This is an illustration from a book by John Dickson. I’m storing it here for later reference. Others might find it useful too. Peaceout.
In the USA some time ago, three lads hopped onto their local bus for a ride. They were in a fairly ‘vigorous’ mood, so when they noticed a man alone up the back of the bus dressed rather casually in a track-suit and beanie, they thought they’d see how far they could push him.
At first they just made a few light jokes about him. The stranger didn’t respond. They turned up the heat and started to insult him directly. The stranger still didn’t respond. They continued this for some time trying to get the man to fight back. After all, there were three of them and just one of him.
Eventually the bus arrived at the stranger’s stop. He stood up. The lads then realised that he was much, much bigger than they had estimated. He looked down at the young men, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his business card. He handed it to one of them and then silently walked off the buss and on his way.
The three boys huddle around the card to see who this stranger was and what he did for a living. The card read:
JOE Louis
Professional Boxer
For those who don’t know their boxing history, these lads tried to start a fight with the man who would become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world eleven times running. They had been in the presence of greatness and did not know it. Upon reading the business card I assume they instantly felt very small, greatly embarrassed, and extremely grateful that Mr Louis had woken up in a good mood that day.
So what’s this got to do with Christianity? In this section we’ll begin to read Luke’s biography of Jesus. From the word ‘go’, Luke is at pains to inform his readers that as we look at the life of Christ we are all in the presence of greatness. In fact, these opening chapters of Luke’s biography function as a kind of lengthy business card, or C.V., for Jesus Christ. Luke offers it to us in the hope that we, like him, will be impressed with the immense status of this man.
John Dickson, SIMPLY CHRISTIANITY (1999), pp28-29.