Jesus Christ! Today, these words are commonly used as swear words by people to vent their anger or frustration. Isn’t it remarkable that the name of the man who founded the world’s largest religion should be most familiar as a term of abuse? You don’t see the same happening with names like Muhammad or Buddha do you?

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Modern people in the West are embarrassed about Jesus. It’s not fashionable to talk about Him. To mention His name at a party is a pretty sure fire way to stop the conversation. It seems that there is something within people that is deeply hostile to Jesus. 

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Now had Jesus been a bad man, or vindictive, or a mass murderer, then such reactions could be easy to understand.

But He was nothing of the kind. He was the most dynamic, attractive and genuinely good human being who ever lived.

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An anonymous writer has captured the heart of the matter brilliantly in a little piece called ‘One Solitary Life’…

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‘He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where He worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was thirty. 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 house. He did not go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. 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 clothing, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today He remains the central figure of the human race, and the leader of mankind’s progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this planet so much as that one solitary life.’

 

The character of Jesus is immensely attractive. It embodies all that we ourselves would, in our best moments, like to be. The things He taught are without doubt the greatest that have ever been offered to mankind. His death is certainly the most famous in the history of the world. And His claims are so startling that they stop us in our tracks and challenge us to make up our minds about this most remarkable person. Was He just a great teacher? Or was He much more? We invite you to take a closer look and to examine the Person of Jesus with an open mind.

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If you'd like to find out more and ask some questions, join us on our next Alpha course!  Alternatively, if you feel you are ready to invite Jesus into your life right now and begin this journey of discovery with Him, then please use this prayer to help you do this… and then let us know so we can help you in taking the next steps.

 

‘Lord Jesus Christ, I know I have sinned in my thoughts, words and actions. There are so many good things I have not done. There are many sinful things I have done. I am sorry for my sins and turn from everything I know to be wrong. You gave Your life upon the cross for me. Today I give my life back to You. Come in as my Saviour to cleanse me. Come in as my Lord to lead and guide me. And I will serve you all the remaining days of my life in obedience to You. Amen.’