Cartoon World III

Be sure to read part one of this ‘Cartoon World’ series: Inherent Complexity and its Implications, as well as part two: Ignorance and Mastery, before continuing here.

We have previously established that things are, in general, complex.

Even that which appears simple, such as a table, is not actually simple.

...All this leaves me wondering about the gospel message of Jesus.

Is the gospel simple or complex?

The question itself is far from novel.

The common answers given in response to this question are also far from novel. And, I might add, those answers are somewhat unsatisfactory.

They usually include a paraphrasing of John 3:15-16:

…The Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is then followed up by a “Yes, the gospel is simple: Through faith in Jesus, we are saved by grace.”

…and to be honest, that answer almost has me convinced that it is indeed simple.

But is it truly simple, or does it just appear to be so?

Let’s dig a little deeper:

John 3:15-16 is about belief in Jesus.

Jesus is far from being a simple personality.

His teachings were complex. They were often misunderstood by the crowd and even by His own students – those who knew him best.

His actions confused people.

He spoke in parables, the meaning of which are still debated and discussed today.

He frequently referenced and quoted complex and culturally weighted passages from the Old Testament.

He was the Messiah the Torah had promised, who arrived in a manner and with a character that no one expected.

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Papyrus 66 - the oldest, well-preserved copy of the eyewitness testimony of John (aka the Gospel of John).

Now, if someone wanted to believe in Jesus, as stated in John 3:15-16, would he or she not want, even need to know who Jesus is?

Is knowing someone not a crucial step to placing faith in them?

This begs the following question:

What makes up who a person is?

…a preliminary definition will suffice: A person is the combination of his ancestry along with his words, his actions, and his thoughts, which are all a reflection of his character and heart.

If Jesus’ identity is to be defined by this criterion as well, then it involves divine ancestry, complex teachings, miraculous actions, and thoughts that challenge human understanding.

Jesus is not simple. This is evident throughout all writings about Him.

Alright, so if the Man is not simple … are His teachings perhaps simple?

Again, I am inclined to say ‘no.’

After all, He taught publicly for three years.

He taught with words and actions.

The Pharisees hated Him, the crowds flocked around Him, His students were confused by Him.

After His resurrection, He spent forty days revealing the secrets of the Kingdom to His students.

Simple teachings do not take three years to convey.

Simple lessons do not confuse people.

And simple secrets do not take forty days to share.

Even Jesus’ closest students struggled with much of what He said. They struggled to understand it, but also to accept it.

None of these facts points toward simplicity.

So, if the Man is not simple, and if His teachings are not simple … is perhaps the reason He came to earth simple?

Once again, I am strongly inclined to say ‘no.’

He came to teach, but not only to teach.

He came to prove His divinity, but not only to prove it.

He came to die, but not only to die.

He fulfilled ancient prophecies.

He completed God’s plan.

He brought heaven to earth.

He fought the forces of darkness.

Jesus’ purpose on earth can neither be reduced to only one of these reasons, nor is this an exhaustive list of all of the things He came to complete.

And because of the nature of Jesus’ character, His teachings, and His purpose on earth being not simple but complex, the writings recording these events continue to challenge us. They continue to be the subjects of questions and research, leading to new discoveries and insights.

The evidence seems to point toward the gospel not being simple.

If this conclusion is accurate, what are its implications?

Does this mean that only scholars can understand the gospel?

Does this mean only religious leaders and preachers can understand Jesus’ teachings?

Does this mean that little me, Coren McGirr, cannot ever know Jesus because He is too complex a personality for me to grasp?

Absolutely not!

Quite the opposite, in fact.

It means anyone can get to know Jesus … the complex Jesus, the real Jesus who stunned crowds, silenced Pharisees, and left His students speechless.

It means no one must settle for the simple cartoon version of Jesus that is all too often presented to the world and even to the Christian community.

It means anyone can come to know the real, complex gospel that took years to teach and live out, rather than memorizing simple formulas and creeds.

Above all, it means that Jesus’ final command to His students is one of utmost gravity:

Make students! (Matthew 28:19)

His original students followed this command.

They travelled; they taught; and they wrote testimonies, letters, records of Jesus’ life, and manuals to help others follow Him.

They were His students, and they made new students.

Not much is needed to be a student ... a desk and some eagerness is all it takes to get started.

Wax tablet - could it be that Jesus' students used these to take notes as He taught?

We who recognize Christ's divinity must become students.

We must allow the writings of the eyewitnesses of Christ to make us students of Jesus.

And as students, we must always be learning, asking, applying, reevaluating, and relearning.

As students, we must never become set in our ways; instead, we must be prepared to grow and change.

As students, we must never allow ourselves to become bound by dogma or tradition; instead, we must value truth above all else.

BUT…

If we tell ourselves that the gospel is simple;

If we tell ourselves that we basically understand the gospel in its entirety already;

If we tell ourselves that others will do the learning for us;

… we are not students.

We are, instead, ignorant, blind to the life-altering message of Christ.

We are, instead, settling for a simple, cartoon Jesus with a cartoon gospel.

The gospel is complex.

It is challenging.

We must become students.

And everyone can become a student.

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'Page one of hundreds' - the questions never end