The cover photo highlights one of the many ways that Jesus has been politicized by different groups. It makes sense that we as people will try and portray the most important person to ever live as standing for what we believe in. The amount of cognitive dissonance can sometimes be astounding - and it is not only in modern times. The history of various Christian churches is filled with perverting the message of the Bible to justify violence and oppression. But it is possible to peel back at least some of our social bias - throw out what we think we know - and focus on what the Bible has to say about the character of Jesus.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
John 1:1-5, 14-18 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.1.1-5,14-18.esv
We have already covered part of John 1:1-5 when talking about Jesus; but let us focus on what Jesus came to show us in verse 14 - grace and truth. Jesus was gracefull in that he came to rescue us from our sin when we were incapable of doing anything to redeem ourselves. His mercy to us is overflowing. Jesus also stood for truth - although he was merciful to us, he also calls us to God's standard in our lives and does not shrink back from making the hard truths known. Both grace and truth spring from a limitless supply of love. If you truly love someone wholeheartedly, you will not only forgive them when they mess up, but you will tell them the truth when they are doing wrong in order to protect them. Jesus did the same for all of us.
“And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them."”
Mark 1:40-44 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mrk.1.40-44.esv
Lepers were untouchable to society and had to walk down the streets announcing their presence by saying "unclean, unclean". It was forbidden to touch a leper except by another leper. We can only imagine the emotional pain that lepers would have felt at being outcast from society and human touch. But Jesus shows his pity and grace by not only healing the leper (we know from the example of the centurion that touch was not necessary in the healing) but by addressing the pain of being ostracized by society by touching him. Jesus came to clean and heal those that society sees as unredeemable and unclean. Who do you think would fit that spot in society today, and how to those of us who profess to follow Jesus treat our modern day "lepers"?
“He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."”
Mark 2:13-17 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mrk.2.13-17.esv
Tax collectors were probably viewed even less favorably in those days then they are now. Many were also seen as traitors and stooges to the Roman government. So not only does Jesus call these unsavory characters to follow him - he even makes one of them his Apostle! Jesus was not sinning with the sinners, but he came to call the sinners out of their sin. Even though Jesus says that "Those who are well have no need of a physician…" we learn in later scriptures that NONE of us are well save Jesus. The Pharisees and Scribes were more like sick people who thought they were healthy.
“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."”
Mark 10:32-34, 42-45 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mrk.10.32-34,42-45.esv
Jesus highlights that he came to die and rise from the dead. A few lines latter, the disciples get into an argument about who is the greatest among them - Jesus responds by saying that the greatest are those who serve. Even Jesus came to serve us, and through his death we are able to have true life.
“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”
Luke 4:1-13 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.4.1-13.esv
It is tempting to think of Jesus as not having the same temptations that we do, but one of the beautiful thinks is that Jesus WAS tempted by the devil (after fasting for 40 days no less) and he overcame temptation and still was without sin. In Jesus, we have an advocate with the Father who knows what it is to be human.
“"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."”
Luke 6:27-28, 37, 46-49 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.6.27-28,37,46-49.esv
Jesus knows what it is to be human, but he still has some hard teaching for us to learn. Loving our enemies and responding to abuse with prayer FOR the abuser is hard - but it is a command of God. Not Judging others is likewise hard. Jesus is expecting our obedience in the matters, not excuses - but there is a promise that if we base our lives on his teachings we will have a firm foundation for our life despite the challenges we encounter.