Jesus for President

     Let’s imagine  that there’s a 3^rd candidate in this 2012 presidential election - a man relatively unknown til about 3 yrs ago.  His name is Jesus and there’s a groundswell of support from bluecollar workers –union laborers –farmers & their families throughout the country.  The youth in particular are intrigued with this man who dresses like them in sandals and do rags and dreadlocks and doesn’t travel in limousines.  In fact, he only has a security team of 12. But wherever he goes people flock to him.
     You can read more about him and his election platform in Mark 8: 27-38.  He challenges us to get to know him better as he asks, "Not only do I want to know who the people say I am; but also I want to know who YOU say I am?"  The confounding and paradoxical thing about this candidate is that people seem to love him or hate him.
     I wonder if this tension arises from his platform:  ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.' (Mark 8: 34b-38)
     Could this man be elected president?  Probably not.  But can he be our Lord - our Savior - our King - our God?  This is the real challenge of following him.  Eugene Peterson (The Message) says we have to let Christ have the driver's seat and that we have to forget ourselves.  Maybe our vote and our confession is that we commit to acting FOR others on behalf of the gospel - the good news that Jesus is NOT president - but a whole lot more.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley