Christmas in the Christian

God Has Spoken… WORD! part 6

And Get a Load of this… John says

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Ever since the Fall (Genesis 3) God has been progressively revealing Himself to man.  Consider God’s presence in the  Tabernacle ( Ex 25-28; Num 1:50; 2:17; 11:24-25)

"For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. Exodus 29:42-43

But God wasn’t finished yet… He then demonstrated His Presence in the Temple (1 Chron 22-29)

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1

But God wasn’t finished yet… He then demonstrated His Presencein The Incarnation ( 1 Jn 4:2; Rom 1:3; 8:3; 2 Cor 8:9; Gal 4:4; Phil 2:5-11; *1 Tim 3:16; Heb 2:14; Titus 2:13)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (Greek: Tabernacled) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

 
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17
But God wasn’t finished yet… He then demonstrated His Presence in The Body of Christ, In “us”

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

and in you…

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19

The Great Mystery (secret) now revealed Jesus living His Life in and through you, the follower of Christ!

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27
Oswald Chambers writes:

“God Evident in the Flesh. If the Son of God has been born into my human flesh, then am I allowing His holy innocence, simplicity, and oneness with the Father the opportunity to exhibit itself in me? What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint. God’s Son is born into me through the direct act of God; then I as His child must exercise the right of a child— the right of always being face to face with my Father through prayer. Do I find myself continually saying in amazement to the commonsense part of my life, "Why did you want me to turn here or to go over there? ’Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ " ( Luke 2:49  ). Whatever our circumstances may be, that holy, innocent, and eternal Child must be in contact with His Father.

Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in this way? Is He having His wonderful way with me? Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19  ), or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now— no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father.

Is the Son of God praying in me, bringing honor to the Father, or am I dictating my demands to Him? Is He ministering in me as He did in the time of His manhood here on earth? Is God’s Son in me going through His passion, suffering so that His own purposes might be fulfilled? The more a person knows of the inner life of God’s most mature saints, the more he sees what God’s purpose really is: to "

So there it is Christmas in the Christian.  Well we are way beyond the accounts of the shepherds & Wisemen… we are at the heart of the Gospel. 

Christ in You is Christianity.  Live out who you are in Christ.

There once was an Indian brave that was walking down the trail when he discovered an eagles egg had fallen out of it's nest. He looked up and saw that the nest was too high for him to return the egg. So he placed the egg in a nearby prairie chicken nest.
When the egg hatched, the little eagle thought he was a prairie chicken. Prairie chickens stay on the ground and eat only worms and grubs. So, as the eagle grew, he ate nothing but worms and grubs and walked around with the other prairie chickens.
One day, he looked up in the sky and saw some eagles soaring high above. He asked one of the prairie chickens, "How can they fly up there while we are down here eating worms and grubs?"
The prairie chicken answered, "They are the eagles, they can do that but we must stay down here. We are prairie chickens and that is what we do."

So, the eagle spent the rest of his life flying very little and eating worms and grubs just because he was told that was all he could do.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

The Light Invites!!!

God Has Spoken… WORD! part 5

We’ve been looking at how John has described Jesus… The WORD!

Until we come to know Him personally we only know of him.

Recently I read the story of an encounter that the famous playwrite, Arthur Miller has years ago.  Arthur Miller was sitting alone in a bar, was approached by a well-tailored, slightly tidy fellow who addressed him thus:

"'Aren't you Arthur Miller?'
"'Why, yes, I am.'
"'Don't you remember me?'
"'Well... your face seems familiar.
"'Why, Art, I'm your old buddy Sam! We went to high school together! We went out on double dates!'
"'I'm afraid I - '
"'I guess you can see I've done all right. Department stores. What do you do, Art?'
"'Well, I.... write.'
"'Whaddya write?'
"'Plays, mostly.'
"'Ever get any produced?'

"'Yes, some.'
"'Would I know any?'
"'Well... perhaps you've heard of Death of a Salesman?'

