What if humans were to write the story of the arrival of a god? Particularly in ancient times before the influence of Jesus Christ and his followers. How would we write the story? History and literature through the ages, including our current day movies and books, give us some insights into this and illuminate a critical element of what Christianity is really supposed to be about.
How about something big and splashy … like a triumphal entry accompanied by a huge host of slaves or commanding soldiers. It makes me think about the scene from the 1963 movie when Cleopatra enters Rome. Because really, really important people must demonstrate their power and receive the worship of the crowd. They command respect and if they don’t get it then they’ll take vengeance on any person audacious enough to not bend a knee.
How about a display of awesome cosmic power … such as destroying a city, destroying an army, hurling lightning bolts, or bringing a rain of fire from the heavens? Like that scene from Star Wars when Darth Vader magically suspends a man and chokes him. Something to immediately prove not only that he or she is a god, but to quickly communicate supremacy so that resistance if futile.
What would we expect this god to do? We expect gods to rule. Egypt, Rome (under the Imperial Cults), and other ancient cultures often considered their kings to be divine… gods themselves. Various Jewish sects established a messianic tradition, with the common expectation that the messiah would liberate them from Roman rule. What about gods that don’t rule? Well, they’re still worshiped and served by a dutiful following, and at a minimum they live a life of luxury in places like Mount Olympus.
And their relationship with humans? Of course humans live only to serve the gods. A god is certainly at liberty to meddle with and destroy the life and happiness of humans who don’t worship him or her … and to reward those who do … even though we recognize such rewards and punishments seem rather random and inconsistently applied.
Christ was none of this. In fact, he’s the antithesis of what humans would think of in terms of a “god”. The very nature of this difference reveals one of the central tenets of being a true christian … the servant life.
“Then he came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?’ But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’” Mark 9:33-35
The story of Christ”s life is a compelling case of living those very words.
- Not born to royal parents, but born to parents of meager means, perhaps even indentured servants.
- Not born in a palace, not even a house, but homeless and in a manger.
- Going from town to town, healing the sick without judgment or conditions.
- Teaching God’s word to all who would hear, not just those who are rich, give large contributions … even regardless of whether they believe or should be considered “deserving.”
Even in death, Christ was a servant. The ultimate sacrifice is to give one’s life for someone else, especially if it is not your next of kin. How much more so if you give your life for those who don’t deserve to be saved? Yet that is indeed what Christ has done. Christ died for our sins. Undeserving and blameless, he was the lamb lead to the slaughter to bear our iniquities as prophesied in Isaiah 53:4-12. So, in spite of what the prophesies said to expect, the generations of people before and after Christ waited for a messiah with the expectation that he would be man’s concept of a god … not God’s concept. And alas, as prophesied, he would be rejected by most of his own people (Psalm 118:22-23). Truly the prophet Isaiah records for us:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8
Christ did indeed do things to prove he was the son of God. Awesome displays of cosmic power? Yes, but none of it destructive or self-enriching. Ever the servant … he healed people. He arose from the dead … only a “god” could do that. Clearly the human perspective of greatness is in stark contrast to God’s. He expects us to put on the cross of servitude. It is indeed a difficult cross to bear. Certainly I am a worst offender. It is so difficult to put the needs of others, including the needs of God, above our own needs, wants, and fears. We do things when it is in our own interests and usually with the expectation that a favor will be repaid for a later favor. How often are we the good samaritan who does something for a total stranger with no expectation of reward? Instead of writing checks that can be tax deductions, how often do we invest our personal interest and time in someone else who is in need?
