Chapter Three – Is Jesus Still Relevant?

In chapter three, we turn to the question of Christ’s relevancy in our modern day world. In the first two chapters we have discussed the turbulent cultural environment we live in today with its self-absorbing philosophies that have caused the world to lose sight of Christ in our everyday lives. Matthew sees this as a result of the conflict between the teachings of Jesus and the philosophy of the world – they are diametrically opposed to each other.

When faced with our natural desire for happiness, the world today turns to anything and everything that is not God. Why does this occur when we know that God wants us to be happy? Matthew writes that a big part of the answer is in how the world defines happiness. The happiness many seek is wrapped in individualism, hedonism, and minimalism. Happiness garnered through this life path is fleeting and empty. Why? Because it doesn't require anything of us - its focus is inward. This is the path that is wide and easy - filled with false hopes and dreams - strewn with unrequited happiness.

Jesus’ ministry was counter to today’s culture - it was outward focused. He gave all of himself to humankind - unconditionally. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead. He called forth his disciples to live a life of discipline and discipleship: “Go therefore and make followers of every nation” (Matthew 28:19). Discipline then is the path that leads to “fullness of life.”

Matthew says that discipline “awakens us from our philosophical stupor and refines every aspect of our being. Discipline frees us to soar – to be everything we have been made to be. It heightens every human experience and increases every human ability.” The life changing teachings of Christ invite us to embrace this life-giving discipline. Yet sadly, many are refusing to embrace this path to true happiness as it requires something from them – to give of themselves.

It is important to note that the discipline Jesus is speaking about is that of love. Love is the core of Jesus’ philosophy. Matthew says that “in order to love you must be free . . . for love is to give yourself freely and without reservation. Yet to give yourself to another person you must first possess yourself. This possession of self is freedom. It is the prerequisite for love, and it attained only through discipline.”

Is Jesus relevant? Most assuredly yes! The life of Jesus Christ is indelibly engraved upon history and neither time nor the latest philosophical craze will diminish its continued significance. You cannot ignore Jesus because he changed things. He is the greatest change agent in all of human history. His teachings are not complex or exclusive, but simple and applicable to everyone, everywhere, throughout all time. He simply asks us to free ourselves by embracing his unconditional love and to in kind be vessels of that love to the world.

A Reflection

I remember the first time I heard the great American Philosopher Mortimer Adler speak; he made philosophy and reading come alive for me. The quote that resonates for me after reading this chapter was his thoughts on discipline: “True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.” Any worldly success I have been blessed to achieve owes much to the application of this phrase in my life.

Question

Is Jesus relevant in your life? What brings true happiness in your life?

In peace,
Dan