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Hollywood Jesus

I hate Jesus movies.

There, I said it. It's got nothing to do with the real Jesus. It has everything to do with the really bad portrayal of Him that really torques me off. With exception of The Passion of the Christ, most of the time you get some blue-eyed white boy who would barely make the featherweight division cast in the role of God's Son?!? And if that weren't bad enough, movie-Jesus usually has a Prozac laden Mr. Rogers personality that's about as exciting as watching paint dry. Oh yeah, and movie-Jesus doesn't walk like normal people. He semi-floats and his face radiates an eerie glow that reminds me of a low wattage florescent bulb.

Sorry, Hollywood...you got it all wrong. That may be the Jesus of your imagination and medieval paintings, but it is definitely not the Jesus of the Bible. And if this is your conception of the Son of God, then I would challenge you to erase that file like a bad virus and download the true version of Christ found in the book HE WROTE!

First off-what does Jesus look like? Well, He's Jewish - and as it turns out, Jews aren't white. I can also safely say that blue eyes are not real common in the Hebrew race either. Jesus had dark skin and dark eyes - and I guarantee you He was no skinny weakling either. I say that because He worked for many years as a carpenter. Carpenters back then didn't jump on the donkey and get supplies from Jerusalem Depot...they cut their own trees down and hauled them back to the shop. In other words, picture Jesus more like Arnold Schwarzenegger than Ryan Seacrest. In fact, I think Christ was the first one to say: "I'll be back!"

Now let's talk about His personality. The meek and mild mannered milquetoast Messiah is non-existent in Scripture. If you spent any time at all around Jesus, all the different dimensions and degrees of His character would have blown you away. For example, one moment you find Him crashing tables and thrashing corrupt religious people:

In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Don't turn my Father's house into a marketplace!" (John 2:14-16)

Then later on He's gently teaching a little kids' Sunday School class:

Some children were brought to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples told them not to bother him. But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. (Matthew 19:13-15)

Movie-Jesus is serious all the time...but did you know the real Jesus loves to joke? Once when He was speaking to the crowds, He said:

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:25)

In the original language, this statement was actually a play on words sort of like a pun that probably had his audience laughing out loud.

But Jesus not afraid to confront people either-especially His closest friends. When Peter suggested that He didn't have to die on the cross, Jesus didn't say "Gee whiz, Peter, I feel uncomfortable when you say things like that." His response actually was:

"Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's." (Matthew 16:23)

Ouch! Not exactly what Peter expected, but it was exactly what he needed to hear.

As you can see, just a casual reading of the Gospels paints Jesus as a man with an incredible and dynamic personality that made people either want to love Him or hate Him, kill Him or die for Him. He is strong yet merciful, intense yet compassionate, a man of sorrows yet full of hope.

What does this have to do with you? Everything. The real Jesus desires a real and ever deepening relationship with you. He laughs when you laugh, He weeps when you weep, He frowns on your sin and smiles on your holiness. He wants you to discover and experience all the facets of His amazing personality so you can become more and more like Him everyday.

So turn off movies and tune into God's Word, because isn't it about time you got to know the Jesus you never knew?

Head: What you need to know about this truth

The Jesus often portrayed in the movies is not accurate. The real Jesus has a distinct and dynamic personality that should cause us to deepen our relationship with Him.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

You should feel like Jesus is the best friend you ever could or will have...because He is. He has experienced everything you are going through, and He is ready and willing to listen and help. This truth should also help you feel closer to Jesus because now you know He's not some "other-worldy" being that is way above your circumstances. He's real, He knows, and He cares.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Watch the video called "That's My King" found at this web site.