Is Jesus just a sweetie, or a Savior?

I read a quote from Douglas Adams that seems extremely shallow in its understanding of the meaning of the Cross. Adams, a British author, dramatist, and musician, is perhaps best known for his book, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He was also a vocal atheist. But frankly, I don't think I could believe in the Jesus he spoke of when he wrote these words:

2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other for a change.

What a lackluster Lord we would have if that were his message. Such a man would be a marvelous cartoon character, but a very poor Savior.

Jesus didn't suffer and die on the Cross to tell us to play nice with each other. His message was far more profound than that. In the words of Pope Benedict:

From the day on which Christ was raised up on it, the cross, which looks like a sign of abandonment, loneliness and failure, has become a new beginning. From the depths of death is raised up the promise of eternal life; upon the cross already shines the victorious splendor of the Easter dawn.

I'm sure Jesus would love it if we "played nice". But he preached this message over and over again during his earthly ministry. He didn't need to suffer on the Cross to convey that message. His death and resurrection served a far greater purpose: to reconcile us to God.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

- John 6: 35-40

May His holy Name be praised!

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