"Sam's jaw dropped; his face went white. For a moment he was speechless.

Then he cried out, 'Why, you're ARTHUR MILLER!'"

When we come to know Jesus, not just know about Him, we are likely to say… You’re Jesus Christ! So Christmas has come and gone … and the True Light has Come… and the Light Invites!  Listen further to what John records.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

Notice How Not To Connect With God (V13)

1. Not By Human Descent (Man’s Relationships: family, marriage, nationality)
2. Not By Human Desire (Man’s Desire: sincerity, efforts, benevolence)
3. Not By Human Design (Man’s Religion: church, rules, morality)

And please notice How to Connect with God (which really is how God connects with us) 1. Believe in Jesus Christ  &  2. Receive Jesus Christ

it is as simple as A, B, C

A – Admit your Need – sin

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 6:23

B – Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

C – Correct (Repent) & Commit your life to His Rule (not man’s rules)

"The world is happy to let Jesus Christ be a baby in a manger, but not willing to let Him be the sovereign King and Lord that He is, yet that is the central truth of the Christmas story: the Child of Christmas is God." -John F. MacArthur, Jr.

The True Light Has Come

God Has Spoken… WORD! part 4

  In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:4

Jesus is the WORD!!! He is always Speaking…. and

Jesus is the LIFE!!! He gives life and only in Him is Life… and
Jesus is the LIGHT!!!

Jesus (the Light) Enlightens

In the Old Testament God is the Light (burning bush, Light at Night, Pillar of Fire)

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalms 36:9

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

 In the New Testament God is still the Light, but now we see that Jesus (Who is God see V1) is also the Light (Light at birth of Christ, Transfiguration, Road to Damascus)

Jesus The Light Revealed to Everyone

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 1:9
Jesus The Light Resisted

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:10-11

Jesus The Light Received

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- John 1:12

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light Ephesians 5:8
It’s Christmas… and the True Light has Come.  Let the Light in and Let Him shine through.

Jesus is LIFE

God Has Spoken… WORD! part 3

 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:4  

Jesus is the LIFE!!! and…

Jesus Gives Physical Life

Jesus, the Creator, has given life to ALL! 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

But man (Adam) disobeyed God and the given life was corrupted.  So a new life is needed.

So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living soul"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45

Jesus gives spiritual life, He did this by becoming the 2^nd Adam and entering into the human drama.  The new life He gives is spiritual life.

Jesus Gives Spiritual Life

Jesus, the Life (2^nd Adam), offers life to ALL!

This spiritual life comes also from Christ, but it comes from above, from God Himself.  This is why Jesus states:

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3

The Spiritual Life that Jesus gives is described as  Abundant Life

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

The Spiritual Life that Jesus gives is described as Eternal Life

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13

 Intrinsically, Jesus is the Life.  To have the Son is to have the Life, and if you have the Son then… Live the Life (see John 15:5).

When God Speaks...Listen to Him

God Has Spoken… WORD! part 2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:1-4

JESUS is the Word

Jesus Speaks: He is the Word Manifested

He is the Final Word

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2

JESUS is the Word

Jesus Speaks: He is the Word Communicated

He is the Secret (Mystery) Word

the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:26-27

JESUS is the Word

Jesus Speaks: He is the Word of Revelation

He is the Central Word

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

“The Bible, opening with the words, "In the beginning God" (Genesis 1:1), and closing with reference to "the Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20-21), is preeminently a revelation of Jesus Christ. Though the Bible obviously treats many subjects -- including the history of man, the existence of angels, the revelation of God's purposes for the nations, Israel, and the church, and includes in its revelation facts from eternity past to eternity future -- Jesus Christ is revealed as the Center. He is presented as the Creator, the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the saints, the Head of the church, and King of kings over all creation. As the theme of divine revelation, the person and work of Jesus Christ threads its way from the first to the last book of the Bible.” - Lewis Sperry Chafer

When God Speaks ...we should listen! part 1

God Has Spoken… WORD! 

