The Symbolism of Jesus

This essay observes the figure of Jesus of Nazareth and explores some of the symbols attributed to him that have inspired humankind throughout the millennia. This is not an attempt to prove or even discuss the historicity of the person of Jesus, his sayings, or the events surrounding his life. This is an exploration of what the figure of Jesus, both historically and metaphorically, has symbolized.

Jesus as a symbol of Enlightenment

To be enlightened is to be illuminated, freed from ignorance and misinformation. A prominent symbol associated with Jesus is light. He is the bringer of light. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12) The Gospel of John is filled with light imagery surrounding Jesus. The story of the Transfiguration in both Matthew and Mark reveals Jesus’ nature (see Matt.17:1-9). The disciples journey to the top of a mountain with Jesus one night. While Jesus is praying he is transfigured before them. “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white” (17:2). A voice from heaven states, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (17:5). The point of this story is to show that Jesus is illuminated…enlightened, with special knowledge or divine “light.”

Like the Buddha, Jesus’ followers are also capable of enlightenment. St. Paul writes, “For it is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give us the light and the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). And again, “For you were once in darkness but now in the Lord you are light” (Eph. 5:8).

Jesus as a symbol of Freedom

Freedom from guilt

Guilt involves self-reproach. Jesus was well aware of the guilt that the religious laws of his day created for people; this is one reason he consistently spoke against the legalism of the religious leaders. Jesus was adamant about showing people freedom from guilt through forgiveness of self and others. To forgive means to pardon, excuse, and cease to hold any resentment towards yourself or others. Jesus’ solution involves recognizing that a wrong has been done and then simply forgiving it…pardoning it. In Jesus’ logic, since God forgives and pardons you, why would you continue to live in guilt?

The author of the letter to the Hebrews explains how Jesus provides freedom from a “guilty conscience.”

Jesus cleverly confronts a crowd who desires to stone a woman “caught in adultery” by asking who among them was free of sin. As her accusers leave the scene realizing none of them are free from sin, he says to her, “’Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one sir.’ And he said, “And neither do I condemn you’” (Jn. 8:10-11). This is grace…the absence of condemnation. Having grace with ourselves always prevents us from being held back and tormented by guilt.

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29).

Freedom from Fear

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

-Jesus

Freedom from the Tyranny of Society’s Acceptance

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it’s own.”

–Jesus

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you…for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.”

-Jesus

Jesus as a symbol of Wisdom

The Gospel of John opens up with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The “Word” in this passage refers to Jesus. In the Greek it is “Logos” which refers to a living word which embodies a conception or idea. It points to the mental faculty of thinking, reasoning, and meditating…the highest form being connected to the mind of God. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus first used this term in 600 B.C.E. to designate “the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe.” This is the epitome of wisdom…the height of human knowledge. Jesus, as the logos, symbolizes ultimate wisdom.

Jesus as a symbol of Power

The Gospel of Mark opens with John the Baptist prophesying about the coming of Jesus. He states, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me” (1:7). Throughout the Gospels Jesus is shown to have power over physical reality, his enemies, and even death itself. Jesus is seen as a symbol of ultimate power into eternity because he “is at God’s right hand-with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3:22). 1 Corinthians states, “For (Jesus) must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (15:24-26).

As with all of Jesus’ attributes, power is available to all those who follow in his footsteps. “Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority” (Lk. 9:1). Jesus says later, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). St. Paul writes, “May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power…” (Col. 1:11).

Jesus as a symbol of Victory

Jesus Christ…The word “Christ” from the Greek “Christos” means “anointed.” In the Hebrew tradition, kings were anointed by a prophet before taking the throne. Jesus is a symbol of kingly victory… a King who conquers his enemies and reigns. He is viewed as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “His authority shall grow continually…for the throne of David and his kingdom” (9:6). “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:27).

Victory is also available to his followers. “If we endure, we will also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:12). And we are victors not merely in an eternal sense, but victors over all that holds us down and enslaves us in this life. “And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4).

Jesus as a symbol of Life

“I am the resurrection and the life” –Jesus (John 11:25)

“I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly”

-Jesus (Jn. 10:10)

The story behind Jesus’ death and resurrection is central to understanding the power of the figure of Jesus. His followers have relentlessly claimed that he conquered death by rising from the dead for the past 2,000 years. Jesus is seen as actually having power beyond and over death and is the ultimate symbol of life.

This life is given to Jesus’ followers. Whether one believes in a literal resurrection, we can all agree that the theology of resurrection demonstrates the concept that death is not the final word and that life is ultimately victorious over death in both a literal and a metaphorical sense. It is clear that Jesus’ continuing influence in the world and in humanity’s psyche is demonstrative of this kind of power of life after death.

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