For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. [19] They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Colossians 2:9-10,19 NIV
When we lose our connection to Jesus, we lose our connection to God (John 14:6).
When we lose our connection to Jesus, we are no longer inspired by him. This absence of inspiration makes it difficult, if not impossible, for us to see and know God, because it is in Jesus that “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” This means that, though invisible, God becomes visible and relatable in Jesus.
Therefore, how we think, talk, and feel about Jesus will determine the depth, quality, and inspiration of our relationship with God. How do you think about Jesus?
Over the next 12 days we are going to take a journey into the mind, heart, life, and character of Jesus. By no means is this comprehensive, but “The 12 Days of Jesus” are meant to deconstruct our traditional views of him – to put us on a path toward the freedom to see Jesus not as tradition teaches he should be, but as scripture says he really is.
What if Jesus is Jason Bourne? That is how I see him. There are other characters and storylines filled with the necessary adventure and courage to explain Jesus, but for me it is Jason Bourne. I like the comforting characters of cinema, those comedic actors who make me laugh and dramatists who make me cry.
When I think of Jesus, the word “hero” comes to mind. Jesus to the rescue! After all, the meaning of his name is derived from the Hebrew name Hoshea (Jeshua or Joshua), which means salvation. Jesus came to save. Jesus to the rescue. Jesus as Jason Bourne.
Regardless of how you choose to visualize Jesus, know this, if your vision of Jesus is powerless, lifeless, and boring, then you have the wrong book and the wrong guy.
The scriptures tell the story of a Jesus who conquers the darkness with his courage and compassion; who is confident, captivating, colorful, and a little cagey; who was opposed by some who saw him as controversial, yet he continued undaunted to convince and comfort multitudes; who communicated his message calmly to bring clarity in a world filled with people about whom he felt great concern, ultimately giving his life so they could have life.
Filled with the dynamic power of God, he not only saved the world, but he changed it as well. This is Jesus in 12 days!
Browse series
- Feature: The 12 Days of Jesus
- Day 1: Conqueror of Darkness
- Day 2: Courage in the Temple
- Day 3: Compassion for the Disabled
- Day 4: Confidence Turns the Tide
- Day 5: Captivating the Crowds
- Day 6: Cagey and Colorful in Conflict
- Day 7: Controversial to the Conventional
- Day 8: Convincing the Confused
- Day 9: Comforting the Cautious
- Day 10: Clarity for the Complicated
- Day 11: Calm for the Chronically Contentious
- Day 12: Concerned about the Cynical
As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.
As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.