The Trouble with Jesus
by Constance Hastings
The Trouble with Jesus: Be forewarned.
Something about him and his movement could be dangerous.
Well, that’s a different take. So you’re being up front about what’s behind all of this? Uh huh, so where you going with this? Now I’m just as leery about you as I’ve ever been about him. Though usually your kind is either pie-in-the-sky or predicting the end of the world. Why should I be careful approaching this dude?
How to Begin a Movement
Look at what happened to those who joined up with him. The record states, “He found Phillip.” Evidently, he knew something about this guy previously, where he was from, how he was friends with two others, Andrew and Peter, who had just joined up. All that’s said is, “Come, be my disciple.” That’s it. No consultation, laying out his mission and marketing plan. Just get on board, follow what I do, be part of my inner circle. And just like that, Phil was in. Who in their right mind does that kind of thing?
What’s more, Phillip runs off to tell a buddy about him. Oh yeah, Phillip is sold on him. A little confused though if it really matters. He tells his friend Nathanael that they (Andrew, Peter, maybe one more) have found the person that the ancient writings said would come. Not entirely accurate, but when something gets dropped in your path, you like to think you’re the one who discovered it.
Nate is very skeptical. Know anybody like that? He’s smart enough to ask good questions and also obvious ones that his friends seem to have neglected when they apparently lost their minds over this Jesus. When hearing where Jesus is from, he just about snorts, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” To be generous, let’s just say Nate has prior knowledge about this real estate and it’s not positive. Suffice it to say Nazareth was not Ivy League class.
Phillip knows what he means but insists. “Come and see.” Again, he doesn’t explain, give a speech, cajole or persuade. Why bother? If Nathanael already had his radar raised over Nazareth, further details would meet with the same cynicism. All Phillip wants is for his friend to just meet him. From there, it’s up to Jesus.
Jesus delivers, and here’s the dangerous part. Upon seeing Nathanael approaching, Jesus declares, “Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel.” Jesus went right to the core of his character. You always knew where you stood with Nathanael and what he was thinking. That’s what was behind the Nazareth remark. Still, this wasn’t a criticism. Rather, Jesus affirmed this man and the brutal honesty he sought in life and others. The insight was enough. Nathanael froze in his tracks.
“How do you know about me?” No deflecting, laughing off the comment, or a show of false humility. In a matter of seconds, Jesus had met him in the center of his self-esteem and values. A connection was made that took him out of his heart of suspicion and negativity to knowing he was recognized for the best possible part of himself. Jesus wanted this kind of guy in the tribe he was gathering.
The danger in all of this is how Jesus grabs a person to himself. “Come and see.” Not that a person is looking for anything better. History is full of charismatic leaders who have attracted throngs to their cause. We know that’s not always a good thing. The dangerous part here is how these leaders, Jesus among them, could get people to follow and support them in ways that ordinarily they never would have. And the way that is done is by plugging into a felt need they carry and want answered, affirmed, fulfilled.
You’re going somewhere I’d never have thought. Are you lumping your Jesus with the infamous, say someone like Hitler who knew how to manipulate the populace, gain control over the vulnerable, commit atrocities, and in the end bring ruin upon millions of lives? This doesn’t sound like most of your narrative.
It isn’t. Again, note the difference. Yes, Jesus’ followers made reversals in their lives that clearly didn’t make good sense. That happens today as much as it did then. You can consider that dangerous in some ways. But in doing so, in Jesus’ ultimate invitation, Come and See, there is a major difference. It’s an invitation not to a power play that elevates one above another but rather lifts each one to a better version of what they are meant to be.
Nathanael grasped that. Jesus told him, “I could see you under the fig tree…” Our dear Nate had been searching for a truth and cause beyond himself, and he had gathered in a place where the ancient writings had been wrestling with others in the community. (Consider it a chat room for the first century.) With realization that having now met Jesus, Nathanael was ready to do his part and watch, that is, see where Jesus would take him.
Yes, it’s a fast jump. Nathanael declares Jesus to be Rabbi/Teacher, Son of God, King of Israel. He’s on board. Jesus addresses him, “Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” It’s a personal comment, directly said to Nate.
Yet a greater vision is also given. Whereas the previous comment was made in the singular as a personal promise, a greater one follows.
Using now the plural form of the pronoun “you” as expressed in the Greek language, Jesus extends what will be seen, known, and perceived by any who Come and See:
“The truth is, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God
going up and down upon the Son of Man.”
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