Yancey's The Jesus example essay topic

The Jesus I Never Knew Yancey starts out with the image of Jesus. When he was young he had envisioned Jesus to have angelic features such as, young, handsome, and a compassionate face. It wasn't until he entered into a Christian college, that he was introduced to the real image of Jesus. I had an immediate connection with Yancey. I too had an image of Christ in my head, which consisted of Hollywood portrayals and those in classical paintings. It wasn't till I engaged myself at a Christian college, that I have now received a new and more accurate picture of Christ.

His book, The Jesus I Never Knew, questions the reader with the thought, "How many Christians today are in the same position, not fully understanding Christ's mission and purpose?" Yancey divides the novel into three main sections: "Who He Was", Why He Came", and "What He Left Behind". The section that I connected with was "Why He Came". I enjoyed reading this section, because he points out key thoughts on Jesus' life that we take for granted. I like how it explains the reason for His arrival on earth through the Beatitudes and His Resurrection. The chapter on the Beatitudes, Yancey covers a great deal of information that shows how Jesus cares for the less fortunate and humble.

Yancey points out that the Beatitudes describe the present and future, a fact that I never realized. He tells of how they are a contrast on how we can succeed in the kingdom of Heaven verses the kingdom of this world. The world as we know it is materialistic or as Yancey states, (using a Darwinian quote, which I thought was clever), "survival of the fittest" (Yancey 114). Unfortunately, this fact is so true of our society today, but Yancey goes on to show how Jesus makes an extra effort to reach out to he poor. He gives a list, which he got from another writer, on the advantages of being poor. This list really made an impact on me.

It showed me how I need to be more open to what God has to say, and not so involved with the materialistic and secular views of today. I need to focus on what God has planned for me, and not make my focus to be what other people think of me. "Strength, good looks, connections, and the competitive instinct may bring a person success in a society like ours, but those very qualities may block entrance to the kingdom of heaven" (Yancey 114). In Jesus' Resurrection, Yancey gives some personal life experience to connect with the reader, and explain the significance of Easter Sunday.

He tells the story of how his cat died on Easter Sunday when he was young. It was on this day that Yancey learned what he called "the ugly world", irreversible. Then later on in his life he ends up loosing three friends in one year. All three died in different situations, but it was a difficult time for Yancey.

He uses the deaths of his friends as another event that is irreversible. He compares the loss of his cat and friends to the feeling of loss the disciples had when Jesus died. The disciples grieved for Jesus' death just as Yancey did for his cat and friends, but after three days Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus made the irreversible reverse! Jesus conquered death itself.

"Easter hits a new note of hope and faith that what God did once in a graveyard in Jerusalem, he can and will repeat on grand scale" (Yancey 211). I understand what Yancey is trying to convey to the reader. I too have lost many family and friends. Two were close friends of my age, who tragically lost their lives. I still to this day find myself asking why? Of course, I wanted to reverse those events of which are irreversible.

Death is never an easy situation to deal with emotionally, but when you look at what Jesus sacrificed to save us from our sin, we should feel the assurance that he was there and will always be here for us. I like how Yancey points out the fact that Jesus reversed the irreversible and through His resurrection we have hope and faith. "Against all odds, the irreversible will be reversed" (Yancey 211). Through some examples in the Beatitudes and Jesus' Resurrection, Phillip Yancey's The Jesus I Never Knew, the reasons as to "Why He Came", are made clear to the reader. I liked how Yancey drew attention to Jesus's al vation for the poor, written in the Beatitudes. "In their state of neediness, dependence, and dissatisfaction with life, they may welcome God's free gift of love" (Yancey 115).

We should all be more open minded towards the kingdom of Heaven instead of the kingdom of this world. Then in Jesus' resurrection, I like how Yancey identifies how Jesus' has reversed the irreversible. His resurrection gave Easter it's meaning and it's hope. Yancey explains well "Why Jesus Came", but from my perspective, I know that Jesus came to earth to die on the cross for our sins that we may have life through Him. I only wish that I had read this book sooner!