Reality Check

A gold necklace, a painting, a magnet, a statue, a print on a shirt or, even an action figure.   I can buy him in jewelry shops, lawn shops, art stores, and even novelty shops.  He’ll look good hanging up in my hall, or maybe around my neck, or if I’m feeling bold today, on my t-shirt, loud and clear for everyone to see.  It’ll show I believe in Jesus Christ as my saviour, and people will realize I’m a pretty good person.

These are the things we think of when we think of Crucified Jesus today.  A man, who, in some instances, has blood on his head, side, hands and feed. He looks pretty ‘at peace’, pretty calm, sometimes he even has a halo.  his face, and his abs are pretty well defined.  He’s a good looking guy and he just looks…. nice, like everyone would like him.   When we look at the crucifix, we view it as something that happened is over with, and now, it’s just a novelty item.

In church, on blogs, in person, we talk about the Living Christ.  Walking around, telling stories (Some I still don’t get) and healing folk.  Rarely do we, in my experience, talk about the beaten, ugly, bloody image that is Jesus Christ.  A punched, slapped, spit on, laughed at, beaten, cut deep, bloody beyond recognition, eyes swollen shut, butt-naked, smelling of blood, spit and sweat, probably missing some teeth, nailed to a cross with NAILS to die for MY sins, begging someone to just wet his lip, inviting two criminals to walk with Him for eternity, IT IS DONE, Jesus. The reality is harsh.  Honestly, just thinking about that makes me break down a bit.  Taking the ‘concept’ we know, Christ dying for our sins, and making it reality.  Putting it into an actual event, that took place, just 2000 years ago.

Often times, it’s easy for me to talk about the Jesus that said the nice things, and invited us to FOLLOW Him.  That sounds great.  Say nice things (When I’m happy), pray (when I have time), feed the poor (if it’s not too cold), take care of orphans and widows (if it doesn’t interfare with my living situation), show mercy(unless they’re killers, or molestors).  See. Up to that point, following Jesus is easy. Relatively.  Not too far fetched.  It’s all things that I should do anyway, to keep face.

This is why the walking, talking Jesus is easy for me to think about, and follow.  This is why it’s so easy for me to disregard the crucifix as a nice representation in jewelry, art, or clothing.  Because the reality scares the crap out of me!  It’s not….’seeker friendly’.  “Hey, you should follow Jesus, he died for your sins…… OH! and he called YOU to die too!”

YIKES.

I need to focus on this.  I need to really think about the reality of pain, anguish, and hatred Christ felt.  Maybe that will put some things in perspective.  Should we all weep…. and rejoice… when we see a crucifix?  When we see it… I mean… REALLY see it… shouldn’t it be such a powerful representation of Christ and what has happened for us, that we should all immediately be overcome with joy, and sorrow at the same time?  Has the living, dying, and living again Christ become a novelty in our lives?

I need a reality check.