Being Jesus

 Yesterday morning I found myself awake at a ridiculously early hour and skipping through the TV channels in an attempt to find something boring enough to watch to send me back to sleep.  I landed on a programme called ' The real Jesus of Nazareth' on Smithsonian channel.  It was a documentary in which Robert Powell explored some of the archaeology and history surrounding the life of Jesus.

40 years ago I was 14.  I was not a Christian. But I remember the sensation that Robert Powell's portrayal of Jesus on the TV series ' Jesus of Nazareth' caused.  Nobody in my family went to church or showed much interest in religion.  But we all watched the TV programme and I distinctly remember that the last episode - crucifixion and resurrection - was shown on a day that I happened to be visiting my Granny.      ( this was in the days when there were only four channels on the telly and no watch back, recordings, catch up or streaming )  I dont ever remember the television being on in my Grannys house when I was there.  She was very proper and old school and when she had visitors the telly was off. Most definitely.    But I remember plucking up the courage that particular day to ask if I could watch the last episode of the series in which I had been so engrossed - and then being in floods of tears at the end of it and trying not to make a scene in front of my clearly bemused Granny. 😀   This was a full two years before I got to know Jesus for myself.  But that television show was most certainly part of the process of me realising who He was.  Don't discount God's ability to use any and every secular means to woo people to Him.

This morning as I was watching Robert Powell re-living some of his experience of playing Jesus I heard him talk about the effect that the sermon on the mount had on everyone who was acting in it.  He said that he had read the words and learned them for playing the part, but it was only when he was confronted with hundreds of extras in front of him and he had to raise his voice to project into the crowd that he started to realise the significance of what he was saying.  The camera crew were in tears as he was saying the words of the beatitudes.   Later Powell would say 

Before I began this film, I had no particular interest in religion and absolutely no opinion of Christ.

“Now, I do believe in Christ and His divinity, even though I do not necessarily go to church. Prior to being cast in the part, my knowledge of Christ was limited to Sunday school teachings and religious stories, all on a rather immature level. I knew this would never be enough for me as an actor, to work with in developing a character. So I read the Bible through thoroughly, which I’d not done before, taking it apart and analyzing it. I also consulted works of reference and commentaries on the Bible because I wanted to obtain other people’s ideas as well.

“An actor has to be objective when interpreting a part. Nonetheless, after playing Christ for all these months, it would be difficult not to really believe in him.” 

Several years later Jim Caviezel played Jesus in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.  If you have the time you should Google the interviews he did afterwards to appreciate the life changing and profound effects playing Jesus had on him.

So what's the point of today's blog?

If we immerse ourselves in the person, character and words of Jesus, if we clothe ourselves and truly study Him in the same way an actor immerses themselves in the part they are playing, we shall be changed.  I dont believe anyone can come face to face with the person of Jesus and not be changed.  His message, His behaviour, His attitudes, His relationships , His outrageous breaking of the rules, His sense of humour and His passion for the kingdom are all so compelling we cannot help but be drawn to know Him more.

This is the good news of Advent.  That He has come and He is coming back to draw all men to Himself.