safe for the whole family?

A Christian radio station here in Nashville, which I very much enjoy listening to, has a slogan that they often repeat and play...

"safe for the whole family" is what they say.

Is the real Jesus safe?

If we look at Jesus in Scripture, and follow His history here on earth, I think there's strong evidence that Jesus is not safe, at least in an earthly sense of the word.

Let's take a look. Of the original twelve disciples, Simon Peter was crucified, Andrew was whipped and tied to a cross where he hung until he died, James (brother of John) was beheaded, Philip was crucified, Bartholomew was beaten severely, whipped, and THEN crucified, Thomas was speared to death and then incinerated in an oven, Matthew was axed to death, James (brother of Jesus) was thrown off the top of the temple, and though he survived the fall, he was then beaten to death by a gang wielding clubs. Jude and Simon the Zealot were crucified. Matthias (Judas' replacement) was stoned and THEN beheaded. Paul, who didn't interact with Jesus in person, but was clearly called by Jesus, was beheaded. The only disciple (other than Judas) to not die by murder, was John, although he was thrown in a pot of boiling oil, SURVIVED, and then was exiled to Patmos island.

The math is clear: of these 14 men who were very committed to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, ONLY ONE was not murded. 13 out of 14 were, and many times in brutal ways. I'm thinking Jesus is not so safe after all.

BUT HE IS! It all depends on the context of how you are defining the word "safe." I would argue that if you want to be safe in the world, leave Jesus alone. Families are split up, friends leave you, and it is very likely you will suffer physical and mental persecution as a result of claiming allegiance to Jesus. In America today, we do not experience this as clearly as some of our Christ brothers and sisters around the world.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.' "(John 15:18-25 NIV)

How are we to respond to the fact that the world HATES followers of Jesus? What are we to do? I think the same passage of Scripture gives us an answer:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:9-17 NIV)

Love each other! When it comes to the realm of the universe and who rules over all, then yes, I think Jesus is extremely safe. The SAFEST. Even safe for the whole family.