Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Jesus - The Authentic Man

The late Peter Marshall was Chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1947, the year I was born, until 1949 when he died from a massive heart attack at the age of 43. Dr. Marshall was an early hero of mine and his life and writings greatly influenced my coming to Christ. Below he described how Jesus lived out his manhood.

“Jesus liked people – all kinds of folks – red-blooded folks for He Himself was red-blooded. We have had enough of the emaciated Christ – the pale, anemic, namby-pamby Jesus – the ‘gentle Jesus, meek and mild’ – Perhaps we have had too much of it. Let us see the Christ of the Gospels striding up and down the dusty miles of Palestine – sun-tanned bronzed fearless. Let us see the white knuckles of the carpenter’s hand as He upset the tables of the money-changers and glared at the racketeers. Let us feel the terrific dynamic of the personality that walked clear through the lynching mob that sought to throw Him over a cliff. He strode through them, and no man laid a hand on him. That’s the Christ we ought to see. Let’s see the Christ who called a spade a spade and let the chips fall where they might. Take Jesus out of the perfumed cloisters of pious sentiment, and let Him walk the street of the city."

the late Dr. Peter Marshall, former Chaplain US Senate