The Sidney Sun-Telegraph - Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper

Have you ever tried to define Jesus?

I mean, how would you tell someone else who Jesus is? Don’t be too upset if you can’t quite nail it down about who and what Jesus is to you. From the very beginning, most people couldn’t. And even today, there are those who still can’t define Him.

There are those of us who spend a lot of time thinkin’ about Him and talkin’ about Him, and we still find it difficult – because – let’s face it – sometimes Jesus is just too big to get a hold of!  He’s often ambiguous and unclear and confusing, and in all reality, He’s not physically present and visible to us! So, how do we define that which we can’t see and touch? There are those who stood face to face with Jesus who rarely got it right, but one day, finally, Peter got it figured out! Jesus had asked them, “Who do you say I am?” And Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”

More often than not, however, Scripture tells us of people who didn’t understand Him, who were afraid of Him, who hated Him and who thought He was crazy. For most of us, the problem with Jesus isn’t that we’ve listened to Jesus and found Him hard understand; the problem is that we’ve listened to Jesus and found Him hard to follow.

Comedian, Yakov Smirnov, when he first came to America from Russia, was not prepared for the incredible variety he found in stores. He once said, “On a shopping trip I saw powdered milk.  You add water and you get milk! I saw powdered orange juice. You add water and you get orange juice!  And then I saw baby powder, and I thought, ‘What a country!’”

You know, that’s part of the problem with a lot of Christians today. They come to church expecting instant Jesus – instant change – you know, just add a little water at baptism and there you go – instant Christian! Some folks think if you hear a sermon every week or so you’re a Christian. Some folks think if you whisper a quick and slightly embarrassed prayer at meal-time you’re a Christian.

Some folks think that by sitting in your self-assigned pew week after week at a church you’re a Christian. Unfortunately, those things just don’t cut it! Being a follower of Jesus takes time – it means going thru all kinds of trials and temptations – it means years of struggling with the question, “Who is Jesus to me…?”

Being a Christian STARTS with being saved, and THEN it’s a process of being trained and trying and working. But along this journey, no matter what comes – good or bad – keep asking yourself this question: “Who is Jesus to me…?” Have child-like faith when you’re lookin’ for that answer. Come to Jesus with confidence and honesty. And at the end of the day, here’s the simple way to figure out who Jesus is: just ask Him…!

Pastor Corey Jenkins

Sidney 1st United Methodist Church