Jesus the Individualist

Following the recent restart of my JESUS series with "Jesus the King" and "Jesus the Single Man", the next topic I'm relating to Jesus is an interesting one. Its the idea that Jesus was an individualist, and specifically that he came for individuals. This idea comes out of my Calvinist convictions, and my simple evangelicalism, and is abhorrent to some, radical to others, but hopefully biblical. For whilst Jesus undoubtedly came 'for the world'; that is, he died so that anyone could be saved, I believe he also came for individuals. For me, for you, for anyone that would turn to him. In that sense, I believe that Jesus was an individualist.

Because individual people matter to Jesus. The narrative scenes of the Gospels are full of examples of Jesus calling and equipping individuals. The Samaritan woman - who Jesus knew specifically and released into an amazing ministry. Zaccheus the tax collector, who Jesus saw despite the crowds, and loved. Peter, 'the rock-man', who Jesus commissioned to start the Church, and on whose faith (a very specific faith in Jesus) the Church rests. These, and others in the Gospel narratives (and beyond, like Paul, to whom Jesus specifically appeared to sovereignly save and commission) demonstrate that Jesus is in the business of dealing with individuals.

Thats not to say the Gospel is not a pronouncement of Good News for all men and the whole of creation. But that it starts in a human heart. With individuals.

Because at the heart of the story about Jesus, at the heart of the discussion over who he is, and was, and how he fit into history, is a simple fact. That Jesus was an individual. One man. Different to everyone else. Human, yet divine. The mystery of the incarnation. God did not send an army to save the world. From sin. From injustice. From the wiles of the Devil. God did not send an army to save the world.

God sent an individual.

This Christmas, amongst the pagan origins and the consumerist contemporary trappings, I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. This year I'll be celebrating with my in-laws. Two years ago I hadn't met them - now they are firm friends. That changed because of an individual - my wonderful wife Amy. That shift, that individual that changed my relationship to others, is a tiny picture of how great - and yet individual - the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. Getting to know him will change your (+the) world. He'll change the way you view God.

Jesus was an individual. He came for individuals. He came to earth for you. Would you consider his claims, consider who he was, even this Christmas?