Jesus' Greatest Attribute

For some time now, I have been in pursuit of the real, authentic Jesus. The one I read about in the Bible.

I've tried to put my own notions aside and rediscover this incredible man.

I've compiled a list of some of my discoveries as I've tried to read the Bible a new way.

See, when you read an email, book, or newspaper, sometimes you miss the flavor of an incident or conversation. Without all the context, you can easily miss a grin, a playful jab, or a subtle undertone.

I've started listening to really great book by John Eldridge called Beautiful Outlaw. So far, as I listen, his book so captures the Jesus I have discovered myself when I remove the religious haze that so clouds the real Jesus.

Here are some of the characteristics of Jesus that make me love him so much;

Funny,

Fierce,

Playful,

Compassionate,

Understanding,

Unassuming,

Humble,

Imaginative,

Driven,

Intentional,

Cunning,

Patient,

Kind,

Wise,

Huggable,

Approachable,

Non-manipulative,

Creative,

Unintimidated,

Brave,

Powerful,

People Lover,

Passionate,

and most of all...very human.

But my favorite characteristic of Jesus; Knowable.

Jesus came to be one of us so he could know us and we could know him...intimately.

Not a Deity on some far away throne, but God with us.

Emmanuel. In every sense of the word.

Our church culture has put Jesus in a box called religion and has put him on such a high pedestal, no one can reach him.

That's not Jesus.

Jesus was and is totally approachable and knowable.

"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. John 1:1-2

As we approach Christmas this year, embrace the humanity of Jesus. He walked, sweat, was dirty at times, smelly at times, got tired and hungry, shared laughter, pulled pranks, got angry (at the religious), cried, was moved... He felt every emotion as we do.

Yes, he is fully God, but he is also fully us.

RP