In 1514 someone forged a document under the name of Publius Lentuleis, First Consul (?) to Caesar Tiberius (reg. 14 - 37 AD). The letter is partly an answer to a direct question from the Caesar.

There lives at this time in Judea a man of singular virtue whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem as a prophet, but his followers love and adore him as the offspring of the immortal God.

He calls back the dead from the graves and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or touch. He is a tall man, well-shaped, and of an amiable and reverend aspect; his hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful curls, waving about and very agreeable crouching upon his shoulders, parted on the crown of the head, running as a stream to the front after fashion of the Nazarites. His forehead high, large and imposing; his cheeks without spot or wrinkle, beautiful with a lovely red; his nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; his beard, and of a color suitable to his hair, reaching below his chin and parted in the middle like a fork; his eyes bright blue, clear and serene. Look innocent, dignified, manly and mature. In proportion of body most perfect, and captivating; his arms and hands delectable to behold.

He rebukes with majesty, councils with mildness, His whole address whether in word or deed, being eloquent and grave. No man has seen him laugh, yet his manners are exceedingly pleasant, but he has wept frequently in the presence of men. He is temperate, modest and wise. A man for his extraordinary beauty and perfection, surpassing the children of men in every sense.

John writes:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:1-4

God is a Great Communicator, and has been speaking since the very beginning.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:1,3

God has spoken… Word… and His name is Jesus!

Years ago Dr. S.M. Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego CA from 1953 – 1993, wrote The Indescribable Christ
“He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest idea in philosophy. He’s the fundamental truth in theology. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick, He cleans the lepers. He forgives sinners, He discharges debtors, He delivers captives, He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He serves the unfortunate, He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent, He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him?

Well, my king is the king of knowledge, He’s the well-spring of wisdom, He’s the doorway of deliverance, He’s the pathway of peace, He’s the roadway of righteousness, He’s the highway of holiness He’s the gateway of glory, He’s the master of the mighty, He’s the captain of the conquerors, He’s the head of the heroes, He’s the leader of the legislators, He’s the overseer of the overcomers, He’s the governor of governors, He’s the prince of princes, He’s the king of Kings and the Lord of Lords.                 

                                                                                                                      

       His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you. But He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible, He’s irresistible. I’m trying to tell you, the Heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my king!

He always has been, and He always will be. I’m talking about He [who] had no predecessor and He [who] has no successor. There was nobody before Him and there will be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him, and He’s not going to resign. We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves, but the glory is all His. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and when you get through with all of the forevers, then 'Amen'."

“Oh I wish I could describe him to you.” 

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Who Do You Say I AM? part 2

So how about you, Who do you say Jesus is?

C.S. Lewis (an atheist turned Jesus follower)  wrote years ago in his book Mere Christianity (can't recommend it enough) about Jesus,

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great moral teacher. He has not left that open  to us. He did not intend to.”

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

What does it mean that Jesus is The way, The Truth & The Life.... consider the words of Arthur Pink.

"I AM THE WAY." Christ spans the distance between God and the sinner. Man would fain manufacture a ladder of his own, and . . . climb up to God. But that is impossible. That is the way which seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov. 14:12). It is Satan who would keep the exercised sinner on his self-imposed journey to God. What faith needs to lay hold of is the glorious truth that Christ has come all the way down to sinners. The sinner could not come to God, but God in the person of His Son has come out to sinners. He is the Way, the Way to Heaven, the Way to eternal blessedness.

I AM THE TRUTH." Christ is the full and final revelation of God. Adam believed the Devil's lie, and ever since then man has been groping amid ignorance and error. "The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble" (Prov. 4:19). "Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Eph. 4:18). A thousand systems has the mind devised. . . "There is none that understandeth" (Rom. 3:11). . . Truth is not to be found in a system of philosophy, but in a Person--Christ is "the truth;" He reveals God and exposes man. In Him are hid "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). What tremendous folly to ignore Him! . . . . with all your learning have you bowed before Him who is the Truth?"

