Making Sense of a Familiar Figure in Unfamiliar Ways
Let’s be honest: most people think they know who Jesus is. Maybe you grew up hearing his name, saw his picture in stained glass, or learned stories about him in Sunday school. Even if you didn’t, you probably have some impression of what Jesus stands for. He’s often thought of as a distant, gentle figure, maybe holy, maybe magical—someone who floats above real life, more at home in church services or religious debates than at your kitchen table or in your workplace.
But what if our supposed familiarity with Jesus has actually made us less able to see him clearly? What if, by assuming we “get” him, we’ve missed the real person and what he offers for life as it actually is?
Presumed Familiarity: The Blind Spot
It’s easy to think we’ve got Jesus all figured out. For many people, he’s part and parcel of dogmas—things you’re told you have to believe, whether you really do or not. Or he’s the face of laws—rules you’re supposed to follow, whether they make sense for you or not. In both cases, Jesus seems more like a chess piece in a religious game than a living, breathing person. Maybe he’s the pawn, dutiful and meek. Maybe he’s a bishop or knight with a special role. But the game is always about beliefs and duties, not about real-world living.
This way of seeing Jesus has consequences. Over time, presumed familiarity tends to breed unfamiliarity. We think we know, so we stop looking. Unfamiliarity can breed contempt—maybe not outright dislike, but at least indifference or dismissal. “Jesus? Oh, he’s that religious guy. Not really relevant to my world.” Finally, contempt leads to ignorance. People feel sure they know what he’s about, but they actually know very little—and what they do know doesn’t interest them.
Why Jesus Seems Irrelevant Today
Most people today don’t find Jesus personally interesting or important to their lives. He doesn’t seem to be involved in the things that really matter. When we think about pressing issues—jobs, relationships, personal struggles, dreams—Jesus doesn’t usually come up as someone with wisdom or ability to help. Instead, he’s thought to be concerned with some spiritual, “feathery realm” far removed from the gritty realities we face.
And let’s be honest: many see him as lacking in real ability. He’s more a symbol than a problem-solver, more a figurehead for religious doctrine than a source of insight for daily living.
The Trap of Dogma and Law
In this view, Jesus gets boxed in by two concepts: dogma and law. Dogma is what you’re supposed to believe—often, there’s a list of things you must accept, whether they ring true to you or not. Law is what you’re supposed to do—rules and obligations that might feel arbitrary, disconnected from your actual needs or experiences. For many, religion is defined by these two: a set of beliefs and a set of rules, both handed down as non-negotiables.
But real life—the life we actually live—isn’t like that. Real life is messy, unpredictable, and bursting with interesting, frightening, and relevant things. It’s not a realm of “supposed-to-bes” that threaten to make our lives harder. It’s where things actually happen: where we love and lose, struggle and grow, work and rest.
Jesus: More Than Dogma or Law
Here’s the thing: Jesus and his words don’t fit into the categories of dogma or law. To read him as if he does is to miss the point entirely. In reality, what Jesus said and did was subversive—upending established ways of thinking and living. Look at how his teachings entered the world. They weren’t about propping up systems; they challenged them. They didn’t just add rules; they offered new ways of seeing and living.
Jesus himself described his words as “spirit and life.” What does that mean in plain terms? It means that what he said was full of energy, relevance, and truth—not just for some distant “religious” realm, but for the world we know and deal with every day. His words have a way of invading our “real” world with something even more real. Sometimes, that’s so powerful that we try to shield ourselves from it.
Why Dogma and Law Feel Arbitrary
There’s a reason dogma and law feel arbitrary, even dangerous, to many people today. Over history, people have come to see them simply as “what God wants”—period. That makes them important, but also something to be handled with care, maybe even avoided. The problem is, this view breaks the connection with truth and reality. Dogma and law become disconnected from the way things really are.
But our actual lives are about truth and reality. We want to know what’s real, what matters, and how to deal with it. We want help with the things that actually happen, not advice for imaginary problems or unreachable ideals.
Rediscovering the Real Jesus
So where does that leave us? Maybe it’s time to listen to Jesus again—not as a distant, magical figure, and not as a pawn in a religious game. Instead, as a real-life person who deals with real-life issues. Someone who has something to say about the way things truly are, and who can help us see our lives in a new light.
What if the teachings of Jesus weren’t arbitrary demands, but living words that offer insight, challenge, and hope? What if his actions and stories weren’t just for ancient times, but have the power to speak into our struggles and dreams today?
The truth is, Jesus has always been about more than dogma and law. He’s about transformation—changing how we see ourselves, each other, and the world. He’s about grace and truth, not just rules and requirements. His way isn’t a list of things you have to believe or do to “earn” something from God. It’s an invitation to life—a life that’s deeper, richer, and more connected to reality than what we settle for.
Jesus and Real Life: Getting Practical
If you want to know what Jesus is about, look at how he dealt with people in tough situations. He didn’t hand out a bunch of new rules or demand impossible beliefs. He listened, challenged, forgave, inspired. He spoke to people’s hearts, not just their behavior. He showed them how to live with courage, compassion, and honesty.
And he did all this in the context of real, everyday life. Fishermen, tax collectors, people on the margins—all found something in him that made sense for their actual lives. He met people where they were and helped them move forward.
Today, the challenge is to see Jesus as a living presence in the world—not locked away in religious traditions, but available and relevant to anyone seeking meaning, truth, and hope.
Conclusion: Why a Fresh Hearing Matters
If you’ve ever felt bored or unmoved by talk about Jesus, maybe it’s because the real person has been buried under layers of presumed familiarity, dogma, and law. Maybe it’s time to clear away those layers and listen again, with fresh ears and open minds.
Jesus isn’t just a figure from history, a name in a book, or a piece on a religious chessboard. He’s a person who cares about the real struggles and joys of life. His words aren’t out of touch—they’re “spirit and life,” meant to help us live more fully and honestly.
So why not give Jesus a fresh hearing? Not as someone you “already know,” but as someone you might finally meet. Not as a stranger to your real life, but as someone who can make it more real than ever before.
Minister A Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 