Why Remember Jesus?

If we were to make a list of the amazing things God can do, the list would be long.  Our list could point to God’s omnipotence (being all powerful) - God’s all-powerful nature is seen in His creation of this universe.  God is omniscient (being all knowing and wise).  Making this vast universe work in such harmony points to the all wise and knowing nature of God.  Yet, for all the stunning qualities and attributes of God, the coming and appearance of Jesus, the God-Man, tops the list.  How can God put on humanity and human flesh?  I am sure it does not surprise any of us that God is powerful enough to make an appearance in this world.  Poof!  God could materialize in any form He chooses.  But to limit Himself, to become human (like the rest of mankind) and embrace human weakness is something that God could only think up and accomplish.  When we speak of God making Himself fully man and yet remaining fully God, we are speaking of the incarnation.

As we think of Jesus, we know that He was and is one of a kind.  God putting on human flesh, taking on human frailties and emotions, required a miracle on God’s part.  The necessity of the incarnation was because Jesus needed to be able to face temptation and trials.  Jesus, being fully God, could be perfect while running the gauntlet of trials that every human faces.  So, as we remember Jesus, we remember divine holiness existing in tandem with humanity and weakness.  Let me pause and ask if what I’m describing is hurting your brain?  If you say yes, welcome to the club.  As finite, limited creatures, we struggle to understand our infinite and amazing God.  I have taken you to the deep end of the pool (theologically speaking) so you can prepare to be impressed with Jesus.

My title for this article is Why Remember Jesus?  My experience tells me that we do not appreciate “who Jesus is” enough.  We take His greatness for granted.  We are not amazed enough when we hear about how Jesus lived and what He did. Consider the sick who were healed by the calloused hands of the maker of the universe.  God put on human flesh so that He could look into the eyes of those who were hurting.  Remember how Jesus was met by a man who asked for His help?  The man’s daughter was on the verge of death.  The man, Jairus, had heard that Jesus was a merciful miracle worker.  When Jesus agreed to help Jairus’ daughter, they had not traveled very far when the news came that the girl had died.  I can imagine Jesus, the God-Man, placing His hand comfortingly on Jairus’ shoulder while saying, “Trust me.”  When Jesus arrived at Jairus’ home, Jesus took the dead girl’s hand and spoke kindly to her, calling her back to the land of the living.  All of this was possible because God came to this world in human form. As we read the amazing stories of Jesus, we forget that God spoke words of life and encouragement with a Galilean accent.  We love the story of Jesus multiplying loaves of bread and a few fish to feed multitudes, but do we take the time to appreciate Jesus eating fish sandwiches with the hungry, the hurting and the lonely?  When Jesus was walking with Mary and Martha to the tomb where their dead brother Lazarus lay rotting, He saw their hurt and grief.  It is here that Scripture tells us that the eyes of God wept human tears.

            When I ask "why remember Jesus,” the answer is to bring to mind that we are blessed to have a God that loves us and treasures us.  It does not stretch our imagination to believe that God is amazingly powerful.  After all, that is what God is supposed to be like.  The same is true with the wisdom, knowledge and holiness of God.  Most people will shrug and remark: “That is how God is assumed to be.”  However, to take seriously that God loves us as broken, sinful, and selfish people is often an unexpected and surprising idea.  Why is that so?  It is because we are often unforgiving and selfish.  We are challenged when it comes to showing kindness and mercy.  Because we have these limitations, it is important to remember who Jesus is.  God loves this world and all that is in it.  God created all life and it is precious to Him.  God was not willing that His creation remain marred by our sin and foolishness.  With the incarnation of Jesus, God has come to show us what love is really like, what life is meant for, and where help can be found.  We are challenged to remember Jesus.  Keep looking up!