It's time you met the real Jesus.

       It's time you knew Him as He was: sometimes brusque, abrupt and authoritative. Always thoughful, philosophical and profound.

       It's time you knew that Jesus could be the kindest and most gentle human being on earth, showing boundless love, mercy and forgiveness to those who genuinely asked for it and were in a repentant spirit. But it is time to recognize Jesus could radiate blazing anger and could hurl swift, incisive indictments at all posturing egoists, self-righteous religionists, simpering crowd followers, or even at His own beloved disciples when they got out of line.

       It's time you knew that Jesus perpired just as you do; that He grew desperately hungry and tired; that He almost starved to death on one terrible occasion; that He suffered through the entire panorama of human temptations, passions and emotions which are common to us all; that He enjoyed food and drink; that He appreciated feminine beauty.

       It's time you knew that Christ could cry, shout, laugh and sing; that He could enjoy the rough camaraderie of men of His own age in an out-of-doors camp, or appreciate the glittering setting of fabulous feasts in the most palatial of estates.

       It's time that you realized that Jesus was not a vagabond; that He was a professional builder in the construction business, combining the technology of "modern" first-century engineering with the art of the skilled craftsman.

       It's time you knew the Jesus who was admired by officers high in the Roman army, who became a puzzle to Pilate, who was hated by the Pharisees, greatly belovedby His disciples, held in awe by the masses, detested by Judas, deeply admired by a proud mother, intensely loved by John, rebuked by Peter, and who was just as intensely human as you are.

       Few know that Jesus was a Jew; that He looked like any common, average Jew of His day; that He was so nondescript that He was fequently overlooked in crowds even among people who were seeking to put Him to death.

       Few know that Jesus was not born on or anywhere near December 25;

       If your own values are those of the common person, the real Jesus may insult you, shock you, please you, challenge you, inspire you, surprise you, make you wonder. But He will never bore you.