Straight from my Theo Final....

4. We have seen this semester how every presentation of Jesus’ story, whether in a written gospel, film, drama, or piece of art, casts Jesus in a recognizable, social role. E.g., Matthew’s Jesus is a teacher or rabbi, Luke’s Jesus is a “benefactor,” Godspell’s Jesus is a clown, and Jesus Christ Superstar’s Jesus is—surprise, surprise!—a pop-culture superstar. If you were to fashion a literary, cinematic, or stage presentation of Jesus’ life for a group of Christians in 2008, what role or persona would you give to Jesus? Why would that be an effective choice for the audience you have in mind? And how would your choice of a role for Jesus affect the way you presented one or two critical scenes in your presentation?


For the last couple of years I’ve had the blessing of working with junior high students. I love these kids, and it breaks my heart to see what they’re going through. The upcoming generation is lonely, unloved and forgotten about. In a time when information is available at the click of a mouse, parents seem to know little about their own children, and perhaps care even less. I’ve spent countless hours listening to middle school girls talk about how much they just want their parents to notice them, and how they are willing to do anything and everything imaginable to make that happen. They deserve more than that. They deserve to know that they are loved, cared for and a part of something great. They aren’t the church of tomorrow, they’re the church of today, and some of the most remarkable, genuine Christians I’ve ever met.
While it may make the most sense to have a contemporary Jesus be the lead in the High School Musical cast, or one of the Jonas Brothers, when it comes down to what matters, it comes down to love. The Jesus that I want these kids to meet is one of compassion, unrequited love and empowerment. I want these kids to know that they are not only loved, but loved by the savior of the world with a love so strong they won’t ever be able to fully understand it. When all they feel is alone, I want them to have a place to turn where they feel like they matter, and are wanted.
This Jesus isn’t found at the movies or on the television set, but in the classroom, on the soccer field, and at home. It’s the teacher, the coach or the babysitter that makes each student feel like they have somewhere to belong, somewhere to go and something worth living for. It’s the person who is always there, speaking truth and love into the lives of those who feel lost. It’s the person that knows that even though it may make their own lives a little more hectic, showing up to that basketball game to cheer that student on will make a world of difference in her heart.
As I’ve said, I don’t follow Jesus because he’s a superstar- I follow him because he was there when no one else was. He’s the reason that Jen listened to me ask why when my parents got divorced in 4th grade, and cry my heart out in 8th grade when I was deserted by all of my friends. He’s the reason I spend hours at Starbucks listening to Kelsey lament about high school and her latest boy problems, and he’s the reason Kelsey devotes extra time each week to make sure that a group of seventh grade girls know that they are loved.
Because when life gets tough and the world seems to be collapsing around them, they won’t turn to Hannah Montana or movies, but to the people that have been there every step of the way, walking them through middle school, and into the scary world of high school.