Being Jesus

Because of my beard (and a wee bit of drama experience) I've played the role of Jesus a lot. In the past I've played Jesus in passion plays. But my more recent roles playing Jesus have been at the Bible Times Marketplace at the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene. The picture here is of me playing Jesus this year. And if you would like to see more you can follow this link to the main video from this year's Marketplace. The Marketplace is when we turn the church into a 1st Century town. The children dress in "bible times" costumes and go around to various booths, like carpentry, scribe, pottery, and metal working shops. They shop for food with shekels and live in little Jewish families for the day learning the customs of the time. After the main video you can click on the Walkthrough Video to get a tour of the Marketplace.

I have a few rules when I play Jesus:

Rule #1: Don't wear a white robe with a blue or red sash.

I always go for earth tones, greens and browns. Basically, avoid a holy look. Look more like a peasant.

Rule #2: Don't act like you're high.

Too many people play Jesus as if he is smoking something. He's spacy, overly mellow, and not really connected with the immediate going's on. I think people do this to convey that fact that Jesus is somehow "not of this world" and in constant communion with the "spiritual realm." I go the opposite direction. I play a Jesus rooted in the moment. I play Jesus as very aware, sharp, and energetic.

Rule #3: Don't be overly sweet, sentitmental, gentle, or maudlin.

You don't want your Jesus to be sticky sweet. Avoid the cotton candy Jesus.

Rule #4: Talk normally.

To convey emotion, too many people try to do it with their voice, mostly by making it too airy or whispery. Or, they may try to make their voice bigger. Either way you don't sound normal or natural.

Rule #5: Act like yourself.

Rule #5 is my big secret. The key to playing Jesus isn't to be different. The key is this: Be yourself.

The point is this. You are never closer to being Christ-like than when you are at your best. Think of yourself when you are feeling compassionate or generous or merciful and ACT LIKE THAT. Being the Imago Christi isn't hard. It's just being you.

I once told a adult Sunday School class the following: When you are at your best, not even Jesus could do it better. They looked startled. Why? Because we tend to think Jesus is bringing to the human encounter some special Jesus-Ingredient that we, mere mortals, don't have. But most of the things we are called to do are mundane and straightforward. Do them, do them well, and not even Jesus could perform them better. You don't need to be the Incarnate God to give a thirsty person a cup of cold water. Just give them a cup of cold water. It's not magical. If someone needs a kind word, then speak a kind word. It's not rocket science. If someone needs forgiveness then say "I forgive you." It's not superhuman.

Being Jesus, in my estimation, is easy. So I don't think we do people favors by making being the Imago Christi something only super-spiritual saints are capable of. Sometimes being Jesus is just listening over coffee. The point is, for large parts of the day you ARE being like Jesus. We need to recognize and own those moments so that we can leverage them into the more difficult areas of spiritual formation.

True, there are aspects of being Jesus that are very, very hard. Loving enemies comes to mind. So I am simplifying here. But my point is simply this. If you want to be like Jesus don't try to be different.

Be yourself.