An un-resurrected Jesus at Easter, part 1
Before the stories of Jesus’ resurrection from death began circulating—well, long before Jesus went to Jerusalem for the last time—there was “just Jesus.” Artists hadn’t begun portraying him with an ever-present halo. Some, not all or probably most, titled him God’s anointed one (christos, Christ), but most who knew him or of him were vastly more concerned with what he taught and did than with who he was.
More than a few scholars of note and plenty more skeptics have wondered how much of the historical Jesus can be seen in the heavy fog of all the efforts to divinize and messianize him. Some conclude little or nothing; others, a bit; and still others register shock at how much authentic Jesus managed to survive despite followers in his time and in every century since putting words in his mouth and/or superimposing predetermined identities on him.
Without a doubt, preoccupation with those resurrection has done the most to mask the real Jesus. What I’m saying today is that despite the well intended efforts by those I’ve described there is an amazing repository remaining. And the best way for us to honor Jesus on Easter (and the rest of the time) is to read his teachings in an unredacted state.
More to come.
