“My whole life has been inspired by the Jesus I see in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The white man’s Jesus has always been a farce designed to give them power and take it away from everyone else.
But the Jesus I see in the Bible was a man of the people. He touched the untouchables and healed them.
His friends were outcasts.
He spoke truth to power and broke traditions anytime they got in the way of helping people in need.
And in the end, he became a political prisoner and was ultimately executed by the state.
Nearly half of the world believes that this man rose from the dead. And today we honor this.
But I have long since believed that we BEST honor the living Christ by living how he lived.
How, you may wonder? It’s spelled out in the Book of Matthew. Plain as day.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, “I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
That’s why I have always had side eye for those who celebrate today, but refuse food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, comfort for the strangers and immigrants in strange lands, clothing for those with none, and presence and friendship for those in prison.
Because Jesus, AFTER HE ROSE AGAIN, said when you ignored THEM, you ignored him.”
– Shaun King
