
subjective question such as “What would Jesus do?” Often what he did was heal people, cast out demons, or perform other miracles, make outrageous claims or demands on his followers, or tell wise and provocative
stories. Those are not things we do very well. It may be more helpful in our
spiritual journeys to first ask, “What did Jesus say?” and “What did Jesus do?” Then we can focus on what we
will say and do in response.
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