There are numerous people who have been important to human evolution and civilization.  Years before Jesus was born women ruled empires in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China.  Men of great intellect created systems of logic, philosophy, math, and science.  Ancients made discoveries that altered human existence.  Some created medicines, some advanced the art of tool making, and others employed those tools to build grand structures.  Still others created in different ways – literature, art, music, and more.

I did a quick search on Google and here is one list proposing the 10 most important people to have ever lived.  Johann Gutenberg, Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Socrates, William Shakespeare, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Buddha.  At number eight on their list was Jesus of Nazareth.  Number eight.  2.8 billion Christians would argue that Jesus was and continues to be the most influential figure to have ever lived.  Not because he was simply the Son of Man, but that he was also the Son of God.

In the mid to late 300s, a heresy arose.  It stated that because Jesus was born of a woman, he could not be divine.  He could only be human.  The progenitor of this heresy was a man named Arius.  In the year 325, the Council of Nicaea met and expanded the creed to include a more robust expression of Jesus as the Son of Man and Son of God – fully human and fully divine.  This was grounded not in Jesus’ earthly ministry.  It was rooted in the resurrection, his appearance to women and men disciples, and his ascension.  Their conclusion was that Jesus was the Son of God and our savior who calls us to follow his lived example of mercy, compassion, healing, and justice.

Too many of us find ourselves living for purposes that are rooted in our own selfish needs and desires.  One analysis is that we too often choose to live small lives.  The creed is not only an affirmation of what we believe, it is a call to live a large life.  Large meaning one that attempts to follow in the way of Jesus which is a life of self-denial focused on the needs of others.  We live in a world of ample need.  People are hurting in mind, body, and spirit.  The mission of the church is to bring healing and wholeness to the world - one mind, body, or spirit at a time.  This work takes all of us following the example of God’s Son, Jesus.

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Define the purpose of your life and if you are living small or striving to live large.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  Who do you think is the most important person to have ever lived?  Why?
• Tuesday:  Review the Nicene Creed.  What do you find most interesting about the section on Jesus?
• Wednesday:  What does it mean for Jesus to be fully human and fully divine?  Why is this important?
• Thursday:  Why would scholars claim that the most important aspect of the creed is the affirmation of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?
• Friday:  What do you believe to be the most important part of Jesus’ life?  Why?
• Saturday:  What do you believe the creed is calling you to do or how is it asking you to respond?

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Focus on your understanding of Jesus as a human and as the divine Son of God.
• Heart:  Wrestle with your interpretation of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and how you feel about this.
• Hand:  Discern the way in which you believe you are being called to follow Jesus.