Jesus revival in America
Once ‘despised and rejected’ Jesus Christ is still the most famous person in the world.
He was not an attractive man.
‘He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.’ – Isaiah 53:3
But this one man’s ministry and his teachings still attract more than two billion followers around the world. Whether you believe in God and Jesus Christ or not, I say, not as a believer but as an objective reporter, the sustaining fact of his influence and inspiration on people for over 2,000 years is unparalleled in history.
JESUS REVOLUTION HAPPENING NOW
A 1970s-type Jesus revival is currently spreading across America, and indeed the world. A marathon ‘Christian Woodstock’ in February at the University of Asbury in the town of Wilmore, Kentucky, drew 15,000 people a day and by month’s end had attracted 70,000 worshippers from 200 academic institutions from several countries.
A recent movie starring Kelsey Grammer, ‘Jesus Revolution,’ made $15-million at the box office on its opening weekend and has already earned $32-million, more than twice its production cost.
The teaching of Jesus may be summed up in the Sermon on the Mount (below).
“If it weren’t for the message of mercy and pity in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I wouldn’t want to be a human being. I would just as soon be a rattlesnake.” — Kurt Vonnegut
Rev. S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000) was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993, but his reputation went far beyond that. His booming, resonant voice was heard throughout the United States and around the world.
HIS POWERFUL SERMON ON JESUS
The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5-7 (edited for conciseness.)
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
‘When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father will reward you.’
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished.
A good read Mich. Yes, he is the most famous person on the planet, no matter what John Lennon implied. My wife and I recently saw The Jesus Revolution, and man, was that a good movie. She was part of that movement in the early 70s here in Texas, I joined it later. Now, it appears to be happening again after the Astbury revival spread to other college’s.
The Kelsey Grammer film Jesus Revolution is a big hit, and that Asbury Jesus Revival event attracted 70,000 worshippers to the town.