ΙΧΘΥΣ

Pasting the name of Jesus on your life view is a popular practice.  Whether in regard to individual lives, college mission statements, church purpose statements, or even some corporate mantras, hitching philosophies and behaviors to Jesus Christ as a model has almost become chic.  The question is, which Jesus is grasped, or rather, which aspects of the genuine Jesus have become the point of fascination?

Some adopt the social paradigm of Jesus (His world view).  The perspectives of Jesus in the first century are considered as counter-cultural today as then.  His insistence on justice for those marginalized and His emphasis on peace in the face of conflict have become attractive to some.

It never hurts to appeal to a figure like Jesus for a precedent on world view.  If a small percentage of Christians became devoted to Jesus' war on injustice the effects would be staggering.  But this stance is not popular because the only thing peaceful about it is the outcome.  Along the road to justice and peace a lot of blood will be shed by the peacemakers.  And that is a sacrifice few of us are truly willing to offer.

Some march according to the lifestyle of Jesus (His behaviors).  Imitating a model of sacrifice, generosity, purity and righteous anger serves as a great rallying point.  We could do worse in a culture so self-obsessive and self-destructive.

This, too, is an unpopular choice, for throwing our materialism, comfort and self-centered schedules on the altar is too radical.  It would kill most of us.  Which is, of course, the point.  The rebel within us must be put to death and most of us are too squeamish for that.

Others embrace the God-ness of Jesus (His deity), worshipping Him and appealing to Him for blessing and guidance.  His wisdom and power reach into my weak and misguided life to provide hope.  His immanence is not considered as much an asset as is His transcendence.  Because He is NOT like us, He can reach down into our miserable existence and lift us, change us, conquer for us.

The great thing about Jesus is that we needn't necessarily pick and choose.  The early church developed a symbol which served as a cryptic reminder of their faith in times and places in which being a Jesus follower could be hazardous to your health.

Sort of like a gang sign flashed to quickly mark allegiance, the fish was reminiscent of the calling of simple fishermen in Galilee to surrender their literal nets and join a movement to catch people by the grace of God.  But for the Greek a fish is an ICqUS (ichthus).  The letters in their word for "fish" were anagrammatic for Jesus' identity.  He is Jesus (Ihsou"), Christ (Cristo"), God's (qeo") Son (Uio"), Savior (Sothr).  He is ALL these things, not just one.  And although even these facets do not completely convey His essence, they are a powerful reminder of His most prominent attributes.

It is tempting as we develop spiritual and philosophical roots to discover that one BIG IDEA which serves as a magnetic pole for our world view, purpose, behaviors, and attitudes.  Indeed, in Christ, we have that pole, but Christ Himself cannot possibly become defined in one idea.  Is He prophet?  Yes.  Is He miracle-worker?  Yes.  Is He teacher?  Yes.  Is He deliverer from injustice?  Yes.  Is He Creator, Life-Giver, Almighty God?  Yes, yes, yes.  His capacity is limitless.  John alluded to that.

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John 21:25

It almost seems criminal that such a limitless One should be encased in a human body for thirty-three years and limited to a few hundred square miles of terrain, doesn't it?  But within those shackles He has managed to touch every life, every place, in all time, in every way.

The aspect of Jesus Christ that must be grasped above all others, however, is His authority.  Will He be Lord?

In John's Revelation Christ is depicted as a montage, but always as Lord.  Slain Lamb, yes; but alive and at the center of the worship of elders and living creatures.  Son of Man robed in white, certainly; but with eyes of blazing fire, and a voice of rushing waters and sharp, double-edged sword.  The blood-stained Rider of a white horse, indeed; but leading the armies of heaven, wearing numerous crowns, and bearing the name "King of kings and Lord of lords."

By the time John had recorded his visions, Paul had penned these words 40 years previous.

God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

Above all, He is above all.