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BENIGN JESUS

Topics: Buddhism; Cross; Hinduism; Islam; Jesus Christ; Judaism; Religions

References: John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 1:18–25

The cross is what separates the Christ of Christianity from every other Jesus. In Judaism there is no precedent for a Messiah who dies, much less as a criminal, as Jesus did. In Islam the story of Jesus’ death is rejected as an affront to Allah himself. Hindus can accept only a Jesus who passes into peaceful samadhi, a yogi who escapes the degradation of death.

There is, in short, no room in other religions for a Christ who experiences the full burden of mortal existence—and hence there is no reason to believe in him as the divine Son whom the Father resurrects from the dead.

That the image of a benign Jesus has universal appeal should come as no surprise. That most of the world cannot accept the Jesus of the cross should not surprise us either. Thus the idea that Jesus can serve as a bridge uniting the world’s religions is inviting but may be ultimately impossible.

—Kenneth L. Woodward, “The Other Jesus,” Newsweek (March 27, 2000)