Below is an extract from a popular poem about the life of Jesus Christ. Although the author is frequently cited as "unknown" the poem is actually attributed to James Allen Francis.
In todays Society would the following be a description of a "loser" or a "victim? If the answer is yes what does it say about Jesus, and what is the impact on ourselves as "disciples/followers?"
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.
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My immediate response is to think how I might be remembered; to think what legacy we each leave. And I'll leave it at that for the moment. Shalom.
Yes, but he rose again - that isn't being a loser!
A few observations. In answer to the question was Jesus a "victim"? I suppose it all depends how we understand the term. In the dictionary a "victim" is described as 1) A living creature sacrificed to deity or in a religious rite.
2) Created through a result of events or circumstance.
It would seem that both definitions could be applied to Jesus. Yet I would want to ask whether a "Victim" has control over circumstances or is powerless? It would seem that within the gospel testimony there are indications that Jesus does possess choices about the life path he travels. The temptations in the wilderness, the rebuke to Peter "Get thee behind me Satan" and the torment of Gethsemene would suggest that Jesus had a choice either to follow self interest or to choose actions that would benefit not just his community but the whole of humanity!
When it comes to my own "discipleship of service" I notice a tension between the interests of self, and the interests of others. The tension exists I believe because I have a choice. It is not easy to always deny self for the greater good of others or the community. So if I choose to turn the other cheek, to be nice when some are horrible, to take a genuine interest in someones hobby or attend a sporting event because it is important to another (even though I can't stand it myself) I am I believe demonstrating power.
Was Jesus a loser? Some one recently mentioned that the term "loser" is used today to show contempt. "You are hopeless, you are unsuccessful, You're a loser!!" Further we (society) are keen to catagorise people into winners and losers. It seems to me that through this we establish some sort of hierachy. (Winners are better and more important than losers.)So was Jesus a loser? Some may say yes because it would seem as the poem states that Jesus never achieved anything in his earthly life. He died a criminal, destitute and friendless.
Paul particularly in Philippians 2 would want to say as iph does that actually the resurrected Jesus is a winner. He is King of Kings and every knee shall bow before him.
So often the significance of a persons influence or contribution is realised after they have died.
In the life of Jesus for me there is a pattern to follow. Justice, mercy, good faith are the principles I would seek to live out. I remember saying at Trinity shortly after I had a met the risen Jesus in my mums backyard, that if I affected one other life for the better, carried out one small deed of kindness that made a positive difference to anothers life, then my life would have been worth living.
Now I am sure that many who would not perceive themselves to be "religious" would affirm to this statement. If this observation is correct then is this a response to man/woman/child being made in the image of God? If it is then the one who reflected and ecapsulated that image more than any other is Jesus. In this sense Jeus is a Winner!!!!!
If we need to see people/ ourselves as "winners" or "losers", is it because we're anxious about our value or envious of others' perceived success? To choose not to see life and ourselves that way is a great freedom - we can choose not to play that game. Jesus clearly didn't judge according to that scale, didn't play that game, and so could see the real value of people. We notice him affirming the world's "losers" frequently. He exercised that freedom right up to the cross and beyond. Just remembered the words of - was it St. Paul? - "When they compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding." I sometimes tell myself inwardly "I am not here to conform to other people's expectations of me, only God's." The challenge then is to discern what those are!
I agree with iph that the story of Jesus ends with success. It is for this reaon that so many of us still follow his way today. What strikes me is that the success came about only because he was willing to face what ordinary people regarded as complete failure, indeed, as I understand it, actually to risk such failure. It was his faith in the face of the risk that made the success possible. That says to me something about the feebleness of the common understandings of failure and success, and about the real prioroties facing me, which are not simply those of "getting on" in the world.
Thanks everyone, very interesting comments. I'd like to add a thought picking up the resurrection reference, that what we see here is God's vindication of a way of living and dying, that it was not so much Jesus who rose but more God who raised him (Acts 2: 32, Philippians 2:9 etc. This ties in with dijon's comment about Jesus "risking failure" and perhaps even more about embracing failure as the world saw and sees it still. I wonder how this might tie in with the beatitudes and the way of blessedness? Peace, sisters and brothers.
Julyan In response to your comment ref beatitudes, I have turned to our old friend Ter Linden. Here is an extract from his commentary. (Quote) "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven". What good fortune for the poor in spirit! They can call themselves happy. Just like Jesus, they are no longer filled with desire for self preservation, for money for property. They needn't hide their fear with possessions, material and non material; they've let go of their fear. They expect everything from God. They are inwardly free, and as a result they are open and receptive to the Kingdom of God. (Unquote)
What do we think about Ter Linden's comments above folks?
I'm soon to record a series with radio Cornwall of very short talks on the Beaititudes and I make a similar point on the poor in spirit: "Poor in spirit might mean being ready for anything, open to receiving, leaving space in our lives to be surprised, space for wonder. Like a child, perhaps. Jesus said that heaven belongs to the children as though heaven and happiness are gifts on offer to those who’ll receive them. Maybe that’s why children are said to laugh so much more often than adults. I wonder." Of course, this may change by the time I get to the studio! Blessings all.
Thanks Julyan, interesting you say that children are open to receive. I believe I see that in my 6 year old daughter Bethany. However I notice she is dependent too. For example She cannot get drinks for herself as the sink, cups etc are out of reach or she can't open a bottle. She doesn't feel able to get herself to school, or go to the playground by herself. I suppose what I want to say is that because Bethany realises she needs me or Mandy (her mum) to do things for her she is more open to receive. I wonder if then through her experience Bethany understands that Mandy and I have her best interests at heart which leads her to have faith in our decision making. So when I say for example on a walk, "Bethany have a look at this" she comes running over beaming, expectant that I have found something that will "wow" her.
Lots of things are out of Bethany's control but it seems not to bother or concern her. Unlike myself.
In life I find so often I have to be in control. Control of my time, control of events, control of my money, control of how tidy the house is, even (I hate to say it) verhemently suggest what my children, should and should not be doing (and they are 18 and 16 as well as 6) (its for their own good of course. Lots of laughs) There seems little time for spontanaity for imagination for God to influence and to show me the wonder there is to discover. I often go out for walks and it is there that I find space to wonder and marvel but even then most walks follow a pre determined route and time. One thing I will get from the comments from this blog is that I have to "free myself up!" To risk, to let go, to allow things to develop, to pause more, to enjoy God's presence and to trust and receive.
Thanks for that trinityblogger. This trust business is key, isn't it? We are taken back to your first post on this blog about Jesus as victim or loser. Trust like that Jesus displayed is the trust of triumph; where contol is not taken from him but where it is voluntarily given up. To have that sort of trust in complex lives such as modern society demands of or imposes on those who live within it is not easy. How to move through all responsibilities and duties being fair and just to all, yet without succumbing to the siren call to seek power or control for ourselves is a constant question. How do we live the life that JV Taylor saw in Jesus as "a challenge to necessity"? Maybe that necessity is to protect ourselves from those things, as ter Linden suggests, that make us fearful. I think Jack Spong has something to say on this somewhere and if I have time I'll check it out. Meanwhile: the peace of God that passes all understanding be God's gift to all our bloggers and readers.
Thanks Julyan, you touched on something I have been thinking about, namely how to balance the choice of giving up individual control with the responsibilities to family, neighbour and community. I think it is fair to say that Jesus had benefactors who paid his temple tax for example. Although he had no permanent residence he relied on the hospitality of others, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus comes to mind too. So perhaps the question to address is how do we use our power? and as you say through JV Taylor perhaps it is the challenge of neccesity that may give us the answers
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