Elroy ByamJan 12, 2016, 10:03 PM
What would Jesus look like if he were here today?
I’ve always wondered about this question. In my opinion, he’d be a 5’10” bearded homeless man in his early 30s. Up top, he’d don a plain white T-shirt; below he’d have khaki shorts a few shades darker than his “yeast-from-the-mid-east” complexion. He’d carry a 70L size backpack – you know; the one artistic nomads wear when aiming to “see the world”? Only He’d be doing more than seeing the world.
He’d be changing it.
When Jesus first arrived, He came unlike what many expected. He was no Saul, no “head-and-shoulders-above-the-rest” mold. This confused many, because as humans we expect our heroes to stand out and shine (bright star notwithstanding). Jesus took another route. He dialogued with fishermen, tax-collectors, prostitutes, you name it. There was no favoritism. And so it would be today:
The guy that always gets picked last at basketball open rec games? Jesus wants him first.
The girl whose stutter keeps her out of most social circles? Jesus can’t wait to talk with her.
The woman who’s gossiped about in church due to marital issues? Jesus looks to heal her heart and her home.
Believe it or not, Jesus is in all of them. And today he’s counting on us to be accountable for those who count – which is everyone.
Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked and ignored, that was me – you did it to me.’ – Matt 25:40 MSG
So what would Jesus look like if he were here today?
The answer might be in the eyes of the nearest homeless man.