[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=ghandi&iid=3283145″ src=”c/0/b/8/A_fun_runner_2526.jpg?adImageId=8924575&imageId=3283145″ width=”380″ height=”583″ /]The power of religion makes Jesus about as accessible as an alien from another galaxy. In fact, most “Christian” religions teach Jesus in such a manner as to make him into “a little green man.” Jesus made water into wine, walked on water, calmed the raging waters; who can relate to that? The religions that don’t at least lean toward “E.T.” strip Jesus of his Diety of completely, recreating him in the image of Mahatma Gandhi.

The gospel writers, and subsequently the early church Fathers, fought ferociously for the teaching of the tension of a man with whom every human could relate and the God who loved us so much “he gave.” Fully God, fully man. Fully vulnerable, fully sovereign. Fully obedient, fully self-determined. This foundational assertion is a great challenge to perpetuate because it makes no sense. How can Jesus be just like me and do all the things he did?

The oft taught story of the “temptation of the Christ” is one of many examples in the gospels of this unvarnished contradiction of terms: God-man. Jesus, creator of all humans may discover as life-sustaining, became hungry. Jesus, the authority by which the universe came into existence through the spoken word, became powerless. Jesus, the “insider” of souls, looked at the mirror into his own heart.

His hunger satisfied by God’s word, his authority submitted to his Father, his heart bowed in worship to the Sovereign of the Universe, Jesus was fully us and fully what we must be.

This life is mystical, spiritual, practical, difficult, empowering, subservient, much more and entirely real.

My friends at Main Street will be talking about this on Sunday.