Jesus. What a weak sounding name to 99% of the population today!
We have purposely not written, "Jesus Christ the Son of God", which some religious people would prefer in order to make it sound much stronger, and so avoid embarassment. Even after studying the Bible for many years, we may say to a friend, "Jesus said, .... (such and such)", and feel a twinge of awkwardness.
And so, except for swearing and blasphemy, we avoid mentioning the name "Jesus". Jesus was for little children at Sunday School and lady Sunday School teachers.
Isn't this simply the result of conditioning?
You hear the name Napolean, and you think of a great warrior hero, a brilliant military strategist. You do not think of a weakling.
Yet Napolean** was a mass murderer in the same mould as Alexander** the "Great", if we are to believe what our history books tell us. Jesus Christ towers over these men like a skyscraper dwarfs a dog kennel into insignificance.
** This is no slight on their nation or place of birth. What nation's hands are not stained with blood?
Jesus Christ Rejected
Jesus knew what his end was to be, yet he steadfastly dedicated his life to obeying his Father. As he approached the time of his death he sweated blood from the pores of his skin, and they fell in droplets to the ground as he prayed.
How would it feel to have just one metal stake hammered through a wrist or hand? then to have someone pull on it steadily and strongly every few minutes - and this little routine to be repeated over hours? If that were not enough, the same thing was done simultaneously to the other hand. Then he experienced similar treatment to both of his feet. This continued until he died of exhaustion or suffocation.
It actually was enacted on a wooden cross of course. There was no whingeing, screaming or cursing, just the quiet penalty for the evils of mankind. He came to wipe the slate clean.
Even when he came to the cross he was barely recognisable as a human being. Thorns had bitten into his scalp. His face had been beaten to a pulp, and patches of skin and flesh torn from his body by the Roman scourging.
He loved you like no-one has ever loved you, or will love you.
Jesus Christ The Mighty
When it comes your turn to see him, he will have a new name. His eyes bright like flames of fire, his voice like many thundering waterfalls, and his face will be as bright as the sun. Before him Napolean will be reduced to trembling, Alexander the great will fall to the ground.
This Jesus will rule over all the earth.
He would welcome you at his side. Would you not prefer to escape out from the great suffering and earth-shaking calamities to soon befall the world? The man we all despised is the door to the Family of God.
Even if you are negligent regarding your own end, have a thought for your family.
Scripture References
For the Biblical references on the above see Jesus Christ references
Further information - The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Upd.17feb07 - a note on Napoleon and Alexander