Would Jesus Buy This?

Would Jesus buy a bobble head of himself? With the Americanization of Jesus in our culture and paraphanalia that exists because of his popularity would he, if he were here on earth, buy it?

Seems like a silly question and yet I find that many feel that this is a cute representation of the person who claims to be the Son of God. Is this the kind of attention that He wants? Is this the kind of attention that He needs?

Would he himself use it as a fundraising gimmick to raise more money for his mission?

If you would put a Sidney Crosby [or favourite cultural icon of your choice]  bobble head on your dashboard then why wouldn't you put one of Jesus as well or in place of?

Washing the Feet of World Leaders

What do you think of this image depicting Jesus washing the feet of world leaders?

Is this an appropriate depiction given the actual story recorded by John in his gospel? Jesus washed the feet of his disciples during the last supper as a demonstration of the extent of his love for them.

Would he have done the same for Herod's sons who were ruling during this time, or the Roman Emperor Tiberius, or Pilate? Ironically Pilate washed his own hands in the presence of Jesus and his accusers.

Jesus Clearing out the Money Changers

This painting made by Carl Heinrach Bloch - a Danish Artist living in the 19th century - was commissioned by the Frederiksborg Palace. Bloch painted several scenes from the life of Jesus under this commissioning.

In this scene you see Jesus clearing out the money changers in the court of the Gentiles in the temple in Jerusalem. Some view this as Jesus expressing his liberal views that go against the common Jewish beliefs of his day, others see it as evidence of Jesus being anti-establishment.

What do you see? How do you view Jesus in this depiction by Bloch? What is the intent of the gospel writers as they recall this event in the life of Jesus as they witnessed it?

The Politics of Jesus

There is a lot of talk in the US about Jesus and politics, mostly about how politics and religion don't mix, and yet many politicians speak of God and Jesus on a regular basis and use religion to influence people in terms of votes and party lines.

What do you think about Jesus and politics?

Was Jesus political?

What was his political point of view?

Was he a liberal or a conservative?

Was he a democrat or republican?

Did he actually care about politics?

John Coffey

The gentle character of John Coffey, a simple-minded southern African American man who has the power to heal, mirrors the qualities of Jesus in the controversial film "The Green Mile," based on a novel by Stephen King. Known for his horrific themes and dark stories, Stephen King delves into symbols of Christ and the power of healing in a world of evil and pain.

For certain, the evil and pain that is portrayed in the film is graphic yet it mirrors what so many experience in reality. In the middle of sad sordid stories is the figure of John Coffey who, although a mammoth physical presence, bears a gentleness toward others and the power to heal them by taking away sickness and pain. In this scene, Officer Edgecombe [played by Tom Hanks] anguishes over the reality of having to execute the death sentence on John Coffey. Looking for redemption for being forced to carry out the death penalty on an innocent man, John Coffey assures the Officer that he is ready to face his end after a lifetime of dealing with evil in the world.

The scene causes one to wonder what anguish Jesus went through personally. It reminds me of the biblical scene of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. This scene in "The Green Mile" focuses on the tired character of John Coffey who feels that its time to leave this world of pain and so find his own redemption from dealing with evil in the world.

There are powerful images of Jesus in this story that are worth our consideration as we think about the power of the person of Christ and His influence on humanity.

The Passion of Kanye?

Some time ago, Rolling Stone Magazine published this controversial picture of Kanye West on their cover. On the Blog "Clarkboy," the following is posted:

"Covered in blood, Kanye West is shown wearing a crown of thorns on his head in the deliberately provocative picture by photographer David LaChapelle. Amazingly, Kanye claims that his life is similar to Christ's, saying that he has had to fight for recognition and suffer for success. "If I was more complacent and started to let things slide, my life would be easier, but you all wouldn't be as entertained. My misery is your pleasure", he is quoted as saying."

Clarkboy also posts a comment from Baltimore Sun on this photograph:

"Perhaps he meant it as a symbol of personal suffering. Maybe he wanted to present young hip-hop heads with an updated image of the Son of God. Whatever his motives, Kanye West again has accomplished what he set out to do: Get people to talk."

What do you think about Kanye's identification with Jesus? Does his life truly mirror that of Jesus?

Jesus Tape

In Finland some people refer to Duct tape as Jesus tape in that the tape fixes everything and so shares the same quality as Jesus.

As cultural images and euphemisms go, Jesus has been touted as the one who "fixes everything." What are your thoughts on this? What do you think lies behind such a reference and how would you use such a reference to lead to a conversation on who Jesus is and His significance?