JESUS WAS NOT A “SUPERMAN”
By and large over the centuries the Christian Church has treated the person of Jesus as if he was an extension of God, the second person of the Trinity. In like manner, most conservative Christians have continued to call upon him a supernatural savior. I used to be one of those but I no longer think that view of Jesus is viable. I’ll try to explain what I mean by this “radical” statement.
First off, we must remember that the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and death were written about 50 years after Jesus’ death, although there surely were some sorts of stories and minimal notes passed along over the years. Moreover, there are many, many copies of the Gospels none of which say exactly the same things while roughly telling the same story. A major problem, for instance, is that no copies of the Gospel of Mark contain anything about a resurrection. In addition, the birth stories of Matthew and Luke are largely different from each other, as are the accounts of Jesus’ death. The resurrection accounts are actually quite different from each other and are very confusing.
Moreover, the most reliable manuscripts are thought to be such because they agree on the things Jesus said in his so-called “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5 -7. However, these things Jesus is said to have taught are far and away the most radical things in the entire New Testament. Some of his advice goes directly against commonly accepted teachings of the Jewish Law, while others seem to stretch their point beyond belief, such as always turning the other cheek and giving away your clothing. These were seemingly hyperboles, yet Jesus’ point strikes a radical note.
Perhaps the entire spirit of the Sermon is best captured in Jesus’ starling statement: “You were once told, ‘You are to love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I tell you to love your enemies and pray for your persecutors.’” (Matt.5:43-48). Scholars call such statements of Jesus hard sayings because they are difficult to accept, they cut against the grain of normal morality. In addition, Jesus repeatedly contradicted the orthodox teachings of the Pharisees. For instance, he accepted and dined with women and “sinners” and criticized the religious leaders.
Indeed, Jesus frequently excused regular people for their “sins” while castigating Pharisaical teachers for their “holier than thou” attitudes. He hob-knobbed with “sinners” and avoided mixing with religious leaders. Moreover, Jesus actually contradicted some of the Law of Moses with these words: “The law of Moses said you should do this and not do that, but I say to you that you should ‘Love your neighbor.’” In short, Jesus clearly was a radical, standing against the orthodox teachers of his day, and this is what got him crucified.
Not only did Jesus teach and act in ways that ran against traditional Jewish Law, but he lived a life dedicated to teaching and healing those whom he regularly encountered along his quiet, humble way. There were no “Shazam” moments when he overpowered the “bad guys”. In fact, it seems quite clear that he did not even begin what we have come to call his ministry until about 30 years of age. He mounted no “crusades”, he did not pretend to be a Rabbi, nor did he have a large following. Indeed, he avoided crowds and spent his private time with a few close friends, such as Mary and Martha. This was not the way a “Superman” would proceed.
Finally, what I find the most genuinely impressive about Jesus is the way he approached his last days. In his final meeting with his disciples, he taught them to wash each other’s feet because they were all his equals. Once he was arrested, having offered no resistance, he endured the persecution and ridicule of his so-called “trial” with grace and patient silence. He offered no defense of his behavior and teachings, and he accepted his “punishment” without objection and defense. His final words were: “Father forgive them, for they do not understand what they are doing.” He gave no threats about what he would do to his oppressors, nor promises to return and pay them back.
So, this is the Jesus that in my “latter days” I have accepted as my guide through life. It took me many years to work out what seems to me to be a sound and responsible understanding of Jesus’ life and message, but the struggle and study have proven to be well worth the journey. I do not know what to expect when I die, but I am ready for whatever comes. It may prove to be a big nothing, or there may be many surprises, with much yet to learn. I’m sure that no “Superman” is going to descend and make everything right. I feel that Jesus of Nazareth has been a deep and faithful guide throughout almost all my days, and will continue to do so, come what may.