"I AM THE LIFE." Christ is the Emancipator from death. The whole Bible bears solemn witness to the fact that the natural man is spiritually lifeless. He walks according to the course of this world; he has no love for the things of God. The fear of God is not upon him, nor has he any concern for His glory. Self is the center and circumference of his existence. He is alive to the things of the world, but he is dead to heavenly things. The one who is out of Christ exists, but he has not spiritual life. . . . The one who believes in Christ has passed out of death unto life (John 5:24). "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life" (John 3:36). Then turn to Him who is the Life.

"I AM THE WAY." Without Christ men are Cains--wanderers. "They are all gone out of the way" (Rom. 3:12). Christ is not merely a Guide who came to show men the path in which they ought to walk: He is Himself the Way to the Father. "I am the truth." Without Christ men are under the power of the Devil, the father of lies. Christ is not merely a Teacher who came to reveal to men a doctrine regarding God: He is Himself the Truth about God. "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." "I am the life." Without Christ men are dead in trespasses and sins. Christ is not merely a Physician. . . "I am come," said He, "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

"No man comes unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). Christ is the only way to God. It is utterly impossible to win God's favor by any efforts of our own (Exposition of the Gospel of John, p. 212-214).

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Many people find the exclusive claims of following Jesus and the only way to the Father as being "heartless" but actually it's Just the Opposite.  The Father's heart is revealed in His demonstrated love for us by sending His Only Son to  the cross.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16

So how about you, Who do you say Jesus is?

Who Do You Say I AM?

Who Do You Say I AM?

"But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Matthew 16:15

Clearly this is the most important question anyone can answer during their life.  Here are what some have said over the years.

"A heroic figure... not wholly to blame for the religion that's been foisted on him." Ezra Pound

"A lot of people say to me, ''Why did you kill Christ?'' ''I dunno... it was one of those parties, got out of hand, you know.'' ''We killed him because he didn't want to become a doctor, that's why we killed him.'' Lenny Bruce

"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act." Mahatma Gandhi

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self."  St. Francis of Assisi

"Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him."  Napoleon Bonaparte

"By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade."  Desiderius Erasmus

"in order to be a Christian, one must have “some kind of belief about Christ.” He then added: “I do not think Christ was the best and wisest of men, although I grant him a very high degree of moral goodness” “Historically it is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all, and if He did we do not know anything about Him." Bertrand Russell

"Regardless of what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western culture for almost twenty centuries. … It is from his birth that most of the human race dates its calendars; it is by his name that millions curse and in his name that millions pray." Jaroslav Pelikan, professor emeritus of history, Yale University

" You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.... But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s—. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity." Bono

So how about you, Who do you say Jesus is?

Who Do You Say I AM?

Who Do You Say I AM?

"But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Matthew 16:15

Clearly this is the most important question anyone can answer during their life.  Here are what some have said over the years.

"A heroic figure... not wholly to blame for the religion that's been foisted on him." Ezra Pound

"A lot of people say to me, ''Why did you kill Christ?'' ''I dunno... it was one of those parties, got out of hand, you know.'' ''We killed him because he didn't want to become a doctor, that's why we killed him.'' Lenny Bruce

"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act." Mahatma Gandhi

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self."  St. Francis of Assisi

 

"Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him."  Napoleon Bonaparte

"By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade."  Desiderius Erasmus

"in order to be a Christian, one must have “some kind of belief about Christ.” He then added: “I do not think Christ was the best and wisest of men, although I grant him a very high degree of moral goodness” “Historically it is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all, and if He did we do not know anything about Him." Bertrand Russell

"Regardless of what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western culture for almost twenty centuries. … It is from his birth that most of the human race dates its calendars; it is by his name that millions curse and in his name that millions pray." Jaroslav Pelikan, professor emeritus of history, Yale University

" You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.... But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s—. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity." Bono

So how about you, Who do you say Jesus is?