There’s something we need to understand about reality and truth. In our culture today we are being told that reality or truth is anything you believe it to be. But that’s just post-modernist nonsense.

Truth and reality are defined as that which most certainly is. So the question is not, “Who is Jesus to you?” or “Who do you want Jesus to be?” or “Who do you make Him out to be according to your personal convenience?” The real question is, “Who is Jesus in reality?”

When we interact with people outside the community of the Church we hear a number of comments, opinions and criticisms of the Church. We often then fall into the trap of defending the Church as we try desperately to attract people into this shrinking, dying institution. Yet at no point did Jesus ever commission us to ‘go into all the world and make Church members.’ At no point does the Bible tell us that our mission is to build an organization or invite people to events. We are called, commissioned and empowered to do one thing only – to lead people to a person and to make them disciples of that person. That person is Jesus Christ.

Wherever you encounter a growing, vibrant Christian Church in the world today, you will find people who know Who Jesus is and know that leading people to Jesus is their primary calling and purpose. Churches which are shrinking, dying and losing their impact in society are those who are no longer Christ-centred.

I remember many years ago Tony Campolo was speaking at a conference I attended and he said something I have never forgotten. He was commenting about the number of people who are rejecting Jesus and He shocked us all by saying, “And I don’t blame them!” He paused deliberately for a long time until he had everyone’s attention. Then he said,

“I don’t blame people for rejecting the Jesus most Church people are portraying – because that is not the real Jesus!  The real Jesus is the most lovely, attractive, mesmerising person to ever walk this earth and He always draws people to Himself. The trouble is, so many people in the Church have not met that Jesus yet either!  So how could they introduce others to Him?”

So Who is Jesus really? Have you met Him? Do you know Him? Is He the One people see in you and hear through you?  Some food for thought.