Why Jesus?
What makes so Jesus unique? Why choose him over other claimants to our allegiance: philosophers, prophets, preachers, teachers, and wonder-workers? For me the answer is both personal and public. Jesus is the only one who can forgive me my sins. He alone has the authority to get into my life and start cleaning house. One may object by saying that my conscience and personal judgment provides a sufficient guide to what is right or wrong, but my comeback is that my own judgment itself is untrustworthy and often misplaced. As I read his words in the Gospels, I'm reminded of where I need to admit my own failings, to acknowledge my sin (as the new Testament puts it), and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and renewal. This, no one else can do for me. Jesus comes in to reorder my priorities. Jesus not only comes to clean house, but he also gives me a makeover. There is a line in the book of the prophet Ezekiel where God says to his people, " And I will give you a new heart , and a new...